The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-05
A JAPANESE STORY.

The favorite tale of Japan, the rals
which every japanese child knows as in
eEitably as an English boy Knows bis
Robinson Crusoe, - is the story Of 1.-THE
Faithful Ronins- -
Robinson Crusoe'' is a tale of wander
ing and adventure, and that is because
the English are wandering race. Until
a short time ago the japanese never trav-
eled They were even forbidden 10 build
junks above certain size, lest they mirh6
be tempted TO 60 too far in them. Now
adays there are fine japanese steamers
but at the time when the good stories
grew their theme in Japan was almost
always courage and devotion.
In the year 1901 the head Of the Ronin
family, or clan-for this tale. like s.Rob-
inson Crusoe," Is founded on fact-was
insulted by Q superior officer and attacked
him with a sword. For this crime the
chief Ronin was condemned TO slay him
self, that being the usual punishment in
ia pan; also it was decided that his castle
and property should be taken away and
his people driven of Accordingly the
chief Ronin killed himself
The new head of the Ronins was named
Kurarosuke- He is the national popular
hero Of japan, much like Ethan Allen az
Francis Marion in this country. It was
Kus arosuke's duty to aveDge his masters
death in some way. So he called the clan
soldiers who were to take t. This was
quite proper, according to japanese ideas
When they were all gathered together.
Kurarosu'Se said; I'VE have not met to
defend the castle, for that would be use
less. We should only in the end be taken
and slain. Let Us all slay ourselves after
the old japanese manner, and thus die
with our beloved master
To this IS OF the Renins agreed but the
rest went away shaking their heads
The cunning Kuraro1uke, however, had
no notion of killing himself When the
So were all together, he was sure they at
least would not reveal his secret, and be
said 70 them I'VE shall neither defend
the castle, which would be useless, nor
XIII ourselves, which would be no better
But We shall be patient, and wait wait,
wait, until we can kill the man whose in
suit caused our masters death. " Then he
explained his plan and A OF the 90 agreed
to it.
According to japanese ideas. what they
endured was worse even than suicide For
they did nothing. Instead of trying to
avenge the insult, they wandered about
and became mere vagabonds. IL looked
as if they were going to make no effort to
avenge their master, aud this made every
one despise them. Even the children
would call out after one of them, as he
staggered past. - Hey, there goes a Ronin-
Drunkardi Coward 'Fraid cati 'Fraid
catI'' or something japanese to the same
effect.
The japanese children are usually Te-T
polite-because they eat 10 meat, soTlo
say-but nobody thought it worth while
to be polite 70 q coward. OF course all
this was terribly hard for the Rcnins 70
bear. They knew they were not towards,
but they could only wait. Some dar,
thoagh-and some day came Mt last. When
everybody had come to the CONCLUSION that
the Ronins had no pluck at hll these A
vagaboDds came together one night and
carried the castle Of their enemy By as
sault. Then they pat him to death and
quietly awaited their own fate. They
were taken, of course, and condemned 70
kill themselves as their master had done
As they were led away in three parties
q servant of the house called First Com
panion, a man of too little consequences
to take part in the fighting, stood to see
them pass, that be might carry home the
news. One of the Ronins was real
drunkard, Taga bond ard without need II
making believe His name was RED
Hedge" and he was pretty low down
fellow, 80 that First Companion feared
that Red Hedge" might have been drunk
the night before and have been left out Of
the attack.
But no At the head of the third divi-
sion Of the captured Ronlns marched @Red
Hedge, very proud in bis arIDor. Seeing
the servant kneeling in the snow, Red
Hedge" gave him messages and threw
him the pencSn Of his lance for meInen1o-
Then First Companion turned TO the
lockers on and cried: Look at him Gen
temen, that is Sir Red Hedge. the brother
Of my master. He is a Ronin BY adoption
only. But see him today among the aTen-
gers!'
And in his delight the faithful old serV.
ant hurried home and kept as relics not
only the lance pennon, but Red Hedges
hat and bottle.
OF course all the a had to kill them
selves, but they have become national
heroes. especially Kurarosuke, the brave
and crafty leader, and Red Hedge, y the
poor drunkard, who succeeded IN keeping
for one night sober enough to go to his
death with the others.
Not only is their memory kept green in
this story, which every one in Japan
knows By heart, but the grave OF Kuraro-
suke is one Of the numerous national
shrines to which pilgrinnages are made.
Even the emperor himself about 20 years
ago caused distinguished official honors
to be paid 60 the grave OF KurarOsuke. &c
stamp his patient fidelity with the mark
of government spprovaL-Sew York
Journal