Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-04-12
EARI-KhRI.

a gentleman who bad travelled cxten-
sively III Japan, in speaking with reporter
recently, said: ''Hari-kari, or the happy dis
patch is not committed by the Japanese on
every trivial occasion, as many people be-
lieve. a japanese does not slaughter HIM
self Oil the front door step, if tho dinner to
which he has been invited is cold and the
wines poor. as some writers would have
one to suspect. On the contrary, the hap
py dispatch is much esteemed privilege,
allowed to the aristocracy only and only ex-
ercised by them on special occasions and
With great ceremony. You see it is some.
thing Il man can do but once, and not every
man that once, So whom it is done it is done
well The privilege formerly belonged not
oEiy 10 ;iie Damios, but also TO their fighting
men, those two.sworded fellows who cor.
responded in the old japanese civilization
to the sword auG bucklcr men who sur
rounded the barons of the middle ages.
When Il Dalnio committed hari-kari it
was considered the proper thing for
his fighting men TO avail them
selves ot ,rc privilege OF following
his example. When he was defeated on the
field of battle he lost caste if he and all his
two. Swrrded followers did not Immediately
parlor!n The happy dispatch In these days
Il Japanese only commits hari-Siri when lie
has committed some oilense the punishment
OF which is death. Then he is sent an Off.
c:al letter inlima.iUg that IL is about time he
stepped out On receipt of the letter be sets
his house in order, sends Invitations TO bis
friends. and performs the required opera
ton.
"a gentleman who was about to avail
himself OF the privileges Of his noble birth
sent me an invitation once, and / went
There was Il good sized company present,
and afle: partaking Of refreshments in the
house we all went out into the garden
sem-circe around q mat placed close to the
walls of the building Rich screens bid the
place from the view Of any curious people
who might be lurking III the neighborhood.
All being seated, the man who was about TO
die stood on the mat. and his best friend,
with sharp sword in his hand
tool; hia placp beside him Then
salNer, on which was Tho hari kali
knife. was handed - iis eldest son, who,
knerlirg OH one knee, !o,t The knife by tho
point end prGs"n';.t il !" his father. The
father kmelt o. ho;h Knees, and, grasping
the knife wi,!l both haG,.s, made i large
cros%-shapaa Gi:sh in his abdomen. Not
content with this ha graspe;i the point in
one hand and The handle in the other and
pressed it into his throat. Then, quick "a
thought. !he friends sword flashed in the
air and the Dalmio was beheaded. The
happy dispatch had been consummaled. |
was quite cured Of AL curiosity to soc ha-
ri-kari. The man whom saw take his own
life in this way was regarded as having put
on great Eiany f.iils,' and it is considered
quite sufficient If tho noble gentleman about
to die, merely punctures himself with the
hari-kar knife and then permits his head to
he taken oil by his friend. The practice un-
douh!e::i" originated in that feeling which,
even in Europe aud America, sometimes in
duces man of position and education to
corainit suicide rather than to suffer the ig
nominy Q! n public execution, and the de-
sire which every man has 10 prove 10 his
friends that be can die game"