The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-02
TWO ORDINATIONS
ON YEARS PROGRAM
tho purpose OF submitting himself tc
course OF medical treatment.

stu another coronation set for this
year is that Of the new Emperor OF
Japan. which Is to take place In the
fan. on which occasion the United
States. like the other great powers
VIII be represented by a special ambas-
sador The ancient regalia of tho Jap
anese empire, which dates buck some
twenty-five centuries, have never in
Guided anything In the nature of a
, crown. SO it Is doubtful whether there
VIII DO any actual coronation. unless
crown is manufactured for the occa-
sion. 1t Is more likely that the cere-
mony will consist OF tho solemn inves-
titure Of Yoshi-Hito with merely the
ancient insignia OF Japanese SOW
, ereignty. His father. Mutsu- Hito,
succeeded to the throne In February.
1857. and received his investiture In
october. 1853. But since then Japan
has won for herself foremost place
in the concert OF civilized nations as
Is intended that the investiture should
be attended by an infinitely greater
amount or pomp, ceremony and splen
dor than In any previous reign.
The japanese regalIa consists, first
and foremost, OF mirror. then of a
sword. and also a. usk-shaped jewel
all OF which are said TO have been be-
slowed upon Jirnmu, first Emperor OF
japan. by his mother, the Sun Goddess.
| GOO years before tho beginning of the
Christian era. According to Japanese
legend. the Sun Goddess bestowed these
symbols CT sovereignty with the words
Look upon this mirror as If II
were my own spirit, and reverence 1t
ms you would my own presence. For
centuries upon centuries shall thy de-
scendants rule this empire. Govern
4 IA fe 49,. a,
that radiates from the surface Of the
mirror Deal with thy subjects with
the gentleness typihed by the bland
and soft lustre Of the jewels. Combat
the enemies OF tho empire with this
sword" And these words have been
used ever since. through all these 2.50O
years. in the investiture OF Jimmu's s
SUCCESSORS on the throne Of Japan. In
the direct male line. without break
| until tho present day.
Tho influence Of the regalia upon the
Japanese people Ia phenomenal Com
Ing from the gods to Jimmu, tho first
! Emperor. himself a descendant OF the
gods. the existence Of the regalia dates
from the very foundation of the Jap
anesc empire. Without the regalia,
the empire would hardly be conceivable
to the Japanese people. Tho whole
! tradition OF the dynasty is bound up
Herewith, and the possession thereo.
bestows sovereignty by divine right
/ In fact, tho instinct OF tho Japanese
people is to acknowledge no man as
| Emperor unless he possesses these
sacred symbols of Japanese sover-
eighty.
They are preserved in the great uji
Temple ut Ise. sacred to the worship
of the Sun Goddess, 1t cannot strictly
be called an ancient temple For 1t
has been erected anew every twenty
years. for more than twenty centuries
past, each temple occupying the same
site, and being the exact reproduction
of its predecessor. 1t Is wonderfully
magnificent old trees. and its high
| priestcss has always been n virgin
princess OF the imperial family.
! Lord Athlumney. who has Just ar
rived In New York from England Is
celebrated as the cieverest bridge
| player In tho United Kingdom. but has
| made 1t u rule never to play for money.
OF course. this has served to vastly in
| crease his popularity, as he almost In
variably wins. Moreover. 1t Is ex-
tremely polite on his part. For. be-
ing n poor man. If he played for money
ill-natured people would insinuate
that he was making a living at the
card table.
lie Is splendid swimmer, and on one
memorable occasion saved the life of
Lady Randolph Churchill. by diving In
10 tho sea at Cowes and rescuing her
from the imminent danger OF drown
ing.
a soldier by profession, he served in
Egypt under both Wolseley and Kitch-
ener, being noted for his sunny temper
and unruliied cheerfulness under even
the most trying circumstances OF those
Soudan campaigns. He is unmarried.
has been engaged to Miss Muriel VIII
son. OF Tranby Croft, and was former
~ In the Coldstream Guards
His patronymic is Somerville, and
his family is an ancient Scotch house,
which has been settled for some three
centuries in Ireland. One OF It's mem
bers. Sir Qualle Somerville. was Lord
Mayor of Dublin In 174S, and as such
received a baronetcy from George H.,
which was held by the present Lord
Athlumney's father until he was raised
TO the peerage for his services as Irish
secretary.
Copyright. 1914, by the Brentwood
Company