The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-13

entered the sacred enclosure OF the i'm.
perial residence. The palace its..f ., W.
Japanese. spreading. low and ap,,..
From tho entrance they wera CO.
Quoted by high officials through ',,.
red carpcted corridors. with officer, o,
gold braided European dress .'a,ion.,
at frequent intervals. and WITH ga.
glimpses of large rooms To~reorv.
decorated, the air scented WEI no..
fnmed woods. to separate rc,.a,,.
rooms for tho ladies and .ha ..,..
men of the party.
The Ambassador Wag conducted ,r,..
into the imperial presence Gr h,
audience. Il brief ana not c,du.rI'. sc,
mony. Then the Embassy STAR ..
presented. the Ambassador mad. O.,
prescribed number Of bows and fs....
out Of the room.
Received Immediately arf.rvlrd r,
the Empress in the Pcony Han. 81 .,,...
room beautifully decorated l.t VITA
out furniture tho Ambassador ..l g..
wife answered through an ut rn,.,..|
the questions of the rOya' N.I.. aIb.
did you stand the Journey acros,
siberia" do you not nuf . ,,,s
cold in Japan" and "Do yul ,Bto,
howers?" The Empress. "yours hr.e,.
and very pretty" wore Ef,p,s,
gown and had her hair done M V,.
ern fashion.
Returning to the palace later IN tho
day for Informal luncheon. tA,y Wors
conducted to the Room Of one Tg1u.,,A
Seeds, a great hall with wp.drup..,
carved ceiling. beautiful panels ana
vases OF flowers. hut, like tho peony
Hall. chairless. Members Of tho In.
perial family entered. the men In NM.
form, the ladies in European m1urnin.
for the late Emperor Mrs. Andersen
was presented to the Emperor. who Wore
a khaki uniform, and found him aler,
interested I'm everything"
The dining room was spacious. vii
one side all in glass giving view into
the palace garden. There were thirty n,
forty at luncheon: their MajeA os n, ~.
middle Of the table with tha princes and
princesscs next and opposite. Tho
table ornaments were orchids in silver
dishes. and one of the messages from
the Emperor to the American lady, cor.
veyed IN the course of the meal by
gentleman in waiting, was; DO you
have orchids in America The I'm.
peror proposed separately the hcal'hs
Of the Ambassador and tho Amhassa.
dos's wife. Favors were given NJ silver
honbon boxes in old japanese designs
with the imperial crest. After lunCLso.
IN the Room of one Thousand Seeds tho
guests enjoyed more intimate CONVEX
sation with the imperial pair.
II all seems like a very dun modern
ceremonial carried on In surroundings
full of the charm OF ancient Japan. A
similar blending of old ways aad new
Is suggested in the account Of tho Old
Emperor's last Illness. AS the imuerla
person Is too sacred TO he touched ever
by physicians charged with the weight
responsibility Of its conserve ton. hr
pulse had to he counted by mcan~ of a
silken cord clrcling tho wrist, md ..
had never been really well dressed"
because no on" was permitted ~ NJ hi
clothes lest the sacred person hc de-.
filed by profauc touch. And yet tho ~
of the late Emperor was freedom its"lf
IN comparison with that Of his prcdo.
&C SSors.
The author might 10 good effect hav,
brought out more insist"ntlv than 81
does the unparalleled mingling I'm Japan
Of the old way" of the East and the nov
ones of the West.