Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-30
ALL JAPAN M0URNS
People Overcome With Sorrow
Because of Emperor's Death.
PUBLIC FESTIVITIES HALT
State Functionaries Plan for Flu
neral and Lying in State.
SAD SCENE OUTSIDE PALACE
Thousands of Loyal Subjects, Grief
stricken, Pray That His
Life Be Spared.
PUBLIC FESTIVITIES HALT
AID SCENE OUTSIDE PALACE

state ceremonies in connection with
the change in the rulership of the
japanese empire. caused by the death
early yesterday morning of Mutsuhito
and the accession to the throne Of his
son. Yoshihitc, were continued today.
The announcement was made at an
early hour of the name under which
the new era Is to be known. The era
changes with every reign. and an off,
cial decree says the new designation
is to be Taisei. in place of Meiji, as 1t
was during the reign of Mutsuhito.
Calm reigns throughout the empire
today. and the nation for the moment
appears completely overcome with
sorrow. All the people have put on
signs Of mourning. apd all festivities
and public functions have been stop
ped.
Arrangements for Funeral.
In the meantime the great state func-
tionaries, including the cabinet minis
tiers. the pSivy councillors and the lead
ing mobiles confer almost continuously
at the imperial palace, where they are
making arrangements for the funeral
and for the ceremonial OF the official
mourning and lying in state.
1t is expected that special session
Of parliament will be called and that
all the members of the cabinet will
offer their designations, is customary
when a change of ruler occurs.
The new emperor and empress, as
well as the doWager empress, remain
in virtual seclusion, the only persons
permitted to see them being the high
functiOnarieS Of state.
The moment the death Of the emperor
was announced the spaces around the i'm
periaf palace were filled with thousands
of the populace of Toxic. They were
praying for the recovery Of their beloved
ruler.
Here and there in the vicinity Of the
palace was an improvised and rudely
constructed altar at which a priest was
leading at prayers.
There was genuine grief and it was uni
versally displayed. many of the emperor's
loyal subjects being deep in tears. The
hush was tense. nothing was spoken ex-
cept the prayers OF priest here and
there among the crowds. The only other
sounds We're the rsssping movements OF
feet as the mourners arrived and depart
ed and the shouts of the neWsboys in the
distances selling papers containing the
physicians bulletins in glazing headlines.
Sacrifices His Life.
The scenes were similar to those of the
previous night when the mourners had
crowded the palace grounds. Again one
of the mourners committed suicide, leav-
ing a written declaration to the effect
that he had sacrificed his life for his en-
peror
The scene commanded the respect Of all,
and the for the held
by the Japanese was manifested when the
people resented the attempt of two pho
tographers to make a flashHght photo
graph OF the palace. The unlucky men
We're severely stoned and driven away.
The crowd that had begun to gather
outside the park surrounding the mi
kado'S palace soon after the news was
given out nine days ago that the EN-
peror was seriously i'll increased as the
bulletins became more alarming and num-
bered not less than 10000 before the
emperor's death. The fact that the ruler
of Japan was regarded as a sacred per-
sonage gave a peculiar tone to the as
sembled thousands who waited in awe
struck silence.
Go Long Time Without Food.
Their grief appeared to be genuine
and universal Not a few had gone
without food for more than twenty
four hours in their anxiety to be near
the emperor in his last sickness. The
body of young man was found in
the outer part Of the park palace.
From time to time during the course
of the emperor's illness more hopeful
bulletins were displayed. When the
waiting throng heard that the en-
peror's life might be saved or at least
prolonged the news was whispered
through the crowd with every sign of
delight. But with each encoura ging
notice a warning was issued that a
considerable period would have to
elapse before assurances could be
given regarding the complication OF
diseases from which the emperor was
suffering.
A new phase of the situation in
Japan and one which was much COM
mented upon was the way in which
the public was taken into confidence
by the officials regarding the en-
peror's condition. No secret was made
Of the fact that the emperor had been
in a critical condition since July 10
and that his life had been maintained
at times only by tho aid OF oxygen and
hot and cold water packs. He had