The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-04-06
Miscellaneous
- The Golden Fish Of Dwarf Castle.


ia silearly every large cities in japan
ttfdfsi-, 6r was, large castle, In which the
prince of the province or his soldiers lived
u;iime of peace, or fought in time of war.
Naeoya, in the province of Dwarf, in the
ceplal part of the main island, was seen
the largest aud finest of all the castles in
.Iapaa They were built of thick walls of
sto1c masonry from twenty 10 one hundred
ieetbigb, and divided from the outside land
byYmoats filled with water. At the angles
were high towers, built Of heavy beams Of
oOl covered with lime to make them fire
prsof,s and rooted with tiles. They had
many gables like pagoda, and PORTFOLIOS
or windows for the archers to shoot ont
their arrows on the besiegers. These wind
owswere covered with copper or iron shut
tiers. At the end Of the topmost gable OF
thelawer, with its tail in the air, was a
great q .li made Of bronze Or copper, from six
to ten feet high, weighing thousands Of
poanl.. II was a frightiu monster of a
iislr. deol;ing "a II Jonah would be no more
in fts m5uth than a sprat in a maekerePs
1t stood oa its lower gill, like a boy about
to walk on his hands and head 1t al
.wass reminded me of the old fsshione can
desficks, in which glass dolphin ram
papb, with very thick lips, holds candle in
his glass tail In Japan, however, the hukes
offKis brou2s iish's tail instead ofa candle
was Usually occupied by a live hawk, or
sometimes an eagle, cormorant, or falcon
Half the birds in Fukui solemny believed
the castle towers to have been built for
their especial perch and benefit often
have seen every fsh-tail ofthe castle oc-
cupied.by crows. They We're finishing their
toilet, enjoying an aiterdinner nap, or
making speeches tn each other, observing
theruics of crier no better than some as
semblies in which several persons tllk at
once.
We sometimes say of boy having veal
tiny parents, that che was born with silver
spoon in his mouth" Now, as the Japan
ese eat with chopsticks, and use their silver
for other purposes, they expr IS nearly the
same idea in other words.
In Japan, the better class of people-those
who'ehjOy the privilege of wealth, education
position--live either within or near the
castle One of the first things a well-born
japanese baby sees and learns to know out
doors Il the upright bronze fish on the cas-.
tie towers. Hence a Japanees is proud TO
say, 81 was born within signt of the shachi-
hoto" the Japanese name of this fsb).
Theprinces of Dwarf were very proud, rich
and powerful; and they determined to erect
gold instead OF bronze fishes on their castle
So they engaged famous gold and silver
smiths to make them shachihoko ten feet
high. It's tail, mouth, aud fins were of sol
i'd beaten silver. Its scales were plates of
solid gold Its eyes were of block glass. 1t
cost many thousands of dollars, aud re.
quired about twenty men to lift it.
This was at Nagoys, city famous for its
bronze, porcelain vases, cups, and dishes, its
wonderful enamel work called cloisonne, and
its gay fans. Thousands of these japanese
fans with which we cool our faces in sum-
mer were made in Nagoya. Well, when,
after much toll and the help of great der
ricks and tackling, the great object was
raised to its place, thousands of persons
came from distance to see the golden won
der. The people of Nagoya felt prouder
than ever of their handsome city. In all
kinds Of weather, the golden fish kept its
colorsnd glittering brightness, never tar
riishing or blackening like the common
shacltiF5lO on other castles. Morning and
evening, the sunbeams gilded it with fresh
splendor, The gold and the sunlight seem
ed to know each other, for they always
kissed. The farmers children, who lived
miles distant in the country, clapped their
hands with Joy when the flashing fukes on
the castle towers cleaned in the air. The
travellers plodding along the road, as they
mounted a hill, knew when the city was
near, though they could not see anything
but the gleam like a star.
Alas that ! should tell tell it. What was
joy 70 the many, was temptation 10 some.
They were led TO envy, then to covet, then
% stesi the prize A man whose talents and |
iadustsy. might have made him rich and !
honored, became robber-frst in heart
and then in act. He began to study how
he mighk steal the golden fish. How was |
he to reach the roof of the tower? Even if |
he could sw i'm the moat and scale the wall, |
he could not mount to the top story of the
roof.a The gate was guarded. The septinels
were yigifsnt, and armed with sword and
spear. How should he reach the golden
scslesY s-
A kite, twenty-five feet square. was made |
Of thick paper, with very strong but light
bamboo frame, with tough rope for tether,
and vair Of bobs strong enoughto lift two
hundred pounds. No man could hold such
a kite. The rope was wound round wind
less and paid out by one person, while two |
men and three boys held the handcart A
very dark, cloudy night, when brisk wind |
was up, was chosen. When ali was ready |
at midnight, the handcart was run out along |
the moat the robber with pryng.tools in |
his belt, and his feet in loops at the end of |
the bobs, mounted on the perilous air.ship.
more daHgefous than balloon. The wind was |
in the light direction, and by skillful move.
ments Of the cart and windless, the robber,
after swinging like pendulum for a few
minutes, finally alighted on the right roof
Fastening the bobs so as TO secure his de-
scent, he,began the work of wrenchng off
the golden scales
This he found no easy task The gold
smith had riveted them SO securely that
they deiied his pryiug, and the soft, tough
metal could not lie torn of, He dared not
make any clinking noise With hammer or
chisei, lest the sentinels should hear him
After what appeared to be several hours
work, he had loosened only two scales,
worth scarcely more than fifty dollars.