The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-16
Oyama Said to be the Ugliest
and the Most Charming Man
i'll the Emp;re--some-
thing About Him.

A vivid picture OF the con1nihnder-in-
chief of the japanese armies in Man
churin is presented by VIII Lexington
Comfort, writing for the Chicago Daily
News. lie writes:
can English correspondent in Toxic
during the early days of the war strolled
into the billiard room of the Imperial
Hotel one afternoon and announced that
he mad just secured an interview with
Field-Marshal Oyama.
/" How did you like l,im:' was asked
"s.He is the ugllcst and most charm,
ing man in the Empire the corrcspon-
dent replied Quickly.
The writer OF this article was pre-
scented to Marquis Oyama n few days
later in company with several foreigners
at the Maple Club, Toxic, and the remark
OF the English correspondent came back
forcibly. The first impression was that
of repiIsion.
"Oyanla is short, squat andslone-nrined.
His huge head seems to rest upon heavy
shoulders, without q connecting medium.
and this popularity is intensified as the
Marquis turns his body as well as his
head wher he wishes to look nj an object
behind or Mt his side.
''1he physical peculiarlties, however,
arc nothing, 1t is the face Of Oyamn
which first repels, then fascinates, IT
was the same with Robespierrc, the same
with Tallcyrand. The play OF the brain
was needed to wipe out the ghastliness
and the gloom. His skin seemed TO be
drawn by the fires OF suffering. Small
pox left 1t one mass Of fiery pits. ]
thought of the Conneilsville country and
the square miles Of coke ovens inverted.
Other scars interminslcd-stcel and frost.
perhapS--and from out Of tho serried
countenance shore the restless black eyes,
piercing but crooked.
"I1is voice Is deep and gentle and his
speech Is studded with unexpected bursts
OF humor or Intensity. This facility Is
Western, as opposed to the stcrcotyped
nothings which are continually upon the
lips OF the Japanese. Certain noble
men say that Oyama Is the most brilliant
conversational in Japan, He speaks
English well. but French much better.
Back OF the gentle voice and tho reac-
ton Of fascination which comes after
a few moments In the presence Of this
great soldier Of the Orient there Is some
thing %rcstles, mysterious. You feel the
Iron force Of tho man. a force ineNor-
able, Napoleonic. If japanese are about.
you arc caught In a c~rossiirc OF their
passionate alteration and his serene
There Is much OF violence In his his
toTS, anu WIS HelPS ~ 'olih'nB ~ tHes'
unusua impressions. Az a child. al,
most. he took part In the interprovincia
strife, aud but u few years later he stood
for the Government and helped TO pu'
down the bitter Satsunln rebellion, Hi
part was the triumph of conviction owe
sentiment. Many OF his relatives wer'
against the Emperor In th!s warfare
Young Oyumu first fought his leaning
toward the Satsuma cause and thei
fought for the central government whicl
: prevailed,
5 ellie commanded the Second Arm,
!. Corps In the war against China and wa
chief in the first taking of Port Artlu,
e 1t is far from unrea sonable TO hint lhu
(. Oyama will be powerfully In evidence a
th second fall Of this ~fOrlres. wiicl
: Is go identified With the hopes and homo
OF Japan. Until the present month. lii
first taking OK Port Arthur was III