Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-25
MILLION TORCHES LIGHT
EMPRESS TO HER GRAVE
Procession at Night Through the
Streets of Toxic an I'm
posing Spectacle.

TOXIC May 25-A million torches
and lanterns illuminated Toxic last
night. when the body of the Empress
Dowager Haruko was borne through the
streets in beautiful funeral car drawn
by white oxen. There had been no
pageant of such solemn grandeur here
>nce the funeral of Emperor Mutsuhito.
Nr and a half ago.
-acticaliy the entire American colony
viewed the procession from various
points of vantage 1t is a rule that
no Japanese subject may look down
upon a royal parsonage from elevated
points. whether the royalties be dead
OF alive. In strict observance OF this,
every door and window above the first
floors along the funeral route was
closed and dark.
The ceremonies last night we're the cul-
minatlon of series of services held
daily since the official death of the
empress dowagef April IL. Her actual
death occurred two days earlier at
Numadzu. but tradition prescribes thai
no member of the imperial family can
die outside the capita!. so the body of
the empress was conveyed to Toxic
Palace in closed private carriage. At
the palace she Officially died few
hours later.
Special Temple Erected.
In the six weeks since then. special
temple was erected on the Yoyogi mill
tary field, southwest of the city, where
the main funeral service was held. In
the morning the service of ''installa-
ton of the spirit was performed with
great ceremony The emperor. the
empress. princes and princesses of the
blood were present to pray before the
shrine.
AT dusk. when the illumination of the
route had been completed the imperial
coffin was placed in the funeral car
at the palace, and the procession
formed with a large military force at
its head. Amid dull yellow and white
banners and torches came the funeral
commissioners, accompanied by their
secretaries and court servants dressed
in ancient robes. Interspersed were
men bearing evergreen trees.
Three white oxen in reserve plodded
ahead of the two which were yoked to
the funeral car. The car was of cubic
form. with its interior exquisitely lac
Quered. partly in black and partly in
chestnut. Bamboo blinds hung from
from the side. The oxen were covered
with a rare white cloth. and their horns
were wound with material of the same
texture. The people bowed and wept
as the imperial hearse advanced.
Made Imposing Procession.
Later came hundreds of priests and
hearers of the court gongs and the
tanbours and of many colored stream
ers and banners. The princes of the
blood. each with his retinue; holders of
high imperial orders. lords-in-w waiting,
members of the diet and several regi-
ments of military and bodies of marines
swelled the line
When the funeral car had been drawn
up before the chief shrine the dirge was
chanted and food offerings were given.
Inc emperor paid his homage by read
ing an address Cannon Numbered
from Shinagawa bay. several miles
away. and vast body of mourners
bowed their last reverences.
President Sends Silver Wreath.
The President of the United States
sent silver wreath. and there were
Moral tributes from the heads of many
other nations
In commemoration an imperial ordi-
nance was issued committing the pun
fshment of many persons serving terms
of imprisonment