The morning call., 1891-05-15
STRANGE JAPANESE.
A Returned Traveller Tells OF
Their PecnliaritieS.
The Ferd Between the Russians and the Ma
tives-Eatural Curiosity-Some Very
Ancient Swords.

w. J. Ford of New York, who has spent
the last four years in the interior OF Corea
and Japan, arrived in this city on Wednes-
day by the steamer Australia, and is now at
the Palace. During his stay in Japan ne
studied closely the habits Of the people, ana
Is familiar with their peculiarities.
THE recent attack on the person OF the
CzarowitZ," he said yesterday in converse
ton with CALL reporter, occurred Oh
course since sailed for home, but can
readily understand the causes back OF 1t. L
am absolutely certain that the aSSallant was
neither fanatic nor lunatic, but what IS
known in japan as an enthusiast Ihey
are possessed of great curiosity, and the
presence OF distinguished foreigner is sur
hcient to cause the enthusiast to become I'M
bued with a desire to commit some act that
will give him great nOtOriety.
Back of all that, however, is bitter teud
existing between the japanese and the Rus-
SLAMS, which is an outgrowth Of an ill-dehned
fear on the part of Japan that the Gar has
designs on the island empire and wishes TO
add it to his territory. Some years ago the
authorities of the Greek Church leased
piece of land in Yokohama and on 1t erected
church, which is by far the largest build
ing IN the city, not excepting even the I'M
perial palace. In addition to this the sacred
edldce stands on the summit OF an emnence
which OverloOks the palace, and nothing
could be more abh0rrent to the Japanese
An effort is now being made to annul the
lease.
STONED THE LEGATION.
"Ths feeling led to an incident last win
ter which came very nearly involving the
two nations in quarrel. When the En-
peror went TO open Parliament In person
ne travelled by special train, and great
crowds OF people cOngTegated along the
route to witness the royal progress. AT the
Russian legation. which is surrounded by
high stone wall, seats had been erected
so as to overlook the railroad track, and
when the royal train passed, OF course the
officers and the ladies of the legation looked
down upon the Emperor. Now, under the
laws OF the empire this is crime, punish
able with death, and SO indignant were the
people that a mob attacked the legation.
The ladies were driven into the building,
and some Of the attaches slightly injured.
The Russian servants met the mob with
shower Of tiles, torn from the roof, and
number Cf the japanese were severely cut
about their heads. Russia INDUCED in some
threats at the time, but the matter was al
lowed TO blow over 1t may be, however,
that the attack on the CZaroWtZ will be
taken as preteXt for stirring up the old
quarrel, and it Is probable that damages
will be demanded.
NATIVE CURIOSITY.
"This recalls to my mint also the fact
that the United States was compelled TO
pay an award of $4,000 for the killing OF
number Of Japanese SchOOl-children through
the caTeessneSs of the officers Of the Ameri-
can war-ship Omaha, and the circumstances
Of which Illustrate perfectly the exiraordi-
nary curiosity of the people. on the coast.
of Japan is small island. which was Sc
lected by the Omaha for target practice, un-
der the belief that 1t was uninhabited, and
a number of shells were thrown ashore.
On the opposite side of the island was a set
Element with a school. When the firing
had ceased, the schOO-master, accompanied
by his pupils, crossed over 10 where the
shells had struck and found one uneX-
plOded. 1t was carried back to the school
room, and he Immediately proceeded
to deliver lecture on the uses
and construction of the she'll. He ex-
planned that IL could be XXI lOded only by
concussiOn. and the scholars at once de-
manded that IL be exploded so that they
could see it in actual operation. One OF
their number was sent for hammer and
the shell was placed in the middle of the
floor. Around it fifteen OF the pupils, on
hands and knees In order 10 view IL more
closely, formed themselves in circle and
awaited the arrival of the hammer. When
it was brought the teacher, with a parting
word of explanation, struck the percussion
cap on the shell, and an explosion followed
that wrecked the building and killed ten
boys. The others were more or less severe
ly injured, but their curiosity had been
gratified.
ITO a japanese who related the circum-
stances to me l said: That was indeed a.
sad accident
"'Oh, no. he replied, 1T was very fortu-
nate. The poor people got SIS, 600 for the
children, and that was just what they
wanted.
CrvprOr-S cUOpDc
Mr.. Ford'5 trunks are literally crammed
with CuTOs, and among them is a collec-
ton Of swords that would be hard TO dupli-
cate. OF the latter was one in particular Of
great value, and, according 10 Mr. Ford,
was similar. no doubt, TO the one used by
the fanatic who made the attack upon the
CzarowitZ few days ago. 1t is a slightly
curved blade Of some three feet in length
and valued at $3.50
That sword" said Mr.. Ford as he ran
his hand affrcti0nately over its glittering
blade, SIS 639 years old, aud was made by
AkihirO, the grandson Of Masamuni, the
latter of whom was the most famous of all
the sword makers of Japan. The metal Of
which the sword is made IS much harder
than the finest steel, but the manufacture
of it has become a lost art. With it cut an
American cutass Ia two, and not nick, as
you can see, was left in the blade Of my
sword"
The most curious weapon. perhaps, In
Mr.. Ford's collection is a short knife 523
years old. The blade, which is thick and
heavy, is ncased in a lacquer scabbard,
into a space in the side of which is thrust a
diminutive knife with peculiar characters
on its blade The owner explained that it
was knife that had survived the feudal
days OF the empire.
:" In those days." said he, "the feudal
lords were constantly at war with each
other, and when two rival retaners met
there was sure to be a fight to the DEATH
They fought with knives similar to that
and until one was killed. The tiny knife
was then stuck in the earth by the corpse.
and those characters on the blade indicate
the name Of the owner. This was done so
that when the relatives of the dead man
found the body they could know by the
knife who had committed the deed. and con-
tinue the feud If they so desired"
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