The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-02

busy. though. full. responsible statesman.
His whole bearing gave one confidence.
and explained the Mikado's well-placed
trust 1t was Ito (Hirobumi) who drew
up the present Constitution of Japan,
and who has since been President OF
the committee employed in drawing up
| the new civil and criminal codes. More
than any other fellow subject he de-
serves the title Of The Maker of New
Japan" A commoner by birth, it is
not forty years since, as a lad, he was
smuggled out of his country by the
Prince of Choshu, whose retainer he
was, along with two others in like posi-
ton
Messrs Jardine. Matheson & Co.,
those merchant princes of the Far East,
had not long obtained permission to
trade with the people of Sunrise Land,
| and it was in one of their ships that
the escape was made, for as yet no Jap
al;ese We're allowed TO leave their coun-
t1y. S netting the Shogun-who. though
nominally only general. was practically
a dictator even to the Emperor-had
been forced to learn from the mouths of
the foreigners cannon, but the little
knowledge thus gained inspired fear
The great prince of the island of Choshu
no inconsiderabe section of the EN-
pire, holding the position erstwhile of
that of the kings and grand-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, his
three young spies went forth, and after
various adventures and yicissitudes, the
story of which sounds more like romance
than fact. they arrived in London, and
became the proteges of a man still liv-
ing. to whom Japan owes not little
Hugh Matheson.
Yes, l was one Of Mr.. Matheson's
boys" said the Japanese Premier-as he
vas at that time and is again to be now
with the most refreshing candor. Il
owe a great deal to him, and 1 shall
Eever forget his house at Hampstead
though it is thrty-one years since l saw
it, Some day, when | can secure a va
cation l look forward to reyisiting Eu-
rope; but you see how it is, l am always
at work, and there is very much to do.
His companions of those days are now
Count Inouye of Corean fame, and Wis
count Yamao, the engineer and author of
many of Japan's greatest modern pub
lie works. They all speak in the high
est terms of the effect on their lives of
the fatherly care OF the Christian Scots
man who took SO much interest in them
when they We're .'nobodies." Another of
his proteges, now a Professor in the To-
kio University, recounted to me with
real depth of feeling how, when Mr..
Matheson heard that he was lodging in
a place where temptation was like to be
specially keen he came down himself
from Hampstead to remove him and his
belongings to a temperance hotel, and
bid him welcome to his home Such
kindnesses are never lost.
Our presence in a spacious double
drawing room in a severe European
style, in aTmchairS that-like every other
piece of furniture in the room, includ-
ing the tables-were covered in brown
holland having suggested the subject,
expressed regret that the uniquely ar
tistic native style should have been so
far departed from in Government circles
il favor of much less suitable imita-
ton of things European.
Il agree with you," he answered. "and
every one who speaks to me says what
You do, but they do not know my rea-
sons. When / was in charge of the
Household, and it was my task to intro
duce new European system of etiquette
and ceremonial, l found it absolutely
necessary 10 change the costumes and
all surroundings, or l should not have
succeeded. However, as you see, the