The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-18

of which. 10 their surprise. dismay and
disgust saluted them with broadside
cannon shot Mr.. Tsukamoto, Japan
csc, appears TO have acted withs COM
mendable promptitude. by rousing ana
armlng the passengers with forty-three
rifles and number OF bombs. Many or
the passengers we're Chinese ana declar-
ed that when It came to fighting they
preferred being excused. But the others
headed by doughty Tsukamoto, hgura-
lively speaking. nailed their flag TO inc
mast The piratcal trio approached ana
were received with bombs and rifle shots,
and when the enemy came alongside and
attempted boarding. each head as IT APP
peared above the rail. was shampooed
with a mixture OF boiling rice water and
peanut oil. This reception had the effect
of compelling each recipient to let go
with a yell and cool his aching pate in
the sea, some forgetting TO come up after
their immersion. While the fun was at
it's height, steamer approached and the
surviving pirates made themselves scarce.
Somebody suggests that Tsukamoto sell
out and offer his valuable services TO
Spain"
After all this talk OF CORY war, I may
be excused II I devote some attention 70
gentle peace. II Is exactly three decades
since the capital was removed from
Kyoto to Tokyo In other words thirty
years have passed since Japan began TO
shake off ancient traditions and prepared
b enter into the comfy of nations. Ii Is
pretty well known what Japan has ac-
compllshed In that short space Of time,
but few can realize what the opening OF
Japan by Commodore Perry has done Tor
the japanese. Two days ago Count OKu-
ma attended the meeting of the Noko-
hama Commercial School graduates ana
remarked in a speech that ground near
Yokohama which had sold a little over
a year ago AT 80 yen per tsubo now az
auction brought five yen per tsubo. The
income Of the nation for these thirty
years. he said. amounted TO 1000 million
yen and the wealth Of the nation had in
creased TO 1900 million yen. If the wages
paid to the working classes to-day are
compared with those disbursed under the
Shogun's rule. the progress is truly az
tOurding. Even within tho past twenty
years they have increased from 200 TO
500 per cent.
CHANGES IN JAPAN.
II was good idea TO celebrate the
end OF the third decade OF Japan's new
life. and Tokyo was the appointed place
and last Sunday the tie. II seemed as II
all Japan had 1ocked 10 the capital Al
1880 the Imperial party left the palace
and proceeded to the NOiu bridge whore
q temporary structure had been erected.
For thousands and tens OF thousands Of
spectators. the procession OF old Japan
only thirty wears ago was as much Of
novelty as for the foreigners who were
Interested onlOOkeTs There were really
two professions: one that OF the Daimiyo
the other that OF maids OF honor First
came the standard bearers. composed OF
thirty-hve wrestlers, followed by arch
ers and their assistants. The huge DOW
so dificult 10 bend. testified 20 the mus
cular power possessed by the ancient
samural How some OF the older mem
bers Of that caste must have grlnned
when they reembered their faith in this
weapon so short a time since. Then
came the procession proper with its old
time pomp and ceremony. There were
POSTS among the spectators who remem-
bercd those days, had been present when
a real daimiyo passed and yet had never
seen the procession. For thirty years
ago 10 look upon such a parsonage or
the people meant death. Wooden sliding
partitions jealousy shut out the light.
when a damiyo passed through the
street. Shta nj iru. Down on your
and down went the people with heads In
the dust. And nowl 1 was in a native
bank when two Japanese gentlemen
came in one of whom wanted to borrow
a pittance Dit was 100 yen If l remember
welD and his friend offered 90 endorse the
note Being asked for his name, he eX-
planned that he was the Daimiyo Of
The cashier said politely: "Is that
so, We do not take noble as security
(h0shonin) on Il note, land left. Thirty
years ago that man would have been
down on hsknees and have tried TO save
his money. n he had any by pretending
poverty Japan has changed in those
thirty years.
STEAMERS AND CABLES.
The Japanese steamship companies
seem 10 be on their mettle to secure the
carrying trade and the government is
farsighted enough to give premiums to
large and fast vessels. The Togo NUen
Kaisha has three steamers on the stocks
on the clyde which will prove serious
competitors 10 the Canadian Pacihc's eX-
press. The Nippon Yusen Kaisha IS also IN
crclsing and improving its fleet. They
have now Connections with Seattle wash
mgtom Australia. Europe, China, Corea,
and Siberia and a good share Of the I'M
tcr-island trade. one OF the many new
steamers built for them by Messrs. Ma
pier. ShBnkse and Bell az NOker. Gas
gov. recently arrived from Euope. She
is called the Tamba Maru IS AZ feet long.
40 feet inches beam. and 80 feet inches
IN depth. her carrying capacity Is about
500 tons. She has every modern inn
provement even the Storage being pro-
vided with baths The Japanese steam
ers may before long be the favorites ot
the travelling public on the Pacific.
May. / say advisedly. for the japanese
must first learn that their supposed SUI
periorlty over the white man is supposi-
tlous and nothing more, and they must
learn 10 control their coolies. The Mo-
gul. Captain Wright, left Yokohama on
the TIN instant for Portland. Ore. and
Just prior 10 sailing a serious row oc-
Cured. The japanese coolies had been
ndulging IN sake and were feeling hia-
rious. Presently they thought they could
eat something and demanded food from
the Chinese crew. John Chinaman does
not love his Japanese neighbor. but Is
secretly afraid Of him. However the
steward refused. and when the japanese
orew ugly. called the mate. As soon as
the white person appeared the row COM
ncnced Knives were drawn and muir
der might have been committed but for
the arrival OF the harbor police. IL IS graft
fying 10 note that the police i'm Yokohama
have received strict orders 10 abate tho
nuisance growing out Of the continued
an feeling OF the coolies towards foreign
ers Obsequious as they are to every ma
tive OF higher class. these fellows re-
serv, an their imPudence for the unfor-
tunato foreigner who does not submit 10