Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-15
GOOD BREEDING IN JAPAN.
Wherein the Oriental Excels the
Western Born.

w AhC hACcAD thS
Western Born.
From the St. Louis Globe Democrat.
Lafcadio Hearn has probably done more
than any other man to make the western
world acquainted with the real life of ia
pan. The Story of this mans life is one OF
the strangest ever recorded. His mother
was Greek, his father an Irish officer in
the English army. He early had to shift
for himself. and eventually found his way
to the United States. Here he was re-
duced almost to the condition of a tramp,
although he was finely educated and man
of rare gifts. At length he secured employ
ment in newspaper work. ana then his rise
to an exalted place in literature was rapid A
visit to the West Indies awakened in him the
slumbering desire for home amid great
er refinement and more aesthetic influences
than were to be found in America or Eu-
rope and where climatic conditions would
be more to his liking. He settled in Japan
married a japanese wife, took a Japanese
name, embraced the Japanese faith and be-
came an oriental in every respect save
BIRTH He is now professor in the uni
versity at Toxic. He is afflicted with an
affection Of The eyes which makes it i'm
EosSib!c for him to turn them in their
sockets. A story is told that he did his
i:rst work on an American newspaper in
Cincinnati. 1t Is said that he applied for
work one night and was refused. just
then message came tC the editor to the
e1ect that a murder ha6 been discovered
at the gas works. All the reporters were
out on assignments. and the editor turned
to the uncouth applicant and asked him to
look into the matter and report Hearn re-
turned In the course of an hour or two and
SAID that man had been murdered and his
tody had been thrown into one of the fur
naces Hearn was commissioned to write
it up"
Some time later. so the story goes. the
editor went into the room where Hearn was
writing and found him stretched at length
on table with q tablet under his face on
which he was writing, his affection making
II easier for him to write in that position
The editor picked up several of the sheets
.-iiu perused the delicate handwriting. He
was amazed at the literary quality and laid
his hand approvingly ON the writer's Shout
der haf-savage growl was the response.
ON. that's all right" said the editor
can" ~"
Hearn's story is known as THE Gas
House Murder" and Is regarded as n re-
portorial classic. II secured for him a per
future Success ~ -'-
Tne Boston Journal has a somewhat diff
ierent story, and relates 1t after this fash
ion:
They were talking at the Porphyry
ABOUT Lafcadio Hearn's latest book. Clean
ings in Buddha-Fields.' Do you know whv
Hearn determined to live in Japanr asked
the professor. After he left New Orleans
ne went to Cincinnati. where he did news
paper work: lie soon suffered terribly from
an enlarged and projecting eye that dis
Inquired him and made him grotesoue. He
was stared at, he was Knocked and insult
eu, ana, what was even worse he was
pitied openly. sensitive man, he kept the
mouse during the day, and took exercise
only at night. Occasion called him to Ia
pan TO his amazement, in that country
NOBODY, hot even a humorous bow showed
by sign or word that the stranger was dis
inquired or set apart in tavern, street. shon
HELD Mr.. Hearn was treated as though he
were a normal being. Thankful and over
come. he said to himself Here IL the land
OF true civilization, and here will live and
ne He has taken to himself Japanese
WiIe, ne Is known by Japanese name. and
the last heard from him he was professor
OF Ensnsh In japanese university
such civilization said the telenhone
expert, must be the result of eenerations
CT training 'H-m.' answered the profess
sor' the rude Japanese were undoubtedly
put to death years and years ago. / have
seen much OF their country, and never have
! Iouf.o tnerc boy who by look or ges-
ture wound express surprise at any dress or
speech or habit that might seem to hin,
outlancish. How different it is here in
Boston And yet there has been Improve
n1ent remember that / was one of the
ilrst 10 wear a helmet sun hat BOYS
Jeered, women giggled, old crusted Boston,
ians looked at me superciliously and sus-
piciousiy, expressmen and hackmen would
OFTEN address me loosely or coarseiy from
their vantage seat 1 have sometimes
thought that the yearly execution on the
common of the conventionally rude would
make much for civic civilization. Rut N
this ceremony had been performed twenty
years ago the town might have been de-
populated"