The Daily Missoulian., 1914-05-25
EMPRESS IS BURIED
WITH SOLEMN
POMP
JAPANESE CEREMONY is I'M
PRESSlVE AND BEAUTIFUL
IN FORM.

Toxic, May PA million torches
and lanterns illuminated Toxic tonight
when the body of the Empress Dow
ager Haruko was borne through the
streets In beautiful funeral car
drawn by white oxen. There had been
no pageant of such solemn grandeur
here since the funeral of Emperor
MutSuhito, a year and a half ago.
Practically the entire American col
ony viewed the procession from vari-
Gus points of vantage. 1t is a rule
that no Japanese subjects may look
down upon a royal parsonage from
elevated points, whether the royalties
be dead or alive. In strict observance
of this, every door and window above
the first floors along the funeral route
was closed, and dark.
The ceremonies tonight were the
culimantion of Il series of services held
daily since the official death of the
empress dowager on April 4. Her ac-
tual death occurred two days earlier
at NumadZu. but tradition prescribcs
that no member of the imperial fam
lily can die outside the capital, so the
Toxic. and driven smartly to the
Aoyama palace in n closed private
carriage. At the palace she "officially''
died few hours later.
In the six weeks since then, a sne
cial temple was erected on the Noyogi
military field, southwest of the city.
where the main funeral service was
held. In the morning the service of
'installation of the spirit" was per-
formed with great ceremony. Tho en-
pcror, the empress, princes and prin-
ccsscs of the blood were present to
pray before the shrine.
Ry noon crowds, augmented by
thousands from the country, filled the
streets. The people stood for hours
waiting for tho cortege.
At dusk when the illumination of
the route had been completed the i'm
pcral coffin was placed in the funeral
car at Oayama palace, and the pro
cession formed With large military
force ut its head. Amid dull yellow
and white banners and torches. came
the funeral commissioners accom-
panied by their secretaries. and court
servants dressed in ancient robes, In
terspersed were men bearing ever
green trees.
The advance of the Cortcgc was al
| most noiselcss, the streets having been
| covered with a thick layer OF sand
The funeral flutes were heard as tho
funeral car itself approached 1t was
led by Baron llatano. minister of Tho
imperial household, striking figure
1 I,iy Ia l,,,,
| by torches.
Three white oxen in reserve ploddet
ahead of the two which were Yokct
to the funeral car. The ear was o
cubic form, with its interior cNquisitel,
! lacquered, partly in black and partl,
| in chestnut. Bamboo blinds hung from
| the square openings, and brass cur
| tains from the side. The oxen Wer
covered with n rare white cloth an'
| their horns we're wound with materia
| OF the same texture The pcopl
bowed and wcpt as the imperial hears
| advanced.
Later came hundreds of priests. an
! bearers of the court gongs and Tia
tambours. and of many colored stream
ers and banners. The princes of tn
blood, each with his retinnc. holder
of high imperial orders, lords in wait
| ing, members of the dict and scVcra
regiments of military and bodies o
marines swelled the line.
A sacred gateway marked the en-
trance to the temple ground The EN-
pcror and empress had already arrive
and were seated on throne near th
principal shrine. while the diplomat
corps. including George W. Guthrie
the American amhassadnr had ais
taken their places in a reserved sec
tion.
Standing watch fires. imitation {
, those used in the imperial court yard
in ancient days, made up of pine fae
gots. were ablaze in various parts {
the temple in iron baskets set o
tripods
. When the funeral car had bee
drawn up before the chief shrine til
+ dirgc was chantcd and food offering
were given. other offerings include
gold brocadc, damasks, silks and sill
thread all placed in box made {
willow branches.
The emperor paid his homage b
reading an address He was fol1oWe
by others representing the court an
the empire. These over, the curtain
We're drawn before the shrine and I'll
imperial coffin was borne to II spt
cial train conveying it to Momoyam
near kioto, to be laid away in a plt
of land near the mauSolcum of tt
Emperor Mutsuhito. AT the dcpartnr
cannon thundered from ShinaGaW
hay, several miles away. and a va.
body OF mourners bowed their las
revcrences.
The president of the United State
sent a silver wreath and there WEI
floral tributes from the heads of man
other nations.
In commemoration an imperial ol
| ninance WIG issued committing Il