The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-21
THE DISCONTINUED.

race which, previous to the present era OF
refinement and enlightenment, lived by
themselves, the spurned and despised OF
men, able only to follow certain trades OF
q mental character, such as the faying OF
animals, the execution OF criminals and
the making of sandals and clogs, to which
the freeborn citizens would not stoop.
Poverty and misery preyed upon the mind
of the poor sandal maker SO much that
one night he said to his wife, 20 Taxi, L
wish 1 could be a great lord for few
days, to do nothing, TO eat and drink OF
the best and never to be obliged to think
about spending a tempo"
Don't be stupid, Denkichi," replied
bis wife. "You would never do to be a
lord You might just as well try to swal-
low Fuji'' 1.-THE great mountain). But the
god Inari, who was prowling about, as
was his won't, heard this and resolved
that he would teach the poor man a lesson
of contentment. So when the sandal max
er was asleep between his filthy quilts he
appeared to him and said: ''You want to
be lord. Very well, you shall try it for
q week"
The sandal maker rubbed his eyes and
awoke. He was in beautiful room, the
walls Of which were hung with curiously
painted scrolls. The mats were of the
finest and whitest straw, his quilts were
of the softest silk, and his pillow was Of
camphor wood, with a roll Of the best
bamboo paper tied upon it.
AS he awoke a servant approached him,
kneeling, with tray of sweetmeats- Den
kichi took handful and swallowed them,
smacked his lips and cleared the dish. The
servant Frustrated himself to the mats and
retired as he came, kneeling. well"
said Denkichi, this is luck! suppose I'd
better dress" His old garments vera
gone, and in their place was suit OF
splendidly embroidered silk, Hted with
stiff cardboard wings and adorned with
high white crests of oak leaves.
A parsonage who seemed to be sort Of
major domo appeared and informed him
that the suitors were waiting in the ante-
room. But where's o Taki!" asked
Denkichi The man shook his head.
We'll, as I'm a regular lord" thought
Denkichi, Il may as well see what it's
like, but / should have liked o Taxi to
have seen me. And these clothes are con-
toundedly hot and heavy. But never
mind. Here goesp' So he went into the
anteroom, where there must have been at
least hundred people assem- bled, who all
made obeisance as he appeared. The ma
jor domo showed him to a sort Of raised
dars, on which he was to seat himself,
and for three long hours he was obliged to
remain motlonless, listening to claims and
petitions aid circumstances and beggings
of favors and details Of estates and of rev.
enue and Of a hundred other things about
which he knew nothing. Several times he
felt as if he would have liked TO jump up
and stretch his legs and hitched himself
uneasily, but the eye Of the major domo
spoke silent remonstfance
When at length the business was con-
cluded, Denkichi was about to fling off his
robes and lie down, as was his won't, half
naked, with his pipe between his lips and
a bowl of wine beside him, when the ma
jor domo informed him that the hour of
the midday meal had arrived. AT this re-
past he was introduced to the ladies of his
retinue, who were magnificently arrayed,
but SO staid and solemn of demeanof, SO
unable to appreciate the jokes by which
he had won for himself the name of the
'Shinagawa wit, that he would much
rather have had his plain, homely Taxi
by his side. The meat was splendid, but
Denkichi would have preferred dish of
stewed cells, bowl of Iakidofu and q
measure of Three Virtue wine to all the
delicate dishes presented TO him, so smoth-
cred in sauces and condiments as not to
preserve an atom Of their natural favor.
it was long affair, too, and when it was
over he exclaimed, with a sigh of relief,
We'll, at any rate, now they'll let me
have half an hours peace" But the ma
jor domo approached and reminded him
that the fencing master was waiting. So
poor Denkichi was obliged to incase him
self in heavy suit of chain arInor, and
for more than an hour attack and defend,
repeat, parry, cut, lunge and dance about
until he was nigh dropping with fatigue
After the fencing came the master of Chi
nese, and after the master of Chinese the
music instructor. a few cups of tea
spoiled, so thought Dcnhichi, by the infu
sion of cherry fiowrr-somewhat refreshed
him, and for the first time during the day
he was enabled to get few minutes OF
such rest as his stiff raiment would allow
him, but The business of the day was by
no means over A council of the heads OF
the ward was held, at which Denkichi
presided, and again he had to sit listening
to dry arguments on questions of law,
petty differences of opinion, long speeches
and statements about matters in which he
did not feel the slightest interest This
was followed by the evening meal, en- en-
tertainment just Us formal and twice as
lengthy as that at midday. He was al
most asleep with WEAKNESS and fatigue
and would have crept into his sumptuous
bedchamber but the major domo-how
be hated that major domo!-told him that
new theater had been opened In the quar-
ter, and that the people would be offended
If the lord Were not to honor the first
night with his presence. A fresh suit Of
clothes, if possible heavier and sitter than
the first, WAS necessary for this perform
ance, and not until the small hours OF
the next morning could poor Denkichi at
last throw himself down between the
quilts, only 20 be aroused In short time
to meet the assembly of suitors
For week this continued, with but lit
tie variation. On the evening of the sixth
day lnari appeared. Well he said,
how do you like it, Denkichi fell on
his knees. Let me go back this minute!''
be cried, and never more shall you hear
> word of discomfort pass my mouth"
mari granted his prayer and he found
himself back again at the hut in Shina-
gawa, with o Taxi by his side so utterly
wearied and worn out was he that he slept
during the whole of the next day, and
then he related his experiences TO a won
terins circle of friends. but he never more
Has heard TO grumble at his lowly conii-
AT the royal table OF King oscar or
sweden national dishes are always the
mainstay. All meals are more or less in
formal kaw salmon, preserved in earth,
s served morning, noon and night. There
U also q curious Sum thu chief ir,crsalii-