The Indianapolis journal., 1902-11-09
Not a New Development, but the Out
growth of a National Loyalty
of Early Origin.
HoNORs PAID YOUNG SOLDIERS
ROMANTIC NOTIONS SURVIVE HARD
SHIPS OF MODERN ROUTINE.
The Horrible Ceremony Of Hara-Ksri
Still FavOrably Regarded-An
Army Worth Respect.

Correspondence OF the Indianapolis Journal
TOKYO, Oct. 15.-It is a red-letter day,
In a Japanese household when a son be-
comes a soldier. From a pole in front of
the home is suspended an open-work ball,i|
made OF bamboo strips and covered with;
imitation gold leaf. Streamers of many
bright colors, in cotton prints or bunting,
are attached near the ball, and If the fam,
iy' has in stock, or may obtain, reminders
of other decorative days, they are brought
out, for nothing is too ornate or too pro-
fuse in color for this important event A
big breakfast begins the day. to which rela-
tives, neighbors and friends are all well
come. They troop in to admire the recruit.
spSuced up in new clothing of Europeans
cut. his face glowing like polished bronze
from the pride that fiushes him and the ef-,
fetts Of last motherly scrub in a hot
bath, and to tender him their good wishes
over uncounted cups of sake. Some of
them bring presents to cheer his life in
barracks, as though he might take with,
him there a carpet bag with figured velvet
exterior, a straw trunk and odds and ends
done up in silk handkerchefs, a native
wrapping being usually more precious than
the object il incloses. His belongings in.
clude boxes CT rice, of fish and of sweet
aware that in the army he will get bread
and meat and other food that he has never:
before tasted. but much more serviceable
than the home diet for the work before
him. Around him cluster his sisters kneel-,
inc in alteration, supremely confident that
the country will be safe in his keeping. The
younger brother, in student uniform of blue
clcth, brass buttons and glazed German
cap wishes that the time had come for this
celebration over himself: and the father
Outwardly hilarious, struts about in Japan
ese dress, except top and bottom, where
he has adorned himself for the occasion
with large and damaged bowler hat and
side elastic shoes of ancient make, respect
ivey, both seemingly fshed out of the
dusty stock of junk shop. The mother is
silent and smiles through her tears.
There is always a band in attendance
which plays for noise until the time forl
partings, when it switches of on "Kimi Ga
Yo," the national anthem, in which all join
Then the banners in front of the house,
and as many others as friends may have
brought along to help celebrate, are lined
up in procession, family farewells are
cheerfully said-it is no time for scenes
and the recruit starts of, proud in fan
fare of sound and the trappings of pageant
ry. In the opposite direction friends,
whose emotions have been so reused over
the departure that jinrickishas must be,
summoned for them, in which they are
piIoted homeward. with faces little red.
slightly puffy under the eyes, and their
bodies dropping sideways in delicate sug-
gestion of faded lilies languishing pop
pies.
Among the changes in native customs for
which reformers have most strongly plead
ed is one that will put an end TO the ex-.
tr5;vagance which attends proceedings of,
this kind. Since conscription exempts but
few young men from military service, poor
families. in order not to be behind in af-
feGtionate display, will spend in farewell
demonstrations more money than they can
save in a year, and for a longer period than
that thereafter they must pinch their slen-
der wants to make up for 1t. The COM
mon people do not earn enough to put any,
thing aside, even were they so inclined.
y celebration looks shabby which costs less
than 100 yen. Not long ago the banners;
alone which were carried in the procession:
for the son of a favorite actor cost /. 400
yen. a sum not unusual when the con-
scripts come of rich families. A younger,
brother of Baron Iwasaki surprised the of
year by reporting for service with ef-
feets except those that he wore. and at
tended by only single friend. He could
afford to show off with the best, but chose;
this way to set an example for the rich, in
the belief that it was for such he to re-
heSe the poor of the discomfort of expense
that they could not afford. Prince Kamin..
commander of the cavalry regiment to:
which the young man attached himself,
we'll impressed by this act that he
took Iwasaki into his own mess, made him
his interpreter and arranged for a leave,
whereby Iwasaki, still carried on the armyG
rolls. was sent to England to complete his
education. He is now a student at the Uni
versity of Cambridge.
LOYALTY AT A PREMIUM.
Reform will work slowly, If at all. in this
respect. No people like the military idea
better than the Japanese. They have been
always nation of soldiers, and their fond;
esS traditions are associated with deeds of
prOwess In the old days the daimyos, or
feudal lords, had retinues of men who re-
lied on them wholly for support and who
constituted what was known as the samu-
raj. or warrior class. In general the world
owed them living, for they were not born
for labor. and if it suited them TO help
themselves from the shops or levy for food;
and lodging on the inns they could not be
denied punished. They held first rank:
In the social divisions of the times, and
when not actively engaged in their pro-
fession they must often have been dreaded
as. a pernicious nuisance, even IL no one
dared call them so.
u their saving and conspicuous
merit, however, that at a call from their
lord they were always ready for any serv-
ice. life counting as nothing in such a
cause. The table of moral precedence issued
as the legacy OF Ieyasu. founder OF the
Tckugawa shogunate, denounced disloyalty'
as the most heinous crime under heaven
and elevated loyalty above all other vir-
tues Lying and slander were not wrong
II they worked for edifcation, but dfsloyal-
~ in any degree placed the offender beyond
the pale OF decent recognition In recent
years administration for the businesslike
fashion with which the Japanese disposed
OF the Chinese In the war Of 1855 and for