The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-02-01

Dal-J kan, or supreme Council, nau ls-
sued $4S, ZOO. 900 worth of paper and sub
sequently the Mim-bu sho, or Department
of the Interior, was commissioned to issue
81, SOC, 600 more. By several clever fnan- |
cial tricks and by the means ready at the
command of q gOvernmet which is des- |
culated we'll, and everybody seemed
pleased.
There was but one trouble-the money |
was easily counterfeited. John Chinaman
was especially active at the work. Johns
favorite method was to split the pecuniary
backs, to add the design by means of
clever pen. John was often caught, and
so was Conf. tGopji in our nickname for
the typical Jap, as SANDY" "Pat,"
"Hans," and "Johu," are of certain other
types Of mankind.) Several bushels Of
shoulders, because John and Conf pre-.
ferred to earn their living "by their PEN"
Japanese swords are sharp. Sentence and
execution are often on the same day.
Gonji's head, after being chopped off, was
fixed on post by the road. On the first
welcomed US, add told us to beware of
counterfeiting. But the more heads the
more counterfeiting, until finally proven
ton instead of cure was tried and con-
tract was given to q German firm of bank
note engravers at Frankfort. and to an
American company in New York, to fur
nish notes engraved in the best foreign
| style. Now, the green, pink, and blue
treasury-notes of Japan defy the counter
| feitef. Ninety-nin million dollars worth
Of the new paper has been printed out
| we have yet to hear of a successful imita-
ton of the new issues. The executiener
does not like the foreign made money, and
prefers home manufactures.
The average size of the new currency is
that of carte de risite, and, in beauty and
s1o1
ton, it is equal to any in the world. In a
circle of flashing sun rays are two celestial
birds, with their sacred mouths open, as if
chuckling over what nice thing it is to
be the sacred birds Of paper-money trea-
sury. They have long, sweeping tails,
their necks are two impossible curls that
would defy even Darwin to tell how and
why they were evolved. Above these
happy fowls is the emperor's ancestral
crest-an open chrysanthem um-and be-
tween them the denomination in English
and Chinese character, and the English
words "Imperial Japanese Treasury
which in microscopic letters, are. repeated
several hundred times. The cherry bios
som, the national floral emblem of Japan
is also conspicuous. Beneath are the ON
nipresent dragons, which, with claws, tail,
horns, and mustaches, are made to look as
respectable as possible. On the reverse
f side are circles, small birds, peacocks
> dragon flies, crests, stars, and much mic
3 roscopic printing in English. Each piece
f is stamped in blue, red, and green ink
: with the elaborate seal of the japanes'
J., Imperial Treasury. The whole amount o.
: paper money thus far issued by the Jap
9 anese Government is as follows: hinsdtsu
: bearing the seal of the Dai kan, or Su
j., preme Council of Japan. AZ, 900, 900 no
g (dollars) kinsatsu issued by the Min. bu
Q sho, or Department of the Interior, 800
q 900 roi !; paper money, manufactured b.
: by the diamios, but still in circulation
q 80, 300 30 roi; new paper money, intehde'
" to replace all the old paper, both local an
@ national, $99, 100000.
In addition to the above, stampe
@ Deeds" which circulate as money, hav
o been issued by the Japanese Governmen
K to the extent of several million dollars.
IT The displacement by the national cur
q rency of the old paper issues, which ar
10 worthless beyond the limits of the PROVING
IT in which they are printed, will have
IS healthy effect on the prosperity of tn
10 country. The old metallic money, too, ha
If been superseded by a new coinage of gres
h beauty and uniformity, which is denomin
10 ated according to the decimal system
d With q national coinage and currenc!
e financial enterprises are now being set o
is foot, and already there are banks conduct
10 ed on the American national bank prime
IF pie in many of the leading cities through
x out the empire. They are the growth
e less than five years. VIC. GRIFFIs.