Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1899-10-17
A MEATY LETTER.
Continued from First Page.


fGure the bold generalization for gem
civilizations about things japanese
are specially dangerous-that Japan
ease lack vanity. | am, however, con-
WINGED that they are too genuinely re-
ained to show it.
Nevertheless, TO return to the sub
ject of the houses, japanese residences
are, in fact and appearance, relatively
cheap. But this is not the result
solely Of poverty or indifference. Not
eonly must they struggle with nggard-
lily nature. They have specially to
contend against those dreadful disas
tiers fires, floods, typhoons and earth
equakes Within few hours on the
might Of August 18th under conditions
s0f drought and almost hurricane wind
about 3, 200 houses in Yokohama and
-, 900 in Toyama went up ia smoke.
Next morning 1000 homeless people
viewed, with stolid resignation that
ITO us remains a mystery, their econo.
snies Of years in smoulderng ashes.
Last week a typhoon left ia its SIMS
tier train nearly 1000 persons dead,
lover twice as many injured, $1,000
Ymention damages to other property,
crops and stock. This was the com
Joined effect of wind, water and land
esslides Some years ago, submarine
earthquake rolled in a tidal wave that
brought sudden death to over 30, 900
gDeople and swept every movable thing
off large district. A single earth
quake es--fortunately not Of
ten destroys fourth or a half the
houses of a city and decimates its
population Would it not be folly to
construct buildings SO costly as in the
Vest Besides, lofty buildings and
those constructed Of brick or stone
are specially subject to damage and
particularly liable to cause damage.
An observing resident cannot even
krecall such disasters without being
sImpressively reminded of another pc
ceuliarity Of the japanese. Whatever
g5he calamity, they face it without
fmurmer. No tears. no wringng of
Hlands, no hysterical lamentations!
Not a feature Of the face betrays in
saer thought or emotion. The danger
gpassed, the current Of life, without
agitation, flows on. Smiles and
Imirth return While walking with
Friend and with heavy heart, under a
boiling sun, through the desolate
ruins at Yokohama three days after
the fire, | heard lady of perhaps
feorty, who was keeping her little shop
in rude board pen, laughingly re-
tmarK to a customer Yes we fixed
zap this shanty in day With pre-
.@,fe,r = +, =
cent nood, they, on occasion, witness
tor meet death. It seems to me to be
sone trait Of the peculiar character de-
'Veloped by the long centuries OF their
i4eudal organization. That chivaly
which led brave Western Knights to
elaTe and and die for lady's smile
Hgas unknown to japanese feundalism.
f3ut the feudal code and character Of
Japan exacted a self sacrificing loyal
I6y that made it impossible for a Jap
sanese retainer to survive the hope Of
sayenging a wTonged or murdered lord.
This spirit permeated japanese socie
n.y. more thoroughly than ever the
a,eudal spirit swayed che West. Ia
consequence Of it, it is to this day
quite natural for faithful servant to
die, in order to save his endangered
snaster's life. | shall cite the merest
details Of a noted historic instance.
From my study window. in the sec
esod story | behold, over the roofs Of
native architecture, few hundred
yards away the clustering trees which
shade the tombs.o of the Forty Seven
.Romins "a romin was a sort of Grant
&Snight.) The lord Of these men, I'M
der the provocation Of extreme inso-
slence and oppressive injustice, at
tempted TO assassinate a cruel and
feolu'pt nobleman He was, in conse-
c,uence. condemned TO commit suicide
10y the usual method, hara kiri dis
embowelling ones self4 This estate
was c0nfscated and his family and
followers ruined. The forty-seven
followers formed league, as was us
ual under similar circumstances, 10
ayenge their masters death by Staying
his noble enemy In order to disarm
6his man OF suspicion and catch him
without unusual guards, they dispers-
ed and engaged in various pursuits,
some Of them in disguise entering the
service Of their enemy for the purpose
of obtaining desired information.
The leader entered upon a life Of dis
solution and debauchery. He even
went t. the length of diyorcing his
wife and abandoning his children.
b t.4tf ~ + n rIaa vaa itiirp1