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

heartbeat TO seventy millions or SUD
jects Of the new Mikado.
IL is only a moment. but all eyes are
fixed upon the closed curtains Of the
Takamikura. 4 hush falls. From the
rear the Emperor in his historic garb
ascends the three steps and reaches the
platform, and there in the silence takes
place the simple act which makes
Yoshihito Emperor indeed. Awaiting
him is a chamberlain bearing mace
or sceptre. This, with a deep obeis-
ance, he hands TO the Mikado, and the
-Sokui--for which all has been set
in motion is accomplished. The En-
peror now enters the octagon pavilion
and sits upon his throne. To the eight
corners Of the pavilion, high court
officials advance and quickly loop back
the curtains revealing the Aikado on
the throne. He rises, sceptre in hand,
and all the company rise and bow IN
silence.
The Prime Minister advances from
his seat-and one can see the tall spare
figure, the parchment like skin upon
his shaven face and the dark, burning
eyes of Count 0kuma as he steps forth
and stands below the Takamikura.
The Emperor reads the imperial
speech; the Prime Minister sscends
to the Shishindeu and reads the con-
gratulatory reply. Then he descends.
All has been done in surrounding sill
ence so far, but the Prime Minister
takes his place by the BsnZai flag, and
as loud as he can call, he uttefs the
word:
"Banzail"
The whole assembly, as unit frss
and at will afterwsrd, joins in the
cry: "Banzail Banzail Banzsil"--
Live, lord, ten thousand years.
So, as it rolls through the palace
compound il ia taken up by the guards
outside and by the people on through
the crowded town.
Meantime three strokes upon tbs
bell, roll of the drum, and the En-
peror retires to his rooms in the PAL
ace and the guests file forth:
On November IL, the day following
the enforcement, the guests and on
Gals assemble as before at the Shun-
kuden to honor the imperial ancestors,
whereat Is sung the Kagura song ana
the quaint Kagura dance Is given. OF.
ferings are made, cut-paper hung and
PRAYERS from the Shinto ritual in
toned II closes with the ksgura
dance.
On November Il Is held the pict-
uresaue Daijosai TO which attention
was called at the beginning. the I'm.
perial Festival Of the Rice Harvest OF
japan. Formerly IL was a yearly I'M,
perial ceremony; now IL is performed
hut once in the lifetime OF Mikado.
For its service special building in the
palace yard has been constructed OF
the planest materials-plllars OF I'M
peeled pine wood. roofing OF mlscan-
thus leaves, ropes of straw ana
brushwood fence, but all, as in the case
of the growing of the rice, laid with
elaborate ceremony and continual pun-
fcation. On its four sides the gates
are of tordi design. Imperial messen-
gers are sent at early morn to the great
shrine at Ise-the central temple Oh
the Shinto worship-and TO many
shrines and temples through the coun-
/ try offering food for the gods.
THE RITUAL IN THE TEMPLE.
! Early in the day the temple Is dec
GRATED. On its platform are two seats
for the gods-Yukidono dedicated to
the deities of Heaven) and Sukidono
, dedicated to the deities Of EARTH.
! There are two kitchens for cooking the
sacred rice, one for the rice from eacn
district, dressing room with hot pain
for the emperor Che has 70 oatne tw,ce
during the ceremony, a long corrio9r
for officials and many hieratlc sppn.
ances. all emblematic and traditional or
Tho time when man was primitive as
they make him.
The first ceremony for the deities OF
Heaven is the making OF the nre by
rubbing hinoki sticks together, ana
from this fire all the torchlights used
in the ceremony must be lighted. AFTER
This the emperor, the princes OF tho
blood. and a flock of high officials take
mart PRAYERS are offered, songs are
sung. and all retire TO the large waiting
rooms to await the cooking of the rice.
When they return the Mikado, having
bathed, wearing white kimono' taxes
his seat in the Yukidono, and the sacred
rice is brought, with offerings oil az
products Of land and sea-graln ana
fish. borne by court ladies on symponc
dishes. All is quaint and curious, nus
the details would weary. One feature
new TO the rite will be the presence OF
natives Of Formosa, Chosen, Saghalien'
with offerings and gifts 20 the gods
Finally the cooked rice is offered to the
Mikado. who tastes IT, blesses u ana
nravs a blessing from the ginger
mowers upon the harvests and the mar
yesters OF Japan. He washes his HANDS,
nravs and departs. On the following
dav the ceremony is repeated with the
Suh rice in the Sukiden.
In the large temporary dining room
Japanese banquet will be held, wnefea,t,
the native music, songs and dances WIZ
he given. Here the eight maiden
neeresses will weave the Gosechi dance
which largely concerns movements with
waving Of fans. -
Now come the two great banquet.s,
which are to be served at the Milo Pal-
ace. in the great banquet hall newly
erected in the compound, at which
from 1000 70 $500 will sit down.
great garden party at the imperial pal
ace takes place on the afternoon be-
tween the two banquets.
One cannot, at THIS early day, fore,
shadow all the kinds of food that VIII
be served. There will be fifteen courses
on the first day, which will be in foreign
stvle. but at which the music Will be
strictly Japanese. The second banquet,
held in the evening of the next day,
will also be Occidental. with western
music by Italian, French and Russian
comnosers. German and Austrian
music ia barred, and the official charged
with the programme is reported TO have
said he could find no British orchestral
compositions of merit. lie is Russian
by his name -Duvorayitch. There will
probably be fewer courses for the sec
ond dinner. but the dishes are 20 be OF
the most elaborate description. They
/ will be prepared by an army OF trained
chefs supreme in their art; Sake will
I flow at the first (Japanese) feast and
western wines at the second and third.
Two hints alone are given, but they
have high culinary suggestiveness. One
/ is that tia, a fish whose name we trans
/ late sea Dream, will be the piece de re.
- rauaooso J;,rar and