Southern Dynasty became the true 
Mikados, the Northern Dynasty, or 
“ false ” Mikados, were at war with 
them. The latter finally became 
extinct. 
One may see readily why the im¬ 
perial emblem of Japan is a chrysan¬ 
themum. It is a white one, of sixteen 
petals on a crimson ground, and it is 
much in evidence on that November 
day when the gates of the Akasaka 
Palace are thrown open and the 
people invited in to see the beautiful 
show of kiku flowers. 
We have a saying which runs, 
“ Every dog has his day.” The Orien¬ 
tal way of expressing the same idea is 
far more flowery and no less expressive. 
They put it thus: “ In the second 
month the peach tree blooms, but not 
till the ninth the chrysanthemum. So 
each must wait till his own turn 
comes.” 
178 
