The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-20

N ho4Nu HE IldIs SupSiSkitlOho VI Viz JdEaiiNSS
u there is none more strange or more univer-
n sal than the belief in the power of the fox
to do them harm, and many are the stories told OF
those against whom this power has been exercised.
The Japanese fox is a pretty creature about two
feet long and of a tawny color, and is found nearly
everywhere in Japan. He appears innocent enough
with his bright, quick eye and his graceful movements;
but to the Japanese mind he is the personifcation OF
intrigue, deceit and cunning, and no "B rer Rabbit, "
no matter how astute, ever got the better of him
He it is that bewitches men and things, and when
ANYTHING goes wrong the blame is always laid at the
door of the kitsune. Even strong impressions of the
mind are supposed to be caused by the fox's influence.
II was not always that the fox had such a bad repu-
tation. for when he first came to notice he was the
trusty servant of Inari, a hero and deity of old Japan,
and even now the shrines where Imam is ~worshiped
are graced by images of the fox.
The mischievous tricks which foxes are said to play
upon the unwary are many, and wonderful are the
tales tod to awed groups of listeners by those who
have been duped by them. The designing fox usually
takes the form of a fair maiden in order to play
tricks upon some unsuspect1ng waytarer, and beckons
him on until he falls into a ditch or is lost in the noun
tains. 1t is almost always at night that the fox goes
out to deceive. and those who have met with such
adventures say that the only way to know the differ
ence between a real maiden and a fox lady IS that
the latter is clearly distinguishable even on the dark
est night, the stripes or patterns on her clothing
being clearly visible even in the darkness.
1t is usually to those who are carrying some article
of food that the artful fox appears, with the design
of obtaining the dainty, and those who have been
through the experience say that a bewildered feeling
takes possession of them and they are not able to
exert their own wills. There is a sensation of treading
on air or of climbing a steep mountain.
Amano and his friend Sato were coming home
late one evening from a dinner party, and had to
pass through a lonely stretch of country in the suburbs
of Toxic. They went on their way talking cheer
fully of the pleasant evening they had spent and of
the friends they had met. Each one carried in a
siken tukusd a small box of light wood containing the
remains of his dinner, which it is etiquette in Japan to
carry home.
1T is a great bother to carry this box so far,
said Amano, and | would give it to the next beggar
we meet, only | promised Kochan that would bring
her something from the feast. Children think SO
Yes" replied Sato, lit is the same in my case
the children will be expecting a treat"
"Sato. Dono!"
What IS it? Have you broken your clog thong?"
Where are we walking?'
Why. have you lost your memory? We are on the
Koishikawa road. to be sure"
But there is no hill on that road"
"Of course mott Why do you ask :" said Sato,
alarmed.
Why. | feel exactly as If we were going up a very
steep hill"
"Oya' Is that so? Sit down, my friend. sit down
quickly
But. why" began Amano, but the only answer
he received was a vigorous pull from Sato. who was
already squatting down in the road. After a few