Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-22

because he thought the Japanese people
needed their attention directed away from
their home affairs. He wanted to put
down the pernicious reformers who were
asking impossible things of parliament,
and he knew that the war would do IT.
He wanted also to humble China. and he
succeeded. He was the closest adviser of
the emperor during the war, and it was
in connection with him that the conduct of
the campaign was planned At the close
ne thought he had earned a vacation and
ne got 1t. He can, however, be premier
again II he wants to. and it Is not i'm
probable that at the close of his present
mission he will again be at the head of
the japanese government.
The Marquis Ito at Home.
I saw something Of the Marquis Ito dur
Ing my last visit to Japan. 1 met him by
appointment one afternoon at his home in
Toxic, and there had long chat with him
about matters of general interest The
marquis lives in the most fashionable part
or Toxic. The palaces of Japanese princes
and mobiles surround his residence Driy-
ing up the street upon which he lives Won
might easily suppose yourself 10 be in one
of the suburbs of Paris. The houses are
OF foreign style. Itos house is a big two
story brick with a porte cochere running
out above the front door, The day that I
called upon him there had been a great
earthquake in Toxic. One of the buildings
In the Imperial Palace grounds had been
partially thrown down and Ito's house had
been severely shaken. Madame Ito was %
much frightened by the earthquake that
she mad gone to her home in the country
10 rest and recover, and the marquis was
naturally anxious to leave Toxic to see
her. This l learned afterward, but no
sign OF 1t appeared in his conversation. He
chatted as though he had plenty of time
and made me feel perfectly at home.
Everything about the house savored more
Ion
the japanese should Inf almost every re-
spect adopt our civilization. He believes
that they will be more ready to do this If
they wear European clothes, and for this
reason he has all about him dressed in this
way The butler who opened the front
door for me was an almond-eyed Japanese
who wore livery " hich might have mass
ed without remark in any of the big houses
OF the four hundred in New York His suit
was of black with brass buttons. He took
my card and showed me into an enormous
parlor furnished in foreign style / could
hardly realize that / was in Japan as I
looked about me, and when the Marquis
Ito entered few moments later it was
only his features that showed me that he
was Japanese He was dressed in a suit
of black, cut after the style of a Broadway
tailor. and his shoes Were such as would
hot have been out of place upon the feet
of any congressman in Washington When
he spoke it was in the best of English
He shook my hand, and we sat upon up
holstered chairs and carried on our con-
Versation in American fashion.
Ito and the War.
I found Marquis Ito by no means averse
to speak Of the troubles which were then
brewing between Japan and China. He
realized that war was about to occur, and
told me that the situation was critical.
He said that If the Japanese soldiers were
attacked in Corea they would certainly
fight and the way he put his answers made
me think of Japan of a boy with
a chip on his shoulder ready to fight any
other boy VINO knocked 1t off. Ito knew
well the condition of China. Japanese
travellers had Investigated The situation.
The rottenness in the Chinese army was
known and left little doubt in ito's mind of
the result. When my talk occurred war
had not yet been declared. No one thought
there would be any war. and looked upon
lto's words as diplomatic rather than as
a prophecy of a condition about to
afterwards. and had hardly arrived at Van
couver wnen war was actually declared
After this was done no news was given out
TO the press about the plans of the govern
paper correspondent who had an inkling
OF the war. During the struggle Ito was
constantly with the emperor. 1t was he
who brought him to the western part of
Japan at the naval station Hiroshima, from
where the war was directed, and where
you remember, Ii Hung Chang came to
make peace.
Stories Of Ito's Boyho0d.
Marquis Ito Is now going to London as a
special ambassador from his emperor.
wonder II he will take time during his stay
at the English capital to go down to the
wharves on the Thames and recall his ad-
ventures when he landed there as a boy,
now more than a generation ago. / have
told the story, but 1t will bear repetition in
view Of Ito's presence here. Ito landed in
London with just one silver dollar In his
pocket. Count Innouye,' another great man
OF Japan, then boy, was with him. The
two had come round the Cape Of Good
Hope In sailing vessel. In some way or
other they had lost what money they had
had, and when they landed In London this
silver dollar made up their total assets.
The moment the ship arrived the rest Of
the sailors had left. the cook had gone
and there was nothing to eat. The two
they started out, hoping by signs to make