Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-26
THE JAPANESE SMILE.
Part of the Peoples Rudimentary
Education, Says Native.
4 RUssIAEs~vEw OF THE HABIT.

ed-JaDanese Smile Even When
They XIII or Die.
The opinion prevails among the hun
dred or more prisoners of war who re-
Gently arrived at Tokyo from Port Ar
thur, out of whose icy waters they
were rescued and pulled aboard Japa-
nese vessels, that Russia IS doomed to
lose the war for the reason that the
Japanese meet the enemy, face death
and infiict death with smiling faces.
Among the cars tackles are several
who speak English and the Cincinnati
Enquirer's special correspondent was
permitted to talk with them in the
presence Of an imperial officer.
The most intelligent of the crew,
bright midshipman, said:
I'm afraid that when the great
mass of the Russian army learns Of
this Japanese habit-the great mass
that is ignorant and superstitiOus-our
soldiers will think wltchcraft is at
work. In that event their fighting
spirit will evaporate as fear of the su-
pernatural takes possession of them.
II any one had told me. would have
thought him romancing. but 1 was
near enough to see for myself. As the
mikado's ships advanced, officers and
men, as seen through our spyglasses.
went about their deadly work with
smiles upon their lips. Stern words of
command were given and Obeyed with
the joyous courtesy an invitation to
the bar evokes among the average SOL
der. Smilingly the Japs aimed their
guns. Whenever we got n glimpse of
ed to be listening to jokes.
"We heard of Captain Phillips hu-
name command at Santiago, Don't
cheer, boys; they are dying words
that are enshrined in every true sail
or's heart. but the Japanese, it seems
TO me. outdid the gallant captain of
the Texas in graclousness at Port Ar |
thur. When the Russian ships were |
sinking and our men struck out for
shore or any other place Of safety, for /
that matter, the enemy advanced with |
smiling faces to lend us a brothers |
helping hand. Indeed. myself and com
rades were pulled aboard with such
hearty welcome of demeanOr as one
might expect of the crew of a yachting
party engaged in rescuing the owners
guests.
'As we were sent below / saw |
Japanese official kill one of our men
who had discharged n revolver at him
on being brought upon deck. And this
act of jTstice-for / admit such it was
was likewise performed without q
trace Of anger In mein or manner. The
mikado's lieutenant plunged n huge
bowie knife In my comrades abdomen
while laughing. not boisterOusly or tri
umphantly, but in a serene, courteous
manner This, 1 have since learned. IS
Japanese trait little known TO the
outside world. To them it means moth
ing. in warfare at least. but to an en-
envy such smiling compoSaIre is nothing
short of terrible.
1.-The Russian soldier in particular IS
accustomed to see his commander and
superiors grave and severe, frowning
even on every sort OF preteXt- Our
troops are used to being overawed. Re
fleet what IL means to them to come
face to face with an enemy who bat
tiers their ships and harnesses their
TANKS. who deals death and destruc-
ton, apparently in the happiest frame
of mind. without effort.
The great mass OF our men will
look upon an adversary OF that sort as
n superior being. as one under spell.
as invlncible. Among my fellow pris-
oners hear II argued all the time: IF
the Japanese We're not conscious of su-
perior strength they would not enter
into the fury with such unheard of
assurance. Surely. If they didn't know
beforehand that they can lick us they
wouldn't have that air OF mOcs1ing
merriment'
Think OF a charge OF light brigade
with each man smiling his best; every
corps. after the battle, bearing the
stamp OF pleasantly on pallid lips
why 1t needs no Tennyson to make
such an army a terror far and wide"
The mikado's officer made a sign to
Indicate that the interview was at an
end. and / withdrew not a little as
and perplexed at what had
heard. Subsequently l talked to
OF the war minister's stan ON
the subject, who said that with the
Japanese soldier the aspect of smiling
was q matter OF special drill.
He said:
"a smiling countenance is in fact q
part OF our peoples rudimentary edu-
cation, vastly expanded and strictly in
sisted upon with our boys in blue and
the jackies. We don't want mOroSe
men; we know that brave deeds can
be accomplished without fierce grim
aces. and we know. too. that a smiling
enemy. suffering wounds and leopard
ling life and limb. is very liable to
gain a reputation for bravery and reck-
leSsness with oppose forces used TO
savage demeanor. blsbphemy and raw
ing with pain and lust for revenge"
The following explanations OF and
comments on the Japanese smile that
won't come of even in death were
gathered from natives and long time
foreign residents in the island empire.
There are no pleasanter babies born |