The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-03-23
me Golden Fish Of Quart Castle.


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 masonarv from twenty
to one hundred feet high, and divided
from the outside land by mOats filed
with water, At the angles were high
towers. built of heavy beams of wood
covered with lime to make them fire.
proof, and rooted witE tiles. They
had many gables like pagoda, and
port-holes or windows for the archers
to shoot out their arrows on the be-
sicoers These windows were covered
with copper or iron shutters. At the
cni OF the topmost gable of the tower,
with its tail in the air, was q great
fish made Of bronze or copper, from
six to ten feet high, weighing thousand
of pounds. 1t was frightful monster
of a fish, looking as if Jonah would be
no more in its mouth than sprat in a
mackerel's. 1t stood on its lower gill
Ike boy about to walk on his hands
and mead. 1t always reminded me of
o!d~fashioned candle-sticks, i'll which
a glass dolphin rampant. with very
thick lips, holds candle in his glass
tail. In Japan, however, the fiukes Of
this bronze fish's tall, instead of a can
die, were usually occupied by live
hawk, or sometimes an eagle, cOrmor-
ant. or falcon Half the birds in Fu-
kui solemnly believed the castle tow
ers to have been built for their espe
cial perch and benefit. | often have
seen every fish-tail Of the castle occu-
pied by crows They were finishing
their toilet, enjoying an aiter-dinner
nap, or making speeches to each other,
observing the rules Of order no better
than some assemblies in which several
persons talk at once.
We sometimes say of a boy having
wealthy parents, that ''he was born
with a silver spoon in his mouth. +"
Now, as the japanese eat with chop
sticks, and use their silver for other
purposes, they express 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 well born japanese
baby sees and learns 10 know out doors
is the uprigh: bronze fish on the castle
towers. Hence japanese is proud TO
say, Il was born within sight OF the
shachHoko" (the japanese name of
this fsh). 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 famous gold and silver
smiths to make them q sHGchihok'O ten
feet high Its tail, mouth, and fins
were of black glass. 1t cost many
thousands Of dollars, and required
about twenty men to lift it.
This was at Nagoya, city famous
for its bronzes, porcelain vases, cups,
and dishes, it's wonderful enamel woi k
called cloisonne, and its gay fans.
Thousands of these Japanese fans with
which we cool our faces i'll summer
were made in Navoya Well when
after much toll and the help of great
derricks and tackling, the great object
was raised to its place, thousands OI
persons came from a distance to see
the golden wonder. The people o'
Nagova felt prouder than ever of theil
handsome city In all kinds of wealth
cr, the golden fish kept Its color anC
glittering brightness, never furnishing
or blackening like the common stGcht .
LOrO on other castles. Morning ant
evening. the sunbe9ms gilde6 it will
fresh splendor. The gold and the sun
light seemed to knew each other, fo
they always kissed. The farmer;
children, who lived miles distant il
the country, clapped their hands with
10y when the flashing flukes on tht
castle towers CLEANED in the air. The
travellers plodding along the road, a!
they mounted a hill, knew when The
city was near though they could not
see anything but the CLEAN like a sta
of gold
Alas that | should tell it, What wa:
joy to the many, was temptation tC
some They were led to envy, ther
t. covet, then to steal the prize. A
man whoes talents thd industry nigh
have made him rICh and HOnOred, De
came a robber-lirst in heart, and thef
in act. lie began to study how Ii,
might steal the golden fish. How wa:
ne To reach the roof of the tower
Even il he could swim the moat an.
scale the wall, he could not mount tC
the top story OF the roof The gates
were guarded. The sentinels were
vigilant, and armed with sword ane
spear. How should he reach the gol
den scales
\ kite, twenty five feet square, wa
made Of thick paper. with very stront
Eut light bamboo frame, with tougl
rope Tor tether, and a pair of bob
strong enough to lit two hundred
pounds No man could hold such /;
hite The rope was wound round ;
l.. 4 \.