Evening star., 1928-06-02
MILE. MATSUDAIRA WILL TAKE
AMERICAN IDEAS TO JAPAN
Future Bride of Prince Chi
Chibu Has Learned Demo-
cratic Ways in Stay Here.
Elaborate TrousSeau Now
Ready for Royal Wedding
This Summer.
BY MARGARET POE HART.

The bright light which beats about
throne has been directed toward a tiny
flower-like japanese maiden who for
the last three years has been living
very democratic life as a member OF
the younger set in Washington, Mile,
Setsu Matsudaira, the l8-year-old
daughter of the japanese Ambassador
and Nine Matsudaira. who left yeSter-
day to we'd Prince Chichibu, brother of
the Emperor of Japan and heir appar-
ent to the japanese throne, an event
which will be of world interest in Japan
this Summer
The probable future Empress OF ia
pan is a wholesome girl who loves to
have a good time and take part in the
pleasures and pursuits of her con-
temporares. but is not so modern that
it was possible TO break the old-tlme
Japanese custom of reserve for young
people So Nine Matsudaira has be-
come the SpokeSwoman when 1t comes
to formal conversations about the great
honors which are about to be conferred
upon her daughter.
Mime. MatsudaiIa, herself an attrac-
tive. modishly dressed Oriental gentle
woman, received the writer in the spa
cious but homellke drawing room of
the Ambassadors house on K street
She was eager to talk Of her daughter.
and did not mind quoting her nor tell
ing of her youthful fancies and dreams
of the future in the high estate to
which she has been called.
Surprise to All.
Quite naively. Nine. Matsudaira ac-
knowledged with gracious wave Of her
tiny hand that the choice of the prince
- taA~ III t.t- Il
came to her and the rest of the family,
including the young lady herself. quite
as much of a surprise as it did to the
rest OF the world, She was quite frank
in expressing her pride in this honor
and her confident hope that her daugh-
ter would fill her role with simplicity.
dignity and grace.
Nine. Matsudaira likened her future
son-in-law to the Prince Of Wales.
popular with every one of his nation
and other lands he visits, and, Of
course. since his very early youth the
center OF conjecture as to which par
ticular young girl Of Japan on whom
his choice would fall His name has
been aligned with that of daughters Of
other distinguished japanese families
in these romantic speculations of out
siders. Nine. Matsudaira nodestly re-
Trained from pointing out that the fact
that she herself belongs 10 an exalted
japanese family. one Of the few priyi-
legged To marry into royalty. was one of
the essentials TO be considered when
Prince Chichibu was looking for some
one TO share his princely name and
fortune
While the future princess has been
brought UP on "old-fashioned precepts,"
as Nine. Matsucaira pointed out that
she comes from what she describes as
a very old-fashioned family" during
her residence In Washington Mile Set
su has lived as American girls do. and
doubtless will take some of the ideas of
freedom set for our girls TO the posi-
ton she will occupy overseas. although
she will. naturally. be surrounded with
the formality for which the japanese
race is noted.
VIII Remember T.. 8.
Nine Matsudaira appeared quite
anxious for IL to be known that Mile
Setsu would not forget her American
friends. and that. in spite Of many
quotations to the contrary. when they
came to her. as she hoped they would.
in Toxic they would be received after
the American Mariner.
Nine. Matsudaira was most ensfu-
siastic when she described in minute de-
tails the costume her daughter will
wear on the day when she becomes the
bride Of the heir apparent Of the Land
u the Rising Sun. Contrary 10 the usuar
impression, the brides Of the royal court
do not wear trousers. but gowns made
long and straight With huge roll at
the hemline With this there is q court
train more than three vzYdR lnysv NJ
magnificent embroidered nrocade. This
creamy white bridal costume is the work
Of many hundreds Of japanese hands.
who have toiled with their great artistic
skill 10 do justice 70 the beauty and