The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-03-19
A TALE OF OLD JAPAN.

In the first half of the Seventeenth CEN
fury Kotsuke-no-Suke was the lord of
Soma, u rich agricultural district con-
tanning 1876 villages. Kotsuke-no-Suke
was hard, grasping landlord, who OPP
pressed his peasants by heavy taxes until
they were reduced to the last extremity
Of poverty. Year after year the wretched
farmers petitioned their lord, through
the village mayors, to have their burdens
lightened, but without avail. Being a
member of the shogun's cabinet, Kot-
suke-no-Suke spent the greater part of
the year in Yeddo, where he maintained
private palace and host of retainers
His extravaganza gave rise to much COM
ment In the capital, but few of the
naughty mobiles who frequented his en-
tertainments knew by what means the
| lord of Soma procured the vast sums of
money necessary to support such lavish
magnifcence.
In the fall of the year 1643 the farmers
dwelling on the estate of Kotsuke-no-
Suke assembled together to devise meas
ures for their relief. That year the taxes
had been heavier than ever before and
scores of families were threatened with
! starvation during the winter. The stout
est hearted among them were Allied with
! despair at the apparent hopelessness of
their situation. Sogoro, the mayor of
one of the villages and himself farmer,
had been throughout all their vicissitudes
the stanch friend of the down trodden
peasants. He now advised them to draw
up petition to the shogun's cabinet and
then to select q committee to go up to
Yeddo and present it to that body.
When the evil doings of their lord were
known to bis fellow councillors their up
braidings and his own wounded pride
might shame him into mercy. Sogoro's
plan was adopted, and he was one Of the
number chosen to go to Yeddo to present
the memorial to the cabinet Knowing
the dangers that attended his mission
Sogoro, on the eve of his departure,
called his family together and said.
~ am going to Yeddo, and it may be
that / shall never return, for 1t is hard
to say how / shall be treated by those in
power | am willing, however, to give
my life for the good of our suffering fell
cup Of wine together, for 1t may be that
you shall see my face no more. II I die,
mourn not over my fate-weep not for
me-"
Sogoro and his companions went to
Yeddo, and there they soon learned of
the riotousliving of their spendthrift lord,
and they wept when they reflected that
all his wanton luxury was bought with
the life blood of their furnishing friends
at Soma. In few days they had an
opportunity of presenting their petition
to Lord Kuze, member of the cabinet,
and they all felt elated that the great
nobleman had condescended to listen to
their grievances and to accept their me-
mortal.
The action Of Kotsuke-no-Suke's ten
ants created no little stir in Yeddo, and
many observations upon that nobleman
and his style Of living were made that
could scarcely be called complimentary.
But it does not do for people living in
glass houses to throw stones. All the
members Of the shogun's cabinet had at
one time or another been guilty of OPP
pressing their own peasants, and 1t would
be extremely awkward for them now to
sit in judgment upon Kotsuke-no-Suke.
So it was decided to return the petition
to the complainants. Accordingly So
goro received summons to appear at
the residence of Lord Kuze. There he
was met by two councillors, who handed
him the ill starred memorial, saying:
"a short time ago you had the audao-
ity to thrust this petition into the hands
Of Lord Kuze. By his extraordinary
clemency he forglves your offense, but
beware that you do not again presume
upon his lordship's forbearance, for i'll
will 1t fare with YOU"
ellis lordships censure is just" hum
bly, responded Sogoro. "But, oh, my
lordsl this action of ours is not hasty
or i'll considered. Year after year have
we suffered untold hardships, until now
we and our friends are without even
the necessaries of life. Therefore have
we presented this petition. pray you,
lords, consider our case-vouchsafe to
help us that we may live. Our gratitude
to you shall know no bounds"
"Your request is just one," replied
the councillors, when they had heard the
words of Sogoro, "but your memorial
cannot be received.
Disheartened beyond measure Sogoro
sought out his companions and acquaint-
ed them with the result of their efforts.
1t was a gloomy evening which the
Soma men spent together, discussing
with fearful voices the desperate extrem-
ity to which the failure of their plans
had reduced themselves and their friends.
At last Sogoro said:
"There is still one thing left for US to
do; we can appeal to our lords master,
tho shotgun. / know 1t is a capital Of
Tense for commoner to approach his
majesty, yet, for the sake of my suffer-
ing brethren, I shall sacrifice myself
that their wrongs may be made known
and happily righted. On the morrow,
therefore, do you all, except six men,
return to Soma and tell our poor friends
to have stout hearts. for there isyet hope
for them"
Sogoro had from the FIRST been recog-
nized as the leading spirit of the enter
prise, and his companions now made
haste to follow out his suggestions. The
intrepid farmer and his six associates
drew up new memorial setting forth
their grievance In plain, straightfor-
ward manner and earnestly appealing
for redress.
Shortly after, while the Shotgun, Iye-
mitsu, was on his way to Uyeno to wor-