The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-06-09
LAST RITES A
SPECTACULAR
PAGEANT
Immense Crowds in Toxic Streets
Stand Crief.striclen for Hours
to Pay Last Homage to EN-
press Dowager-Nigh Scenes
Gorgeous and Impressive.
Written for The Advertiser by
Laurence Mott.

1OklO, May tp.--iltke pageant OF
3 shadow, moving slowly, yet too fast ~
the deep and husbcd stiffness, thatiwas
broken only by laments Of grief, and
tho last journey Of the Empress Dow
ugcr was concluded yesterday, dragging
at each step Of the way lengthening
chain Of sorFowing hearts. Like = vision
Of shadowy lines and figures, the pag-
cant, advancing quietly and slowly TO-
the sad strains Of the funeral music,
passed and disappeared in The dim
pale simmer Of gas lights. The scenes
Of impressive simplicity and grandeur,
where the spirit Of the late August
Soul had long hovcfed, still fingered In
the memory Of the people as vivid
flashes 80 true and yet but halfreal--
as Of a passing vision.
Waiting Crowds. n
Early in the morning the city was
alive with crowds, The steady streams
Of humanity and ceaseless clattef Of
feet continued hour after honr. Every
one was eager to find bit Of vantage
ground. Policemen, mounted and on
foot, were stationed at short distances,
and gestichlated, motioning In an ear,
nest and sometimes in almost AM ap-
peaIing manner to the crowds, so that
they might not trcspass over the limits.
The officers, good nature and gcneros.
ity, however, was often imposed on by
the eager people.
The lots assigned on each side Of the
route for parties began TO fll upf be-
fore noon. Those who came TO take
their places hours before the funeral
jhilosophicaIly stuck to their posts.
Some sat on straw mats, others sought
changed posture, often sitting ON their
wooden clogs, and ate their meal in
the open.
Places An Taken.
No sympathy was shown for late com.
ers. BY noon there was no available
spot along the route. All shops and
DWELLINGS on either side were filed,
: = In View Of the confusion Of traffic
the car lines ii the neighborhood of
the route were closed at ono. But the
continnal stream Of shifting humanity
continued The police officers fought
still harder to keep the thropgs 10 seln-
bIancc Of order. Many gave mp the
idea Of finding places and retraced their
way. often after eager and almost pa
thetie appeals, in vain, to their homes
there TO worship in silence the passing
Of the Empress Dowager.
scenes Altar Nightfall.
Night fell upon the scene, throwing
tho long rows Of gas and electric lights
into brilliant prominence. The route
extending from Aoyama Palace to the
Yoyogi ceremony gronndsa distance
Of more than two and a half miles never
held such a patient and imrnobile crowd,
Great torches pcrehed on piles Of pine
trees Jared np casting reflections on
the yerdant foliage that formed can
opy over the place where the remains
Of the Dowpgcr Empress found tenn
porary shelter. a spirit Of calmness
and peace WAS over everything
To the. audience the Yoyogi eere.
monial grounds in the distance looked
like n fairyland Of lights, Suggesting an
illuminated palacc Long avenues OF
lofty blue arc-lamps led to the enelos-
IRE, which itself was brilliantly ilI1mi-
pated by electricity and gas torches.
The roofs Of the long pavilions on each
side Of the main roadway were sbwn
Z thickly with; lights. The shrine in the
censer shone IN incandeseent CLOVIS.
Tho dark intervening spaces of bare
ground enhanced the bfillianey beyond,
and the wholewas altogether a wonder
FIJI spectacle Of splendoF and fnagnii-
cence.
Coming OF the Procession.
The spreading of sand on the path
of the Procession was as a warning that
the funeral was coming. Tho guards
presented arms, and a company Of ibu-
giles began d fanfare Halfway through
this, another set commenced, then 9th.
oFs, and more until the night was ring
ing with sound.
The throngs knew then the center
Of the procession was near, and very
near. Many head went down deyout-
~ in prayer. There doomed in sight
drawn by a team Of four bulls dressed
III white, tho brilliant and magnificent
ear containing all that was mortal of
Great Mother Of the nation. The
lights were reflected upon the beautiful
lacquer Of subdued red shade and upon
the golden eurtains tapping against
the sideand scintillating in the yellow
rays. Hands weTesclasped "a prayer,
words Of prayer were mprinpred. Tears
were IN all ewes that riYetod themselves
upon and followed the mighty hearse.
Many conld no longer hold back their
furging emotion, and gave way to sor-
rowing.
Moaning Wheels.
The weird notes coming from the
Rxle--a music Of seven notes, 80 weirdly
like the moan and lament Of a grew
ing heart--tbeeaIne almost upbearable.
The pale lights shone alike upon the
toaF-stained facesAand the weeping ear.
The note Of deep lament became less
and less distinct, aud the sight Of the
ear diminished IN vision At each step
OF the procession Still reluctant TO
lose sight Of the mighty Object, the null
titade male a stir TO get yet another
aud last glimpse Of The ear, as Il was
borne away az each departing step on
Its final journey
The procession moved y slowly, and