The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-06-02
BANZAI TO THE TROOPS.
4 JAPANESE sEND-oFF TO DE-
 PARTING SOLDIERS.

perienees-Kindness of RaiIrOaI Off,
 tIciaIs-A Fathers Parting With His
 Family.
 "The Japanese women never weep" So concluded the writer of Japanese love story. If that writer could have seen a parting that I witnessed yester- day, he would not thus commit himself. The man was not a little Jap." He was not tall man, either. Of medi- um height, with big chest and square shoulders, and a countenance which, if not altogether handsome, was unmis- takably honest, he was 8 typical soldier and a man. There were other similar ly uniformed on the platform, and small crowd wearing the traditional kimono and clogs watched them with admiration as they strapped up their accoutrements or squatted on their knapsacks and talked and puffed their cigarettes. That might be their last sodan on that station, for they were off to face the Russians in Korea.
 Through the wicket gate ca mea wo- man. The official there did not insist on the platform ticket, which is essen tial on all Japanese railway stations for the privilege of seeing off, he stood aside and allowed her to pass. She was tistinctlp yretty, and with the pleasantest arigato in acknowledg- ment of the privilege accorded her by the official, passed on to the platform. I noticed that her lips were reddened and her face was slightly powdered, and the tiny baby she was carrying on her back was dressed in his picturesque holiday garb. The little girl who clung to the woman's kimono was also at tired in a new dress of the brightest colors, her straightly cut hair with the little shaven circlet on the crown bear ing evidences of special attention for a special occasion, and her chubby little face delicately improved" by a cos |metic touch.
 The Woman's smile of thanks quickly gave place to look of concern, but her |countenance frightened again as she espied the group of soldiers, and the one for whom she was looking pressed through the little throng and advanced towards her. Again the smiled and courtesied as her husband greeted her in that severely polite and formal way which is the manner of Japanese hus- bands at all times. With but word to the woman, he playfully snapped his fingers for the edification of his son and heir, and then the little girl left her mother and took her fathers out stretched hand in both hers and looked up at him inquiringly. They saun- tered to the quiet end of the platform the mother folding her hands at her back for the support of the infant--a sure sign of fatigue-and could see by the manner of the little girl as she si- dled up to her father, almost overbal- |ancing herself on her tiny clogs, that he had cracked joke for her especial benefit.
 For while forgot that little family as I noticed the railway officials busily displaying from the waiting-roons and booking offices, the hino-maru, the un- pretentious but effective Japanese flag, which has so frequently been entwined with the Union Jack of late, while many people were arriving, all paying for 9 platform ticket, and all bearing a hino-maru of some description. They brought red and white lanterns, too, and I now understood why 1t was that the tea-houses in the vicinity of the station-the station hotels''-were fes- tooned with lanterns bearing the famil- jar emblem of the Rising Sun These, I afterwards learned, were left burning all night while the troop trains were on their way"
 There was yet half an hour before the train was due, but the chatter of clogs on the paved platform increased, and all was already hustle and excite ment. After all half-an-hour is noth- ing of wait or a Japanese crowd; half a day would hardly exhaust their pa tience. Young girls in bright kimono and gay obi with flowers or ribbons in their coiffured hair, brought quaint iit- tie baskets, and couple of smiling coolies carried bundles of long bam- boos. I was the only alien on the plat form, and in the excitement of the mo- ment my presence was hardly noticed.
 A full hour had elapsed; the train was more than thirty minutes late, and evening was falling. The approach of the train was heralded by an unmusical screech, evidently turned on for the oc- casion by the patriotic engine driver, and it was greeted with a vociferous Banzai! (which sounds very like "Hur- ray' when shouted by a crowd-and as it steamed slowly in a hundred heads were thrust from the windows and hundred tiny flags fluttered and rustled in response to the Banzai and waving of the crowd. Banzai! Banzai!l Ban Banzai!!!
 The little group of soldiers on the platform were jocularly hustled into a compartment reserved for them, all be- ing presented by people in the crowd with flags, amidst the heartiest Sayon- mother and the children. There were no embraces with their good-byes, no kisses, no cambric handkerchiefs. The father merely patted the baby's head and stroked the little girls cheek, and bowed profusely to his wife, with many Hast words. The demonstration of the people seemed to please the woman not little, and it certainly delighted the children. he was smiling, and I