New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-19

namely; First, that within twenty
four hours following the passing away
Of Mikado his successor is inaug-
urated with minor ceremonies (Senso)
in the palace. So His Majesty Yoshi-
h'to, 20 be known in history as Taisho.
actually became the Divine Ruler or
July 81, 1912. Next, that the formal
enforcement would have taken place
last year the Preparations had been
well forward when in April the Dow
ager Empress died. The Enthronement
was necessarily postponed a year until
the court had laid aside its mourning.
ALL JAPAN IN EXPECTATION.
a Encouragement known as Tokyo.
kurei of the ceremonies was promul-
gated by the late Emperor to meet the
altered situation Of the Empire, and
this will be followed 10 the letter in
the celebrations under way.
Beholding the progress Of the great
court preparations. seeing piecemca!
in the press the ordering OF the func-
tons. all Japan has been for two
months past throbbinc with eXpecta-
,ion. and every city, town and remote
hamlet has been agog with plans for
local and personal association with 1t.
Presents for the Emperor Of rich ma
ture and rarity are in the making
everywhere The finest artists, the
great pottery and Cloisonn6 lubricants,
the damasceners, the weavers, embroid-
crers and lacouerers are striving
nightly 10 provide the best and finest
of their craft and its wares. II Is the
rule that every house in japan shall
hant out a lantern on the night OF
November 10. but poor indeed will he
the hovol where the order Is not bet
tered from ten 10 a hundred times.
The bands will play the japanese hymn.
the citizens will make professions rich
,0 color. Ranouets will be held every
where. and fireworks. in which Japan
cNcels. will make the night miracle
Of glowing and shooting stars. The
ceremony VII in many ways be a.
unique as 1t will be magnificent In
American history one can only compare
il with the night Of July 4, 1875, when
the entire population Of the United
States let our eagle scream amid cheers
and oratory and flaming pyres because
the Great Republic had lived and bios
somed for a hundred years, and after
a fearful civil war was whole and
sound and one again. England made
such festival when her aged Queen had
been MY ana again SlAtS SSoiS NP''
the throne. France went celebration
mad on July Il, 1889, in honor of the
centennial Of the fall Of the BastilV
Il is Japan's turn now, and good ac-
count will she doubtless give of the
opportunity 70 rise to the heights or
festivity and reach down to the great
DEPTHS Of the soul.
VIRGINS TO DANCE THE GOSECHl.
Well have they watched the priestly
divinations, smacking Of ancient Greece
and Egypt. and the long ceremonies at
tending the seeding, transplantlng, cul-
tivating of the sacred ceremonial rice
grown in the fields Of Yuki southeast
md of Suki northwest Of Kyto. None
but virgins selected for exemplary
lives are permitted TO touch 1t at any
period Of its growth. They must wear
= epecial costume at their toll and
nurifv themselves every time they be
Gin TO work upon it. Thlrty-three
eakaki trees, with small shining leaves.
and bound together by straw rope OF
the Shinto tradition, surround eaSn
sacred acre from each Of which only
one koku (about five bushels) OF the
ripened grain Is taken with stately
ceremony. The separate portions OF
rice are placed in a basket over wnlGh
branch Of the sakaki is laid, while
twisted reeds are used as q cover