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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 1906)
:iwp XSt IwMili iW)1 wmUM idi tBv J - , "tt VOLUME 6, NUMBER 3 tW " kw r rv wrv for half an hour, it gave mo tho beat opportunity that I could have had to become acquainted with tho innrqulB, who 13 tho most influential man in Japan at present. Ho is president of tho privy council of older statesmen and is credited with being tho most potent factor In tho shaping of Japan's demands at Portsmouth. When Huron Komura stopped from tho launch upon tho soil of his native land, he was met by Marquis Jto and each greeted tho other with a low bow. Tho baron then saluted tho other ofliclals in tho same manner and, turning, bowed to a group of Japaneso ladles representing tho Woman's Patriotic association. Dr. Jones and I stood somo foot In the rear of tho officials and woro greeted by the baron after ho had saluted Iiis own countrymen. Ho extended his hand to us. Tho Incident is mentioned as illustrating tho difference in tho manner of greeting. For who would bo moro apt to clasp hands, if that were customary, than those two distinguished states- 'men whose personalities aro indissolubly linked together In the conclusion of a world renowned treaty? A brief account of tho reception of Admiral Togo may bo Interesting to those who read this article While at Toklo I visited tho city hall, at tho invitation of tho mayor and city council. Whllo thero Mayor Ozaki Informed me that he, in company with tho mayors of tho other cities, would tendor Admiral Togo a reception on the following Tuesday, and Invited me to bo present. Of course I accepted, because it afforded a raro '"opportunity to observe Japanese customs as well as to see a largo concourse of people. As I witnessed tho naval review in Yokohama tho day before and tho illumination at night, I did not 'roach Toklo until tho morning of the reception and this led mo Into considerable ombarrassment. On tho train I met a Japanese gentleman who could speak English. Ho was kind enough to And mo a 'rikisha with a pusher and to instruct thorn to take mo at once to Uyeno Park. Ho then loft mo and the 'rikisha men followed his instruc tions to the letter. They had not proceeded far when I discovered that Admiral Togo had arrived on the samo train and that a long procession had formed to conduct him to tho park. Before I know it, I was whisked past an escort of dls tinguishod citizens who, clad in. Prince Alberts and Bilk hats, followed tho carriages, and then I found my 'rikisha drawn into an open space botweon two carriages. Grabbing tho 'rikisha man in front of mo, I told him by word and ges turo to get out of tho lino of tho procession. He could not understand English, and evidently thinking that I wanted to get nearer tho front, ho ran past a few carriages and then dropped into anothor opening. Again I got him out of the line, employing more emphasis than before, only to be carried still nearer tho front. After repoatbu changes of position, all tho time em ploying such sign language as I could command and attempting to convoy by different tones of voice suggestions that I could not translate into language I at last reached the head of tho pro cession. And tho 'rikisha men, as if satisfied with the success of their efforts, paused to await, the starting of the line. I tried to inform them Unit I was not a part of the procession; that I waii ted to get on another street; that they should , take mo to tho park by some other route and do ,so at once. They at last comprehended sufficient ' y ,r, Tlvo the carriages and take up a rapid gait, but get off of the streot they would not. For threo miles they drew mo between two rows of expectant people, whoso eyes peered down tho street to catch a glimpse of the great admiral, who, as tho commander of tho Japanese navy has won such signal victories over tho Russians. 1 saw a million people; they represented everv . class, ago and condition. I saw more people than I over saw before In a single day. 0 Id men and old women, feeble, but strengthened by their en thusiasm; middle aged men and women whoTe umphs of tho navy; students from the bovs' schools and students from the girls' Schools with flags and banners, little children dressed in a ?l?nl0,rS tUo "-all were there. And I coi 1 maglne that each one of them, old enough K,Jlillk' wns wonderlne why a foreigner was intruding upon a streot which tho police had XJX! V---ion. Vsome one :,.::.." ,C,4"J ."b- y tikisim men and tiu-ncf them through the crowd to a "ride sTreit I should not have complained-T would evn hv "ld leved, but no one molested them or me and I reached the park some minutes ahead 5 the miral How glad I was to alight, and low wm ing y I rewarded tho smiles of the 'r k slri m with a bonus-for had they not done the? duty .ZSZSHS? lt? Antl theynot 7o ., a aimo ol my protests, such a view The Commoner. of tho peoplo of Toldo as I could have obtained in no other way? At tho park I luckily fell in with some of the council men whom I had met beforo and they took mo in hand. I saw the procession arrive, heard tho banzais (the Japanese cheei's) as they rolled along tho street, keeping paco with Togo's carriage, and I witnessed the earnest, yet always orderly, rejoicing of the crowd that had congre gated at tho end of the route. When the pro cession passed by us into the park the members of tho city council fell in behind the carriages, and I with thorn. When we reached the stand, a seat was tendered me on tho front row from which the extraordinary ceremonies attending the reception could bo witnessed. Mayor Ozaki, the presiding officer, escorted Admiral Togo to a raised platform, and there the two took seats on llttlo camp stools some ten feet apart, facing each other, with their sides to the audience and to those on tho stand. After a moment's delay, a priest clad in his official robes, approached with cake and a teacup on a tray and, kneeling, placed them before tho admiral. Tea was then brought in a long handled pot and poured Into the cup. After the distinguished guest had partaken of these refreshments, the mayor arose and read an address of welcome. As he has the reputation of being one of the best orators in the empire, his part was doubly interesting to me. As he confined himself to his manuscript, I could not judge of his delivery, but his voice was pleasing and his manner natural. The address recited the exploits of Admiral Togo and gave expression to the gratitude of the people. At its conclusion the hero admiral arose and modestly acknowl edged the compliment paid to him and to his officers. Admiral Togo is short, even for the Japanese, and has a scanty beard. Neither in stature nor in countenance does he give evidence of the stern courage and indomitable will which have raised him to the pinnacle of fame. When he sat down the mayor proposed threo times three banzais and they were given with a will by the enormous crowd that stood in the open place before the stand. While writing this article, I am in receipt of information that Mayor Ozaki has secured for me one of the little camp stools above referred to and has had made- for me a duplicate of the other. They will not only be interesting souvenirs of an historic occasion, and prized as such, but they will be interesting also because they contrast 'so sharply with the largo and richly upholstered chairs used in Amer ica on similar occasions. From this public meeting the admiral and his officers were conducted to a neighboring hall where an elaborate luncheon was served. With the councilmen I went to this hall and was pre sented to tho admiral and his associates, one of whom had been a student at Annapolis. By the courtesy of Hon. Lloyd Griscom, tho American minister, I had an audience with the emperor, these audiences being arranged -through tho minister representing the country from which the caller comes. Our minister, to whom I am indebted for much assistance and many kind nesses during my stay at the capital, accompanied me to the palace and instructed me, as they say in the fraternities, "in the secret work of the order." Except where the caller wears a unis form, he is expected to appear in evening dress, although the hour fixed is in the day time. At the outer door stand men in livery, one of whom conducts the callers through long halls, beauti fully decorated on ceilings and walls, to a spa cious reception room where a halt is made until the summons comes from tho emperor's room The emperor stands in the middle of the receiv ing room with an interpreter at his side. The caller on reaching the threshold bows, he then advances half way no the emperor, pauses and bows aganr; he then proceeds and bows a third "reign? Ule GXtended hand v- MTne conversation is brief .and formal, con sisting of answers to the questions asked by his majesty The emperor is 53 years old about five feet six inches in height, well Milt and wearo a beard, although, as is the case with most JanS nese, the growth is not heavy. On retiring the caller repeats tho three bows. UB tue We were shown through the palace and hnv ing seen the old palace at Kyoto, whlSh was tto capital until tho date of the restoratton Amr I was struck with the difference Sffome be a$5F monial. One meets tea on lUs arrival ft ?' constant companion during h?s ?stav mi I h 3 mingled with the farewells Sit SLft l Is was jrarir arSs S fused. This custom prevails in the larger stores and is scrupulously observed,, at public buildings and colleges. The tea is served in dainty cups and taken without sugar or cream. The tea drinking habit is universal here, the kettle of hot water sitting on the coals in the brazier most of tho time. At each railroad station the boys sing out, "Cha! Cha!" (the Japanese word for tea) and for less than two cents in our money they will furnish the traveler with an earthen pot of hot tea, with pot and cup thrown in. The use of tea at social gatherings dates back at least six hundred years, when a tea ceremonial was instituted by a Buddhist priest to soften the manners of the warriors. It par took of a religious character at first, but soon be came a social form, and different schools of tea drinkers vied with each other in suggesting rules and methods of procedure. About three hundred years ago Hideyoshi, one of the greatest. of the military rulers of Japan, gave what is described as the largest tea party on record, the Invitations being in the form of an imperial edict. All lov ers of tea were summoned to assemble at a given date in a pine grove near Kyoto, and they seem to have done so. The tea party lasted ten days and the emperor drank at every booth. According to Chamberlain, tea drinking" had reached tho luxurious stage before the middle of the fourteenth century. The lords took part in the daily gatherings, reclining on tiger skins, the walls of the guest chamber being richly orna mented. One of tho popular games of that day was the offering of a number of varieties of tea, the guests being required to guess where each variety was produced, the best guess winning a handsome prize. The tea ceremony answered at least one useful purpose it furnished an inno cent way of killing time, and "the lords of that day seem to have had an abundance of time, on their hands. The daughters of the upper classes were trained to perform the ceremony, and dis played much skill therein. Even to this day it is regarded as one. of the accomplishments, and young ladies perfect themselves in it much as our daughters learn music and singing. At Ko goshima, Governor Chikami, one of . the most scholarly men 'whom I have met here, had his daughter perform for my instruction a- part of the ceremony, time not permitting more. With charming grace she prepared; poured, and served this ' Japanese nectar, each motion. baingy.acconl ing to the rules of the most -approved sect, for there are sects among tea drinkers. - -. The theatre is an ancient institution here, although until recently the actors were consid ered beneath even the mercantile class. Their social standing has been somewhat improved since the advent of western ideas. The theatre building is very plain as compared with ours or even with the better class of homes here. They are always on the ground floor and have a circular, revolving stage within the larger stage which makes it possible to change the scenes instantly. The plays are divided into two kinds, his torical ones reproducing old Japan and modern plays. The performance often lasts through tho entire day and evening, some of the audience bringing their tea kettles and food. Lunches, fruit, cigarettes and tea are also on sale in the theatre. The people sit on the floor as they do in their homes and at public meetings. One of the side aisles is raised to the level of the stage and the actors use it for entrance and exit In this connection a word should be said in regard to the Geisha girls vho have furnished such ample material for the artist and the deco rator. They are selected for their beauty and trained in what is called a dance, although it differs so much from the American dance as scarcely to be describable by that term. It is rather a series of graceful poses in which gay costumes, dainty fans, flags, scarfs and sometimes parasols play a part. The faces of the dancers are expressionless and there is no exposure of the limbs. The Geisha girls are often called in to entertain guests at a private dinner, the per formance being before, not aftei' the meal Our first introduction to. this national amuse ment was at the Maple club dinner given at lokio by a society composed of Japanese, men who had studied in the United States. The name of the society is a Japanese phrase which means tho "Friends of America." The, Maple club is the most. famous restaurant in Japan, and the Geisha girls employed thero stand at the head of their profession. During the dancing there is music on stringed instruments,, which resemble the tmnjo in tone, and sometimes singing. At the Maple club the Geisha girls' displayed American and Japanese flags We saw the dancing again at an elaborate dinner glvenby Mr, Fukuzawa editor of tho Jijl Shimpo. Here also the flags' of J)oth nations ,w.pre used. 7u what words can I adequately describe' the ite ""N-j. waBUurWB8WMWWBfo. rrnrrti i J&Jhfow i hi , fj I, Thfr
