Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-10

OF red ink and sulphuric acid at him, and
IL struck him on the shoulder, but fortu-
nately did no damage He luckily happened
to have two of his own Soshi with him, and
these men ran after the Soshi Of the oppo-
site party who threw the bottle and caught
him and handed him over to the police.
This incident occurred on the I'D of last
May. aud from my notes which 1 took at
the time. / see that on May 10 the Japan
csc papers record how twenty SOshi attack
ed the office of a political newspaper and
stoned the editors. The most of the Off
Gals of Japan have some of these Soshi
country. In some cases they ride on the
outside Of their carriages, and in others
they follow along on foot.
Set of Professional Thugs.
These Soshi are numbered by thousands
and it is surprising how well they are or
ganized. Outside of those who are attach
ed to the politicians, there are bands or
societies of them who work together for
their mutual benefit, and who are, in fact
bands of thugs. assassins. blackmailers and
t3rikers Some Of them give their services
for their food and clothes, and for two or
three dollars day they will do anything
II they are arrested you are expected to
pay them for the time they stay in prison.
and to send a few luXuries now and then
to the Jail. They are not at all fond of for
eigners, and they form a large part Of the
anti-foreign element of the country.
nS1IG Of one instance OF a foreigner who
had some trouble with a girl. There was
a question of ten dollars between them
and the girl had friends among the Sosht
The leader of one of the bands called upon
the man and told him he must pay. He re-
fused. They then said they would inform
his employers OF certain practices which
he had been carrying on, and would mix
them with lies about others. They threat
ened to assault him. and he finally conclud-
ed that the cheapest way to get out of the
matter was &c pay the bill The strangest
thing about il WIS that when ne was hand
ed over the money, they gave him a receipt
guaranteeing that he would not be troubled
by any other Soshi in the country or by
them.
The American Minister and the Soshf
The action OF the government as regards
these people has shown that they were
evidently afraid OF them, and It has been
the wonder of foreigners that they have
not been put down. They have carried on
their work openly. and a sign board was
recently stuck Up in one OF the main bust
ness parts of Tokyo which read: "Soshi
provided here. Terms moderate for the day
or month Among the men, in fact who
have shown much nerve in the matter are
our American minister and the Rev. Clay
MacCaUley, the head Of a school in Tolxyo
and a Unitarian minister OF great proIni-
hence in Japan. For some reason or other
the SOshi became incenSed at DR. MacCauleJ
his school. They told him that he would
be mobbed IL he did not. and they made
ali preparations TO carry out their threat.
Dr. MacCauley went to the American min
lister, MIR. Dun, and told MIN the situation
Mr.. Dun. who. by the way, is one of the
best men who has ever represented us at
the court OF japan, was very indignant
and he at once went to the foreign office
and told the secretary of state that the
government was responsible for keeping
the Soshi In order. and that he proposed 10
drive, with DR.. MacCauley In the legation
carriage. down to the school on the day
fixed for the mob. and II they were insulted
or attacked In any way the American gov
eminent would hold the japanese govern
ment responsible for it. The japanese OIL
Gals at once took the matter in hand and
the Soshi We're put down upon this occa-
sion. The streets leading to the school
were lined with police. and the result was
that DR. MacCauley and the American min
lister passed through uuharIned and I'M
molestcd by even look.
The American minister Is by no means
coward, and II would not be safe for