The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-31
JAPAN'S BIG MAN
IN AMERICA
He Is kogoro Takaha He Looks Like Kpng and He Is One
Of the keenest Members of the Diplomatic
Corps in Washington
BY EDWIN A. DOUGLAS.

| Takahira, the Japanese minister al
| Washington. This description may
not appear complimentary, but first
observation would suggest it, In
progress, pluck and energy. the Yam
kee predominates in the Japanese S
character. The stocky frame, we'll
knit figure. strong, black eyebrows at
first glance are reminiscent of the
English author and poet. A close
! analysis of the minister's features
| however. will not sustain the compari-
son.
As punctilious as the strictest rules
of diplomacy require, the Japanese
minister at the same time is the typi-
cal common sense, twentieth century
He goes about the modern American
house in a business sack coat and
striped trousers; runs up and down
stairs in the most unconventional way
and interests himself with every detail
of legation work.
How do you do? What can do
! for your" lis his greeting, as he meets
the visitor in his parlors downstairs,
suggesting a banker ready to talk
! finance and investments. Only Il
| slight accent in speech distinguishes
this quick, alert little man from an up
to-date, hustling American bust
! ness man.
What are the latest developments
! in the Far East?"
At that question the business man
disappears and the cautious, trained
! diplomat appears. He is all courtesy,
! but by adroit questions informs him
| self of his visitors object His an
swers are given with all franlQness, APP
| parently but upon analysis reveal
nothing that could be construed into
the divulgence of state secret liable
in the least to injure his home gov
| eminent.
He has not one confldant in the
| diplomatic corps is the verdict of his
| fellow diplomats. This does not mean
that Kogoro Takahira is repellant or
| unpopular, but merely exhibits his
| confidence in his own Judgment and
| policies. Close as Great Britain is ia
Japan in the game Of world diplomacy
Minister Takahira never confides In
the British Ambassador in Washing
ton or seeks the latter's advice His
only communications are such as
must, be made between embassies. Mr.
! Takahira does his own thinking
makes his own plans and follows his
own policies.
The Japanese Legation has the
name of being the most exclusive in
| Washington. This means greater Sc
| crecy in its conduct of intricate diplo-
matte communications and negotia-
lions. 1t means at the same time a
happy escape from mass of diplo-
| matte gossip and criticism for which
rnnVnhnrG ~ tho a c
| Dorcas sewing circles. If you want
| the latest bit of salacious scandal af-
fecting prominent diplomats. do not
seek 1t at 1910 n street, where the
! japanese Legation is located. Such
frivolous gossip is not INDUCED in by
the Minister. nor does he countenance
il among his legation staff.
1t must not be surmised from this
| that Minister Takahira is a stern
austere man without human curiosity
and feelings. He is a very sociabe
creature. and no one enjoys a story
on joke more thoroughly than he, al
though he is not noted as a racon-
| teur himself. He can appreciate,
however, wit and hUmor, and is suf-
| ficiently expert in the English lam
guage to enjoy puns and plays on
words. Ordinarily, the Minister has
| little to say and has the reputation of
terested in any subject and in his Wis
itor he becomes a charming conversa-
tionalist.
In another way Minister Takahira
| resembles the Yankee and the Occi-
dental type of man. This is in his in
| tense love for out-of-door life. espe-
cially hunting. He has I'm his legation
| a collection of choke bore guns and
| other sporting firearms that would
make ex-President Cleveland fairly
| jealous. He has an enviable record
for bringing in strings of mallard and
canvas back duck from the waters
along the lower Virginia shores. His
many friends in Washington have rea-
con to know that when the minister
goes after ducks he gets them, for.
with characteristic generosity he
sends hampers of the birds that fall
| before his gun to his acquaintance.
He is an excellent shot and has all
the patience necessary to sit in a blind
| half a day in sleet, snow or chilling
| rain waiting for the erratic ducks
When the birds appear he seldom
misses. IL they come within range Of
his gun. and he frequently drops one
with each barrel.
In the autumn Mr.. Takahira always
enjoys several weeks Of quail shooting
| in the Virginia stubble fields. He has
passed one or two summers in Vir-
| ginia occupying an old Colonial man
| sion, and has become thoroughly ac-
| quainted with the best territory for
quail. At first he kept a pair of fine
! hunting dogs, but the restrictions Of
| the legation yards and kennels proved
unhealthful and they died. He now
| depends on the dogs of local hunters
| and the gentlemen whose guest he is
| in the "Old Dominion"
Hunting is the nearest approach to
| a fad that the minister possesses. He
cares nothing for such American
| games as baseball and football.
Minister Takahira is an indefati-
/ gable worker He can be found at his
| desk late at night. and Is always
ready to attend to business at an early
hour in the morning. When he re-
| turns from a dinner party he will
| throw aside his evening coat and. put
| ting on a comfortable smoking jacket.
enter upon several hours labor at his
| desk He works IN his library up
stairs and consumes innumerable oil
| garettes while engaged with his cor
respondence. He always has at hand
on his desk hot water and a supply OF
the finest tea grown I'm the Orient,
with which he compounds numerous
CUPS Of that beverage that cheers him
IN his labor without clouding his
brain.
Despite their reputed exclusiveness,
| Minister Takahira and his suite are
extremely popular in Washington So
! ciety. They have adopted Western
ways and a function at the japanese
legation is much like that In the best
appointed American home. The min
lister Is an excellent host and invita-