Page:The National Geographic Magazine Vol 16 1905.djvu/262

Rh able unit in the comity of nations. Much need not be said about his public acts. Facts are too abundant and conspicuous to make explanation necessary.

His Majesty the Emperor Mutsuhito was born on the 3d of November, 1852, and ascended the throne in February, 1867. He is a person above the ordinary Japanese height, with large, wide- set eyes and broad forehead. He is robust in health, studious in habit, kind and sympathetic in sentiment, and strong and loyal in character. Out of the civil list, which is only $1,500,000 a year, he supports, borrowing the words of Captain Brinkley, "the whole of the princely families, including that of the Crown Prince; he accompanies all patents of nobility with handsome sums; he makes liberal allowances to cabinet ministers by way of supplement to their salaries; he pays the honoraria that goes with orders and medals; he gives large amounts to charitable purposes, many of which escape the public attention altogether, and he devotes considerable sums to the encouragement of art." The $65,000 which were given for the entertainment of the soldiers on the 11th of February last, the occasion of the anniversary of the foundation of the Empire by the first Emperor, Jimmu, came out of the Imperial purse. "His manner of life is simple and frugal, and it may be truly said that his record does not show one act unworthy of the reverence with which his subjects regard him." Indeed, the people of Japan love, honor, and respect His Majesty, who has so faithfully and assiduously fulfilled the oath which he took on his accession to the throne.

I have heard sometimes certain sarcastic remarks on the reports to the Emperor from the generals and admirals on the field, which generally end with the phrase "This glorious success is due to the virtue of your Majesty." To your ears this may sound strange. Foreigners may take it as a mere form of oriental flattery; but to our mind there is nothing more truthful and sincere. In Japan loyalty and patriotism are interchangeable terms. Were it not for the devotion of men and officers to "Our Lord and country," no admiral or general, however great a military genius he may be, could ever achieve the glorious successes which crowned their efforts during the present war.

The sentiment expressed in our national hymn that

truthfully reflects the hearts' wishes of the fifty millions of his most loyal subjects.