Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-06

The death of Emperor Yoshihito
of Japan and the elevation to power
of his son, Hirohito, have turned the
ewes of the American press upon the
record of advancement made during
the reign of the dead ruler and the
qualities of the son which point to
still further development along MOD
ern and democratic lines.
Japan mourning is an impressive
spectacle" says the providence
Bulletin. lone which in it's sincere and
profound grief stirs universal sym
nathy. There has been scarcely any
hysteria among the inhabitants, Tor
during the Emperor's serious illness
thew have gradually realized that his
death was imminent and prepared
themselves for it, Rupert Brooke
line, frost, with q gesture, stays the
waves that dance and the wandering
loneliness, aptly describes thls\ IlSht'
hearted people standing now In an
immobile attitude, praying tnelr
leader into eternal bliss. "A mllhoI
of them stood with bowed heads in
the Pickering lantern light as the
funeral cortege moved between them
toward the silent capital. The scene
adds another graphic picture to those
of .Japan-pictures upon all themes;
low. sorrow, terror, ecstasy.
1--WE are given no account OF the
number of loyal and admiring sub
iects who preceded or followed the
lamented YoShihito to the Kingdom
beyond the veil, through the hara-klfl
roilte." the charlotte Observer says,
but incidental to the funeral was a
donation of 100000 yen to the
charity of Japan by the incoming
Emperor. The burial ceremonies
take shape of imposing events run
ming through a couple of months, in
Guided being a contract to build
highway to the tomb, for compile
ton of which 5000 coolies are mn
pressed into service The Brooklyn
Eagle explains that "the japanese
have always been given to funeral
notnn": that "they love to associate
display with death" and, because
of the importance of ancestors In
oriental theology. death and burial
are surrounded with peculiarly I'M
pressive rites"
i. = i i;
The antiquity of the Japanese ma
tion Is emphasized by the Reno
Gazette in connection with tnese cere,
monies. "Our republic is $50 years
old" observes that paper, but Japan
has a history that hanks back TO the
seventh century before the Christian
era. and Yoshihito could trace his
ancestry. without a single break In
the genealogical record, 10 KING
who was crowned in 800 Be NOT
one of the long dynasties whose MS
| tory is told upon the imperishaple
stone of Egypt or found upon the
clay tablets of the Chaldean plains
can compare with such a history
| When William the Conqueror won al
Hastings. more than II centuries had
| pasSed since the first of YoShlhlto
ancestors had worn crown, ana IL
was about that time that the Shoguns
grasped the temporal power. Then
for generations the true rulers of
Japan retired to q contemplatlVe life
from which they emerged only In
1868"
"Hirohito succeeds to the throne or
his fathers at a most critical period
of the worlds history" says the Pitts
burgh Sun, which reviews his qualtfi-
cations. saying: He has been broad
ened by travel abroad. He was the
first member of the reigning family
to visit foreign lands. He has done
much to shatter many of the time
h0nored traditions OF old Japan. BY
his democratic leanings, the religious
Veneration in which he Is held by his
people has been heightened by real
popular affection" The Indianapolis
News adds to this estimate that sit Is
a curious fact that while many of
the supposedly wise men are writing
very learnedly Of the impending, If