The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-03-30

TOT tuclT StIOuS WluSS Cdu ny AWAY,
And we would keep our little daughter.
The Golden Fish of Dwarf Castle.
In nearly every large city in Japan
there is, or was, a large castle, in which
the prince of the province or his soldiers
lived in time of peace or fought in time
of war. In Nagoya, in the province of
Dwarf, in the central part of the main
island, was seen the largest and finest of
all the castles in Japan. They were
built of thick walls of stone masonry
from twenty to one hundred feet high.
and divided from the outside lands by
moats filled with water. At the angles
were high towers, built of heavy beams
of wood covered with lime to make them
ire-proof, and rooted with tiles. They
had many gables like pagoda, and port
holes or windows for the archers to shout
out their arrows on the besiegers. These
windows were covered with copper or
iron shutters. At the end of the tOpmost
gable of the tower, with its tail in the
air, was great fish made of bronze or
copper, from six to ten feet high, weigh
ing thousands of pounds. 1t was a
frightful monster of fish, looking as if
Jonah would be no more in its mouth
than sprat in mackerel's. 1t stood on
its lower gill, like boy about to walk
on his hands and head. 1t always re-
minded me of the Old-fashioned candle
sticks, in which glass dolphin ram
pant, with very thick lips, holds candle
in his glass tail. In Japan, however, the
fukes of this bronze fish's tail, instead of
a candle, were usually occupied by a live
hawk, or sometimes an eagle, cormorant
or falcon. Half the birds in Fukui
solemnly believed the castle towers to
have been built for their especial perch
and benefit. I often have seen every
tish-tail of the castle occupied by crows.
They were finishing their toilet, enjoying
an after-dinner nap, or making speeches
to each other, observing the rules of order
DO better than some assemblies in which
several persons talk at once.
We sometimes say of a boy having
wealthy parents. that he scas born with a
silrer spoon in has mouth. Now, as the
Jar anese eat with chop-sticks, and use
their silver for other purposes, they ex-'
press nearly the same idea, in other
words.
In japan, the better class of people
those who enjoy the privilege of wealth,
education or 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 is the up
right bronze fish on the castle towers.
Hence, japanese is proud to say, Il
was born within sight of the shdctthoko."
1.-THE japanese name of this fish, The
princes of Dwarf were very proud, rich
and powerful; and they determined to
erect gold instead of bronze fishes on
their castle. So they engaged ia
nous gold and silver smiths to make
them shachihOko ten feet high. Its
tail, mouth and fins were Of solid beaten
silver. Its scales were plates of solid
gold It's eyes were of black glass. 1t cost
many thous ands of dollars, and required
about twenty men to lift it.
This was at Nsgoya-a city famous for
it's bronzes, porcelain vases, cups and
dishes, its wonderful enamel work called
cloisonne, and its gray fans. Thousands
of the japanese fans with which we cool
our faces in summer we're made in Ma
goya Well, when, after much toll and
the help of great derricks and tacklipg,
the great object was raised to its place,
thousands of persons came from a dis
lance to see the golden wonder. The
people of Nagoya felt prouder than ever
Of their handsome city. In all kinds Of
weather the golden fish kept its color and
glittering brightness, never furnishing or
blackening like the common shdchihokO
On other castles. Morning and evening,
the sunbeams gilded it with fresh splen-
dor. The gold and the sunlight seemed
to know esch other, for they always
kissed. The farmers children, who lived
miles distant in the country, clapped
their hands with joy when the flashing
hukes on the castle towers cleaned in the
air. The travellers plodding along the
road, 90 they mounted hill, knew when
the city Was near, though they could not
se~ anything but the CLEAN like star of
gold.
Alas that l should tell it! What was
joy to the many, was temptation to
come. They were led TO envy, then to
coset, then To steal the prize. A man
whose talents and industry might have
mads him rich and honored, became Q
rbber-6rst in heart, and then in act
He began IN study how he might steal
ne Rhlden fab. How VS. he 70 reach
~ rouf Of the tower7 Evsn II be could