The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-02-04

other fellow subject he deserves the IT,
tie of THE Maker of New Japan" A
commoner by birth, II is not forty years
since, as a lad, he was struggled out
of his country by the Prince Of Choshu,
whose retainer he was. along with two
others In like position. Messrs, Jar
dine, Matheson & Co., those merchants
princes Of the far east, had not long OBJ
tanned permission to trade with the
people OF sunrise land. and 1t was in
one of their ships that the escape was
made. for as yet no Japanese We're al
lowed to leave their country. Some
thing the Shosun-who, though nomi-
nally only general, was practically a
dictator even to the Emperor-had
been forced to learn from the mouths of
the foreigners cannon, but the lite
knowledge thus gained inspired fear.
The great prince of the Island OF
Choshu. no inconslderable section of the
Empire, holding the position erstwhile
of that of the kings and grandd dukes Of
the German states, saw that IN the
strangers hands was power and the
knowledge that developed power. So.
in defiance of Imperial regulations. bis
three young spies went forth, and after
various adventures and viclsstudes,
the story of which sounds more like
romance than fact they arrived In
London, and became the proteges of
man still living. to whom Japan owes
not little, Mr.. Hugh Matheson.
yes. | was one Of Mr., Matheson's
boys" said the Japanese Premier-as
he was at that time and Is again to be
now-with the most refreshing candor.
Il owe great a deal to him. and |
shall never forget his house at Hamp-
stead though 1t Is thirty-one years
since ! saw It, Some day, when ! can
secure a vacation. look forward to re-
visiting Europe; but you see how It is,
I am always at work. and there Is
very much to do"
His companions of those days are
now Count Inouye, of Corean fame, and
Viscount Yamao, the engineer and au-
thor of many Of Japan's greatest mod
ern public works. They all speak In
the highest terms of the effect on their
lives Of the fatherly care Of the Chris
tlan Scotsman who took 30 much inter-
est In them when they were "nobodies."
Another Of his proteges, now a profess
sor in the Toxic university, recounted
to me with real depth Of feeling how,
when Mr.. Matheson heard that he was
lodging in place where temptation
was like to be specially keen he came
down himself from Hampstead to re-
move him and his belongings to tenn
perance hotel, and bid him welcome to
his home. Such kindnesses are never
| lost
| Our presence in a spacious double
| drawing-room in severe Suropean
style, seated before an open English
| fire. In armchairs that-like every other
piece of furniture In the room. includ-
| ing the tables-were covered In brown
holland, having suggested the subject, I
expressed regret that the uniquely ar
tito native style should have been so
| far departed from in Government cir
| cles in favor of much less suitable
| imitation of things European
II agree with you," he answered,
land every one who speaks to me
| says wat you do, but they do not
knows my reasons. When was in
charge of Household, and 1t was my
task to introduce a new European
system of etiquette and ceremonial,
found 1t absolutely necessary to
change the costumes and all surround
ings, or should not have succeeded.
/ However, as you see, the new build
ings now going up are improvements
/ on the first; but we, like others, live
and learn. Pail Mall Gazette.