Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-04-03
upon the general condition of the kingdom,
then in a miserable state Of lawlessness and

upon the general condition of the kingdom,
then in a miserable state Of lawlessness and
unrest.
Ii Chung had in guarded language del
icately limited upon a broader and more
charitable treatment of the subjects, but
OF such reforms the Emperor Chow would
have none, and the suggestion only angered
him the more and set him to still greater
deeds of violence. Feeling assured that his
efforts were fruitless, Minister Ii Chung
became concerned as TO his personal safety:
and forthwith began to prepare a mode OF
escape.
A Message From the Gods.
The state of the empire grew rapidly
worse, and one day at the close Of a long
session, at which many OF the courtiers had
offered wise plans for improvement, Min
lister Ii signified that he would speak with
the emperor alone. When the two had re-
tired to an apartment where none but the
slaves of the household were in attendance
Ii Chung, with great solemnity. portrayed
in most elaborate detail the purport OF a
message he had received from the gods, in
which a great sacrifice of men and women
and beasts and fruits was demanded and
in return was promised the prosperity of
the whole nation. This sacrifice and feast.
according 10 the message, was to take place
upon an island in the sea many miles away
where the gods made their chief abiding
place. Emperor Chow was overjoyed at this
unexpected promise of prosperity, the
source from which II came fully satisfied
his superstitious nature. and his blood
al was AiiC NiAAA ~
the immense demand for sacrifice.
Great p~roclamations were issued, and aft
er monthso of labor the finest ship in the royal
feet was made ready for sea, with Prime
Minister Ii Chung as commander. With
great care he had chosen 100 of the strong
est young men, and most beautiful Of young
women, and beasts and fowls of the finest
breed, and for the feastS there were stored
away all the delicacies the land afforded.
"Bak-hap.' which translated means, the
lily Of a hundred fields" so named because
Of Its peculiar formation Prepared in many
ways II became a sweet and dainty morsel.
and il occupied an important place among
the dishes that was to comprise the feast
for the gods. With much and
followed by encouraging shouts from thou
sands of threats, Ii Chung sailed away to-
ward the rising sun.
turn OF the ship came and passed, but no
tidings were received. Finally two men
who had shipped as sailors in the imperial
their own fashionlng. They made their way
10 the emperor and told him a sad story
OF the wreck of the sacrifice ship and pre-
scented themselves as the only survivors.
That was the last Emperor Chow ever
heard OF his Prime Minister Ii Chung.
Ii Chung's Plan Succeeds.
But It was not death that prevented the
return of ID Chung and the great ship.
1t was the success OF his well laid plan.
He had learned much OF this beautiful
leland in the sea, and when the second
night Of the voyage had passed he called
around him the youths and maidens to the
g selection OF whom he had devoted so much
personal care, and poured into their de-
lighted ears the knowledge that instead OF
being offered in sacrifice they were to In.
habit and populate this beautiful Island
and live. as his subjects, lives of peace.
happiness and industry. Thus Japan was
peopled-
BY reason OF the change of soil, the
"Bak-hap". gradually assumed greater
height and strength above the ground,
presenting at the same time larger blossoms
and more luxuriant foliage. AS it improved
in beauty it became less useful as an
article of food, and as the people, by rea-
son of their peaceful lives. had developed
strong tastes for refinement and art, they
were quite happy to deny themselves this
delieacy hat they might produce something
rolled away: the little island became a land
of sunshine and flowers. and the arts OF
n pfasiieed by ana all. iaT The sakl 9aildin s5e Were Ysy,
steadily grew in beauty. and occasionally
# was exported in bulb shape to European
jforum," but not in sufficient quantities tc
II remained for an American named Har.
from our point of view. and. after making
q study Of its development and growth he
Introduced It in in ISIS; Imme'
risii;" which 1t retains to this day; II.
Bermuda lily" and Easter lily"
Because OF the fact that Bermuda supple
the leading cities on both continents witt
the Easter lily bulbs: there is a popular
Impression thai the lily Is a native of thi.
island. but old growers there have no diff
fculty in disproving this. ard in proving
the history as given above. Some nori
culturists have tried to show that IT wa!
a sprout from the japanese longiiorum
but in the end the majority nave agree
that the years of careful cultivation in TIL
peculiarly rich Bermuda soil have 81
changed its value AS to give II the won
tcrfui free Towering qualities it possesses
knientidc students n importers OF tn