THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12710, 1 December 1909, Page 1

THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN.

Probably loss is known to tho world | at JavjVtf about iha Emperor nf Japan than about any other ruler of a £ioat nation, so considerable interest attaches to a communication on the subject from an Australian visitor to Japan, published in the "Sydney Morning Herald." The Emperor rarely goes outside the capital, and most of the Japanese have never seen him. People wait patiently for hours in the streets to see him pass, and greet him with bared heads and in silence. But the Emperor takes no notice of his subjects as he drives along. The writer describes him as a sallow, sur-ly-looking individual, whoso features display no interest in. the ttiiiißS about him. "VY-lien receiving admirals who had covered themselves with glory in his service, he did not even look at them. From an article in a Japanese paper one obtains an insight into the Emperor's private life. Of all the world's mouarchs he probably eats the simplest food. He speaks but little—a shampooer who has attended him for thirty years has ncrer had a word from llim —and 110 rarely laughs. His vmder-clottun" and night-attire are never wary twice but are given away to people about the Court. Every night he talks about literature to" the Empress and the Court iladies, and writes fifty or sixty poems a day. It is true a- Japanese poem is a short affair; but even so, this is a great output.' 'What a comfort, and again, what an encouragement- his poems were for us people in -the late war! His poem is not a manufactured sort, but hi» own heart." The Australian remarks on the' unbounded' devotion of the people for their luler. The .Humblest speak of him with the utmost reverence, and even the modern educated Japanese, with his veneer of Western culture and thought, does not care tcr hear him discussed as one would discuss King Edward or the Emperor William Western people look on their monarclis as erring mortals; the Japanese regard their Emperor as an infallible demi-god, and the Empewn? comports himself accordingly. . - . - , \

Victoria, a iionoss in Bostock and WombweM's menagerie, gave birth to five cub lions at Droitwich the other day. A litter of porcupines was also born in the menagerie. Commercial travellers find most of the natural curiosities along the line.* of travel. This is a story told by ono after a trip through southern Canada "Being, impatient to get out of a sleepy little town I ascertained tho time of the outgoing train and hurried 'down to the station. Aftsr a while an object slowly emerged from tho distance and slunk up alongside. I boarded the solitary coach, and after a tedious waft the engine began to gasp feebly, the old coach, creaked i a little, but tho train did not move^ I was about to get out to see what was the matter when the forward door of the coach was suddenly flung open and a. head popped, in. 'Hoy, you, 7 said the engineer leering at mo, 'climb off till I git a start, will y' !' " There are found in, the East Indies many edible flowers, writes a traveller. One of the most appreciated grows on a tree named the "mho wad" Tho natives consume an enormous number of these flowers, whose palo yellow corollae are pulpy and thick, and prepare, "them in various ways. When they are fresh they are put in ca-kes, to which they give a sweet flavour, but they are more especially used for making bread after. they have been dried and reduced to flour. By allowing them to ferment an agreeable wine is produced, and by distilling them a brandy is obtained, of which the Hindus are very fond.