The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-09
MAKE GREAT SACRIFICES

TOXIC, Japan, March I0-Desertion in
the japanese army is something almost un-
heard of, yet case of it occurred here a
day or two ago
One of the conscripts did not appear for
roll call at the proper time and was de-
clared deserter. "a file of men was sent
to his home and he was found there asleep.
He was arrested and taken to the barracks
where drum-head court sentenced him to
be shot.
The man pleaded with the officers to al
low him to commit hara-kari. the honora-
BILE death. This is a ripping open of the
stomach by the mans own knife in his
own hands, and according to the belief of
the old samurai relieved the man thus TAX
ing his own life Of his disgrace. The de-
serter was a descendant of family which
belonged to Japan's old fighting class, and
asked that this one privilege be granted
him.
The officers listened to his pleadings and
granted his request. He removed his tunIc
and seized his knife, prepared to take his
life. At this point, however, he was
stopped by his officers and asked to tell his
reason for deserving. He replied that he
did not intend to desert, but simply went
to his home to say last farewell to his
wife and his baby. He
TOOK TOO MUCH DRINK
and fell asleep.
The officers believed his story and told
him that man who was ready to take his
own life as an atonement for fault was
a man whose life should not be wasted
Therefore his sentence was suspended, and
he is allowed to go to the front, under sem
tence of death, to atone for his misstep
He burst into tears at this sign of his off
GERS generosity and assured them that he
would face the foe unfiinchingly and that
the sentence would be carried out in the
first fight that he entered, but by the bull
let of a Russian and not by those of his
comrades.
Another story of patriotism is being told
everywhere in Japan. A man was hanged
the other day for murder. The CRIME was
particularly brutal one, and there was
no sympathy for the criminal The day be-
fore the execution the officials of the
prison told the condemned man that he
might, according to custom, dispose of
what money he had as he saw fit He had
but four yen ($2), and it was suggested
! that the usual way of spending this money
ny NpIhSlhLSQ liCn was 70 seizure bDSIn-
selves good meal and plenty of drink.
This prisoner, however, said that he did
not care to spend the money in that man
ner, but wanted to give it to his country.
| Therefore, permission was secured for him
to contribute the amount to the war fund.
He did SO, and
WENT TO THE GALLONS
with the satisfaction that he had given his
last cent to aid his country, the country
which was legally taking his life. There
is a sample of patriotism that can hardly
be beaten anywhere.
One of the friends have made in Toxic
is one of the old samurai, who is now a
man more than 80 years old In his
younger days he was famous warrior. and
he traces his family back for hundreds of
years, all of his ancestors having been
famous warriors in the days of shoguns.
Today this old man is very poor, but his
! pride of ancestry remains. He invited me
! to visit him the other day and see his heir
/ looms. | have never seen such a beautiful
collection. Magnificent swords which date
| back to the days before America was dis
| covered, each one with a history that
makes it doubly valuable presents which
his ancestors received from the great sho-
guns hundreds of years ago. beautiful
bronzes and porcelain that is almost price
| less-a room full of relics that should bring
a fabulous price He handled each one
lovingly and told their history through my
interpreter. These relics of the
BY-GONE GREATNESS
of his family are his only possession, and
he loves them as a man loves his children
or the creations of his art Among them