Daily Kennebec journal., 1912-09-14
THE LAST RITES.
(Continued from Page One.)


itaryism, was conducted, the passage
of the funeral car through the streets
of the capital, tonight. was even more
impressive Hundreds of thousands of
persons stood for hours in sorrowful
silence along the route as the coffin
passed on the first stage of its jour
ney toward it's last resting place.
The streets and boulevards We're
brilliantly lighted by torches and are
lights on both sides of the road. In
tersecting the torches and electric
lamps were placed large sacred trees
and at frequent intervals black and
white cloth covered poles, surround
ed by Wreaths of evergreens, had been
erected. At Z o'clock in the evening
those who We're to participate in the
procession began to assemble again
at the palace. Among them We're the
holders Of orders of merit, officials of
many ranks, ministers of state, ko-
rean peers. members of the two houses
of Parliament and of the imperial cab
met, presidents of provincial assem-
blies, the mayor of Toxic and the
chairmen of the, Toxic city council
The foreign princes and special en-
basses, including that from the Unit
ed States, headed by Secretary of
State Knox, did not take part in this
ceremony. The special envoys and the
foreign diplomats resident in Toxic
went directly to Aoyama, after the
conclusion of the funeral service.
All the officials had gathered with
in an hour and at o'clock they We're
conducted by masters of ceremonies
to places at the entrance of the pal
ace, where a double line was formed.
The great funeral car, attended by a
large number of Japanese of high
rank, wearing the ancient national
court mourning costume, consisting of
an upper robe of horse chestnut color,
duh colored loose trousers and cornet
caps of black silk, was then brought
to the gate. To the wailing notes of
Shinto dirge, the immense coffin was
wheeled in solemn procession from
the main hall. Chamberlains marched
in front of the funeral car and fol-
lowing 1t We're the grand master of
ceremonies, bearing the departed
monarch's sword, and the master of
the household, carrying the imperial
sword of state. On each side of the
casket walked high officials aof the
household. carrying lighted candles.
A watch fire had been lighted in
the courtyard of the palace and flares
set in braziers burned at each corner
of the open space.
AS the casket was placed on the
funeral car, all those near the palace
bowed their heads. On the top of the
coffin reposed a small white wooden
tray, on which the imperial sword
was laid. Then the doors of the car
were shut and locked, the candles ex-
tinguished and torches lighted by
those who We're to march alongside.
When all the arrangements had been
completed Emperor Yoshihito and
Empress Sadako. Princess Takoda.
representing the Empress Dowager.
whose physicians prohibited her from
taking part in the ceremony, and the
princesses of the imperial family.
came through the hall, entered their
carriages and started off alone for
Aoyama, i'm order to be ready to re-
eeive the casket on it's arrival there.
After the departure of Their Ma
jesties the great procession was form
ed in line. 1t was headed by II police
inspectors and the inspector general
These were followed by strong con-
tingents of military and naval guards
of honor. Then came the attendants
bearings torches and wearing hemp
garments Others carried drums and
musical instruments of ancient types,
on which they played funeral dirges.
Following these walked retainers car
rying white and yellow banners rep
resenting the sun and the moon. The
standards were in figured damask silk,
the sun in gold and the moon in sill
yer.
Hundreds of other retainers bearing
bows and arrows. shields and halberds
and other old martial ornaments fol-
lowed Still other attendants carry
ing sacred trees, caskets of offerings,
paper prayer strips, gongs. drums
and flutes, were in line. Interspersed
among them were hundreds of Shinto
rtualists and officials of the funeral
corps.
The funeral car was preceded i'm
mediately by Count Togo. grand mas
ter or ceremonies. and Count Watan-