The Indianapolis journal., 1902-11-09

NieEeo 10 nave behind them no prepara-
tion except that which had come from con-
tact with foreign instructors In the last
tnirty or forty years. Foreign drilling has
transformed military life from the easy,
oasning, valorous career of knight errantry.
its motto obedience, unquestioning and en-
tnusiastic unto death. TO the hard grind of
modern science. In comparison with other
times the food and clothing that the men
get are superior. They are held to a stern
routine OF duty, they receive no pay except
Few sen on a holiday, they have no read
ing rooms, canteens or games, and the
treatment they receive is productive of sui
cldes every month. Yet the old spirit sur
Vlves, the sense of loyalty is unabated, and
until the idealized estimate of military life.
the growth of centuries among the people,
snail subside the halo with which they in
vest IL will hardly be dimmed or demon
strations of honor for loved recruits
lessened merely as the result of practical
and unromantic suggestions
Elevation Of loyalty as the supreme vir-
tue led to many acts famous in native his
tory. but II the question should be raised
as TO whether 1t holds that high place un-
DER the new conditions of military life
answer may be had in the fate of a bat
TALON or infantry which went out into the
nils In the early part of this year and per-
ished in the snow almost to a man. II is
incredible that many might not have saved
themselves had they so wished when left
TO their own devices, for Japan is a hill
country, and recruits for the army are
drawn largely from young men so accus-
toned to hill travel that some of those in
that command must have been able to find
their way to safety by the route already
covered if by no other. In all that was
said and printed about the tragedy, how
ever. not word has proceeded from a
native source to indicate that what oc-
CURED was not to be expected By COM
mon consent when the snow and cold over
came part of the command no course re-
mained for the others except to stay with
the fallen. They would have been un-
worthy of the army had they done other
wise, even to save their lives.
HOW HONOR WAS SAVED.
Harakiri is a word learned easily, and, of
course its meaning is understood but since
loyalty OF the quality cultivated in Japan
implies courage that shrinks from moth
ing the test of such courage in harakiri
may be proftably illustrated This practice
for private wrongs but in its wider appn-
cation 1t was a punishment imposed by
official order, whereby a person of rank
might be spared the disgrace attaching to
common crime by becoming his own execu-
TONER. OF the many executions by hara-
kiri only one was ever witnessed by for
eigners, that of Taxi Zenzaburo an officer
or the Prince of Bizen, who gave the order
to fire upon the foreign settlement at Hiogo
(Kobe) when the Shotgun was making his
last stand in the castle at Osaka. One of
the foreign witnesses. A. B. Milford, dep
uted officially by the British legation to at
tend the proceeding, wrote description of
it, which has at least the merit of authen-
ticity and relies not at all upon hearsay.
The ceremony had been ordered to take
place at 1o:3O o'clock at night in a temple
at Hiogo. After describing various prepa-
rations. including the arrival of the seven
native and seven foreign witnesses, Mr..
Milford pictures the temple interior as II
appeared that night, with it's profusion of
huge gilt lamps and Buddhist ornaments.
On raised portion of the floor in front of
the altar was laid a rug of scarlet felt
Tall candles placed at regular intervals
gave out light just sufficient TO let all the
proceedings be seen.
After an interval of few minutes" Mr..
Milford goes on, ''of anxious suspense.
Taxi Zenzaburo. a stalwart man. thirty
two years of age, with a noble air. walked
into the hall, attired in his dress of cere-
mony, with the peculiar hempen-coth
wings which are worn on great occasions.
He was accompanied by a kaishaku and
three officers, who wore the war surcoat
rTI
shaku is one to which our word executioner
is no equivalent term. The office is that Of
a gentleman. In many cases it is per-
formed by a kinsman or friend of the con-
demned. and the relation between them is
rather that of principal and second than
that of victim and executioner. In this
instance, the kaishaku was pupil of Taxi
Zenzaburo, and was selected by the friends
of the latter from among their own num-
ber for his skill in swordsmanship.
with the kaishaku on his left hand,
Taxi Zenzaburo advanced slowly toward
the Japanese witnesses and the two bowed
before them: then drawing near to the for
eigners they saluted in the same way,
perhaps, even, with more Difference. In
each case the salutation was tremendously
returned. Slowly and with great dignity
the condemned man mounted on to the
raised floor, prostrated himself before the
high altar twice and seated himself, Japan
ese fashion-knees and toes touching the
ground, body resting on the heels, an atti-
tude of respect-on the felt carpet, with
his back to the altar, the kaishaku crouch
ing on his left-hand side. One Of the three
attendant officers then came forward, bear
ing a stand of the kind used in temples for
offerings, on which, wrapped in paper. lay
the short sword or dirk, nine and one-half
inches in length, with a point and an edge
as sharp as a razors. This he handed.
prostrating himself, to the condemned man,
who received 1t reverently, raised 1t to his
head with both hands and placed it in
front of himself. After another profound
obeisance. Taxi Zenzaburo. in a voice
which betrayed just so much emotion and
hesitation as might be expected from a
man who is making a painful confession.
but with no sign of either in his face or
manner spoke as follows:
81. and alone, unwarrantably gave the
order to fire on the foreigners at Kobe and
again as they tried to escape. For this
crime / disemboweled myself. and / beg
YOU who are present to do me the honor
of witnessing the act Bowing once more,