Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-10-04
WORLDS LAST
TRIBUTE TO JAPAN'S
DEAD EMPEROR

INV - ~ JIM NV ~
DEAD EMPEROR
{ TOXIC, Sept. 13.-Funeral cere.
monies OF the late Emperor Mutsu-
| Eito of Japan. posthumously known
! as the Emperor of the era of enlight-
eminent" began today amid surround
ings in when the century-old rites
and costumes were mingled with
modern military display.
From the most extreme points of
Japan subjects have been assembling
in Toxic. At midnight great crowds
had gathered along the route of the
procession. The weather was fair. A
police Gordon was established, shut.
ting off the streets through which
the body of the Emperor will be
transported and upon which it is esti-
mated 100000 persons will be accom-
modated. Soon after midnight Off
Gals proceeded to the palace in pre-
paration for the early ceremony.
The somber coloring associated
with western mourning was almost
entirely absent, being replaced by the
brilliant hues of the Orient.
Official representatives of every
country had come to Toxic to partici-
pate in the solemnities. Among them
were Princes representing reigning
houses and special embassies commits
stoned by republican Presidents. The
list included Philander c. Knox, Sec
rotary of State of the United States,
who was accompanied by Ransford
2. Miller, chief of the Far Eastern
section of the, State Department at
Washington; Rear-Admiral Alfred
Reynolds, and Brigadier- General John
J. Pershing. Members of the regular
foreign diplomatic body were present
in their uniforms.
Great Crowds Gather. >.r..- -
From an, early hour in the morning
the palace, in it's great private park
in the heart of the capital, was the
goal toward which virtually every.
body in Toxic made their way on foot.
The late Emperor only occasionally
during his life left the moated en-
closure where his body has lain in
state since August 18th. Since that
day, on each tenth day, solemn me-
mortal services and sacrifices to the
spirit of the departed ruler were per-
formed.
The casket containing the body lay
in state in the main hall. 1t had
been decorated according to Shinto
rites by special corps of ritualists
The casket measured nearly 10x5 feet
and weighed one and a half tons.
At o'clock in the morning the Of
fetal mourners began to arrive. First
came the wearers of imperial decora-
tions, court officials, ministers of
state and their wives and other spe-
cially invited personages. After these
came the members of the Funeral
Commission in native ceremonial cos.
tune, with swords. They were fol-
lowed by the chief and assistant rlt-
ualists of the imperial funeral corps,
also in native costume. Members of
the household then took their places,
and were followed by the higher Of
flcials who personally attended on the
late Emperor, representatives of the
peers related to the imperial family
and all the physicians present at the
deathbed.
Arrival Of the Emperor.
After a short wait, Emperor Yoshi-
hito arrived. He was in full uni.
form of Commander-in-Ch with
black crepe arm band and sword
knot. He was attended by Count
Togo, grand master of ceremonies,
and Count Watanabe, Minister of the
Imperial Household, who were follow
ed by court chamberlains and carry
ing the imperial sword and seal. At
ter them came Prince Katsura, the
Lord Chamberlain, with General Ia
kamura. the chief aide de camp a
small procession composed of the
Princes of the imperial blood in or
der of precedence came next
The Empress then entered in a ma
tive court dress made of hemp cloth,
her unbound hair falling on her Shout
ders. Her upper garment was of dark
brown and her skirt of dull orange.
AS soon as the imperial process
sions had entered the hall and those
composing them had taken their
seats the hanging screen in front of :
the catafalQue was removed by the
ritualists and the Shinto band played
soft dirge on instruments resemb-
ling flutes and three peculiar drums. |
Worshipine the Spirit.
The chief ritualist and his assist |
ants proffered the offerings of sacred
food to the continued accompaniment
Of Shinto music, after which other
offerings of red and white cloth in
closed in willow boxes were made. I
Prayers for the dead were recited by
the chief ritua'ist.
The most solemn act of all follow:
ed when the Emperor. the Empress. !
the Dowager Empress and the Princes
and Princesses advanced toward the
casket and worshiped the spirit of the
departed Emperor A short silence en-.