Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-10-18
HAzEp PRINCE AzuMA-

experience of the HIikado.s ,rothe,
while He Was at Annapolis.
Is not generally known that
azuha, brother of the emperor of
Japan, cadet at the United States
naval academy at Annapolis. said an
ex-navaI officer the other day. Our
government has for many wears ac-
corded to foreign nations the privilege
OF sending. at their own expense. rem
resentative youths to,ahis school. and
several Japanese have been graduated
from It, nota bic among whom are Adj
mIral Matzmulla and Capt. Katz. both
OF them distinguished officers of the
navy of their country.
"hlie Prince Azuma was at Annapo-
lis a funny incident happened, and it
apply illustrates the readiness with
which foreign youths assimilate Amer
lean ideas, even when directly an
tagonlst1c to the prejudices and tradi-
tlons OF their own native land
Nhen Azuma reached the academy
TINS was twenty-five years ago-he was
then lad of about sixteen, and was
accompanied by valet, this being the
hrst and only instance in which a naval
cadet was allowed an attendant. and
special permission had to be obtained
from Washington. Matzmulla had pre-
ceded him by two years and Katz by
one year, and both were highly esteemed
by the officers as well as by their
schoolmates.
Hazing is fine art at the naval acad.
envy, and third-class men are very at.
tentlve to newcomers after evening
TAPS" But by common consent the
japanese students were looked on in
the light of guests, and were spared
the ignominy of dangling in baskets
from the outside of windows, roosting
IN trees, grinding imaginary hand-or-
gans and other disagreeable tasks from
wnlch no American student was ex-
empt. Hence Matzmulla and Katz knew
OF these episodes only as they were
told them by their less-fortunate class
mates.
Besides the small size and delicate
appearance of the modest and bashfuI
prince appealed to the sympathetic
side of the cadets, who, indeed, had
vague sort of impression that the
sacredness of the mikado's person-it
was more revered in those days than
now-extended to all his family, and
that possibly our home government
would visit condign punishment upon
any one who dared to invade the
chamber of Azuma without special in
vitation from the prince.
katz was member of the class,
which, according to the conditions of
the school, was privileged to harass.
perplex, tease and annoy the class of
which his illustrious prince was a
member. Having been at the school
an entire year he had learned much
about the freedom of America and the
absence of caste. True, he had escaped
hazing, but he never could appreciate
the courtesy, and would have been bet
ter pleased had he been served as the
rest. He was jolly, rollicking fellow
who could enjoy joke as keenly as
any member of his class, and he Joined
in all the pleasures of the school. those
that were forbidden as we'll as the le-
gitimate.
One night, soon after the arrival OF
the prince, his valet rushed frantically
into the quarters of the officer of the
day, and, with horror depicted in every
line of his homely face, declared that
"My Lord Katz is taking the most I'M
seemly liberties with the person of his
august master, Prince Azuma."
Fastening toward Azuma's room this
is what the officer heard as he drew
near the door:
- ''I1l have you ordered home and then
your head will be chopped off"
FOh, thunder" irreverently came from
the lips of Katz, ''This isn't Japan
and if you don't kick higher and keep
up that whistling I'll SINCE your hair
for YOU.
The officer saw Azuma executing
high steps, with puckered lips, encour-
aged to this action by lighted candle
in the hand of the lively Katz. The
latter bore without complaint the pun
ishment that is meted out to detected
shazers,' but he indignantly protested
to his fellow students against what
he termed the frank injustice of caste
distinction in a free government"
Azuma's health became very poor
and he only remained at the academy
for few months; but he sojourned in
this country long enough to pick up
sundry besetments, which l am afraid
still cling to him. Unlike Matzmulla
and Katz, he loves the pleasures of the
court better than the glories of the
sea.-Chicago Tribune.
MALACHlTE vANEERS.