Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-11-24


Ledger, dating from Simods, writes in pleas
ant manner of Mr.. Townsend Harris, the Con-
sui General, and his dealings with the Japan
csc. Mr.. Harris has been two years in Japan.
After staying a while at Simoda, where he
was furnished with large temple to live in,
servants to attend upon him, and everything
supplied in the eating line, Mr.. Harris and
his secretary received permission to visit Yed-
DO, and of their journey thither we have the
following account:
the Emperor sent him body guard of
one hundred and twenty men. and had com
Portable houses to put up along the road for
him 10 pass the nights in. He also sent him
a large sedan chair, carried by twelve hearers,
and so roomy that he put mattress into it,
and rechned at full length when he was tired
of sitting. 1t is only about seventy miles
from this place to Yeddo but the country is
so rugged aud the roads so bad the first part
of the way that they were seven days in ac-
comprising the distance. Every night they
stopped at one of the comfortable houses
which had been prepared expressly upon hts
account, and after an early breakfast. resumed
their road. Upon arriving at Yeddo, they
were lodged in the most commodious quar-
tiers, treated with the greatest respect and at
tention, and granted interviews with the EN-
| peror. The reader is OF course aware that
every one, soTsigner OF Japanese, who has
heretofore approached the Emperor, has been
required to do so upon his knees. This Gus
tom they were determined to adhere to in the
| present case ; but, somehow or other it had
never before been so difficult to bell the cat
WHO was to speak to Mr.. H. aboutit:' That
was the question. Finally japanese Doug
! !
huge shoulders to the task This gentleman
was not the most determined man in Japan
but then he was upon the most intimate
terms with the American Legation. He
therefore called upon Mr.. H., and commence
ed the attack by begging that he would not
be offended at what he was going to say.
| Certainly not says that gentleman. But he
has an inkling of what is coming. and look
OF sudden and unusual gravity causes Doug
las TO tremble. Instead, therefore, of broach-
ing the subject, he begs once more that his
Excelency will not be offended at something
which he Douglas has been ordered to say
and then coughs and looks behind him.
Certainly not !! and an increase of gravity
in the consular face. Cores bonding increase
OF nervousness on the part of Douglas. Grand
/ tablsaux, in which the American eagle is
supposed to dominate. Final desperation of
Douglas, and outbursting of the secret.
Mr.. Harris listened kindly and quietly to all
he had to say, and then replied with his usual
judgment and frinness of manner He told
him that he was anxious to do everything
that was consistent with self respect to do
honor to the Emperor, but that this thing was
out OF the question. and had better not be re.
ferred to again. Were Nippon to send min
lister to my country he said, 'he might aD-
proach our President in any manner he saw
lit. He might kneel and knock his head
against the floor, or he might bow to him and
shake hands There we allow every one per-
feet liberty and it is but right, therefore,
that be allowed the same here
Very we'll very well replied Douglas
half alphabetically. And thus was settled
this question 'foreUerF remarked Mr.. Har-
ris."
In regard to the American presents pre-
scented to the Japanese by Commodore Perry,
we have the following. The writer gives the
conversation of Mr.. Harris
You know that Commodore Perry gave
them among other things. a circular railroad
and engine, and tender, and brass howItzer
one Of tho Dahlgren guns. They have a
large house built for the safe keeping Of this
railroad, and every now and then they take
it out, lay the track, get up steam, and then
away go a dozen or more high officers upon
hare charge of everything, and are never at
loss in the discharge of their duty. 1 sup
pose that they will soon have a track laid
from Kanayawa to Yeddo but | am very
doubtful if the railroad would pay in any
other part of Japan ; the country is too
broken. As for the boat howitze1, they
have had one thousand cast exactly like it,
and mounted them in the forts of their diff
ferent ports. And now, here is something
else that will surprise you. Upon both 4th
of Julys that l have passed here, and once
upon Washington's Birthday, they fred a sa-
lutte of twenty one guns with these howitzers.
Mr.. Henskins and myself attended, with the
American flag flying, and the people exhibit
ed the greatest good feeling and enthusiasm.
One might have almost imagined them Amer
leans.
What have they doue with the electric
telegraph that was presented to them ? 1
asked
Little or nothing, think, but am not
certain"
Mr.. Harris describes the Emperor as fol-
lows:
"Qute a fine looking man with soft
voice and pleasant smile. 1 suppose he is
some thirty five years old. In fact l know
he is, for as it is considered polite in Japan to
ask one of his age, aud how many children
he has, l was, of course, polite. Poor fell
low He has what one of US would consd-
er miserable life He does not leave the
palace but once in two years and then as he
passes through the town every one must leave
the streets, and close the doors and windows
of their houses. Their custom does not al.
low them even to look at him. This is the
temporal Emperor at Miaco is even worse for
he never leaves his palace. He is venerated
so much that they cannot even run the risk Of
his being looked upon by the crowd
JAPANESE JUeaLERs.-A letter from ST.
mOda, in the Philadelphia Ledger, gives the
following account OF the feats of iuggler-
the Anderson of Jspan-performed before
Mr.. Townsend Harris, the American Consul
General:
No l. He took ar ordinary boys top, spun
it in the air. caught it on his hand, and then
placed it Cstill spinning) upon the edge of a
sword near the hilt Then he dropped the
sword point little and the top moved Slowly
toward it. Arrived at the very end, the hit
was lowered in turn and the top brought
back. AS usual, the sword was dangerously
sharp.
No. q was also performed with the top
He spun it in the air, and then threw the end
OF the string back towards It with such accu
racy that it was caught up and wound itsel
all ready for a second cast, BY the time /
had done this it had reached his hand and
was ready for another spin.
No. was still performed with the top
There was an upright pole, upon the top of
| which was nerched q 1tttie bousa xy;,h n 49,.