Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-12

AnanaS la ConQe.
Glase la Parisienne.
Dessert assortie.
Cafe.
The menu, in French and Japanese, was
printed on heavy tinted card board, and
bordered with flowers. The coffee was, of
course, served in the drawing room, where
three blind musicians, two men and one wo-
man, were stationed to entertain us
with singing (which We did not
enjoy and with real music from
two thirteen -stringed Instruments
similar to harp, except in shape, and one
that looked like a three-stringed banjo,
played with bow, like violin. The thir-
teen stringed instruments, about five feet
long, fifteen inches wide, three inches high
in the center and slightly oval, lay upon the
floor; the players, on soft, crepe cushions,
behind them, looking oddly enough with
their closely shaven heads, shut eyes, wide
mouths, and hands protected by ivory tips,
almond shaped, which were fastened to the
fingers by bands of scarlet lacquer. We had
been promised better music than we had
yet heard in Japan, and we were not disap-
pointed.
Mrs. Matsuoa is graceful, bright little
body, and enjoys everything with the enthu-
siasm of a girl She is the only Japanese
lady we have met whom any circumstance
could seem to move from the quiet, silent,
almost silent, demeanor which seems part
of Japanese education. She had her amah
bring in her elegant embroidered robes, and
We two ladies', with our children watching
with wide eyes, tried on one and another as
1--WE girls" used our mothers dresses in the
summer days at home, and her merry laugh
rang out like child's at the figure made
in her own soft shining gown and obi,
clasped with gold. Her one child, son 6
years of age, showed us, with
Ml-concealed pride, his ssdiploma"
for best scholarship, and q beautiful
globe of Japanese make and exquisitely
mounted, for highest marks In geography.
He wears European dress, like his father,
and is bright, promising boy.
Coy. Matsuda is about five feet high,
very slight built, weighing not more than
10 pounds. Previous to his appointment
as governor of the capital city of the empire
he occupied an important position in the
home department., where he evinced such
remarkable skill and untiring industry that
the new and higher honor sought him out as
the best man in the nation to be at the head
of Tokio-fu. Since he became governor
many stories are told of his prompt and
thorough manner of dealing with those en-
trusted with the city's interests. During
his first week ne caused all of the employees
of the city-numberipg about 1,500-to be
assembled in large square, when he address,
ed them as follows:
"When was in the home department l
many times heard it said that the officers of
Ho6 e., to6 fhafr Irkia hot
WAS often on their desks days and weeks
without attention, and that they paid no
heed to Office hours, coming and going as
they liked. Now, shall see to these
things myself, and if find any officer
neklecting his duty or absenting himself
without the best of reasons, he will that
moment lose his place. That is all. Good
morning"
A few days afterward he sent word to the
director of public schools that he intended
paying one of the schools visit. The di-
rector respectfully requested to know when
his excellency would honor them with his
presence. The governor replied that he
would 60 when he got ready, and the very
next morning, at 8 O'Clock (Japanses schools
commence at a. N.Y. he quietly walked into
the principal school building and examined
it thoroughly. The teachers present did not
know him, buts;were polite and attentive.
just as he was leaving the director arrived,
and was amazed to find his excellency's visit
already completed. He attempted host of
apologies and explanations but the governor
cut them short by saying 81 have examined
your school and find everything in good or
der and apparently correct; but noticed the
absence of the director. Good morning.
The director of Japanese school is. the
principal or head teacher.
In similar manner Gov. Matsuda ac.
quaints himself with every department. OF
the clty's interests, and one can easily i'm
agine the good effects of the personal atten-
ton of such an officer to the
discharge of his own duty
in prompting others to the equally faithful
discharge of theirs.
Gov. Matsuda is one of those men who in
every nation rise to great honors through
solid merit, whose happiness consists in do.
ing his duty conscientiously and fearlessIv
and my lord says: "If Gov. Matsuda lives he
will stand, not many years hence, next to his
sovereign, as prime minister.
Our little Nab was loaded with presents
and came home too excited to eat or to sleep
and am sure that, little as she is, she vii
not soon forget her happy yesterday.
Since the date of my last to you we hsye
had several slight shocks of earthquakes
and two not ''slight'' at all. From the japan
Daily Mail of April % quote:
There was smart shock OF earthquake
yesterday morning at eleven minutes to II
O'Clock. This makes the third within an
alarmingly short period, and it almost Seems
as if the Japanese prediction of the current
year being remarkable for these unwelcome