The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-04-17
The Story of Neesima.

The romantic and touching history of the
Japanese missionary, Neesima. and his chrys-
anthemums, which have now grown famous,
is told by Mr.. F. Schuyler Mathews in "The
Golden Flower" book about the chrys-
anthemum which has lately been issued. It
is story ola great service repaid with flow
ers-but with flowers which became famous
and have themselves made famous q beauti-
full life.
Neesima was the name of a Japanese who
was born in the city of Yeddo, in 1874 As
boy he was disposed to studiousness, and
before he was 20 he received from friend
small tract, called "The Story of the Bible"
which was written by Christian missionary
in Chi.
The reading of this tract was the beginning
of new life for the young man. He deter
mined to learn more OF the Light which
shone in the East" and 10 this end resolved
to find his way to America. This was no
easy task in those days in Japan, for the
strictest watch was kept over the people to
prevent their going to foreign countries.
Neesima left his home. however, and went
to the seaport town of Hakodate, where he
remained for season, planning means of es-
cape. BY the help of a friend he concealed
himself in little boat laden with
supplies that were being taken to an Ameri-
can vessel in the harbor.
AS the little boat left the quay, an officer
caught sight of il, and called, who goes
there?" "Ore dal" ct is ~ shouted the
boatman, and the craft was allowed to pass.
Neesima reached the vessel in safety, and
the captain concealed him in a closet while
the japanese officer made tour of the boat
before she sailed. At Shanghai was transfer
red to ship belonging to the late Alpheus
Hardy, OF Boston. He told the master of this
ship that he wished to go to America to be
educated, and was brought across the ocean
by the kind hearted captain. At Hong Kong
he supplied himself with money by the sale
of his sword, the badge of his social rank in
Japan, and bought Chinese New Testament
On his arrival in Boston young Neesima
was taken to Mr.. Hardy, and told him of his
desire to learn more of the Light in the
East" Mr.. Hardy assured him that there
was indeed Light in the East, and that
it should shine for him and his people. He
gave Neesima an education at Phillips An
dover Academy at Amherst College, and the
Andover Theological Seminary.
Joseph Hardy Neesima, as he was now
called, was ordained to the ministry in Bos-
ton, in 1874 and went to japan soon after to
found the school of the Doshisha, or "The
one Purpose" in Kioto and he was connect
ed with the school to the time of his death.
In 1887 Neesima sent to Mrs. Hardy, in
Boston, collection of some 80 varieties of
the'chrysanthemum. These were given by
Mrs. Hardy to two gardeners to propagate,
and from them came some of the most won
derfuly beautiful flowers ever seen, of forms
hitherto unknown in this country, whose
fame has filled the Western world.
In the midst of the celebrity attained by
the great white, frosty flower, called the
"Mrs. Alpheus Hardy" came the news of the
death, in January, 1890, of Joseph Hardy
Neesima in Japan. With its comrades, the
flower was dying token of light and love
from the man whose tongue had often re-
peated the words:
The dayspring from on high hath visited
us, TO give light 10 them that sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death"