The Washington times., 1904-04-17

tkeir sex. AS one watches the weaker
Of them Crop down on the deck OF their
barges, exhausted after their work is
oone, the sense Of the picturesque dies.
1t is hard to realize that around here
is one of the best fortified spots on
earth Every trace OF the gigantic mill
tary and naval preparations now pro-
ceedInS in the neighborhood is as care
fully covered as possible. The hlis
around are honeycombed with forts and
protected by artillery at every point,
bu. one looks In vain for the guns. The
supplies now being landed from a thou
sand junks are. everyone is aware. for
military use. But there are no men In
uniform supervising. TINS OF thousands
of troops lie ready within a brief march:
but there is not a soldier on the streets.
This scenery. at least, q typically Orien-
/, tai
Those who are enraptured with the
poetic side of Japan would receive a
shock from the streets of Moi or it's
sister town. Shimonoseki. They are as
prosaic and as dirty as those of the
worst parts Of the Black Country.
Everyone bears the traces OF toll. Ths
have that indescribable) Sunny
London. The children, too, often show
plain traces that their mothers are busy
at other work than caring for them.
The roadways are without foo.paths.
and on wet days are anything but
pleasant. Drainage is exceedingly prini-
tive. Every shop has its front open
all Gay. even IN wintr.
The streets are ever a tangled con-.
! fusion OF pavement merchants, of pd-
| tient coolies carrying heavy burdens.
OF laughing children, OF rare horses or
cattle carrying provisions Of shouting
/ 'riCkshaw men. Even here. in a place
where foreigners are counted by the
units. many OF the men. but practically
none of the women, have nut on Euro
pean garb.
Shimonoseki and Moji have been the
center for two OF the most momentous
events in modern japanese history. IL
was here. in 1858. that the fleets of the
great powers came to punish japan for
some offenses against foreigners. Many
men still living near by took part in
that conflict. and they say whether
rightly or not. | have no means OF
knowing) that the Marquis Ito himself
was among the defenders. The fleets
shelled Mott and the people mounted
their batteries and vigorously replied.
But every Japanese shot fell short. The
result OF that boEnbardment was not
merely local ruin at Moi. but stretched
out to the overthrow of the old Japanese
feudalisrn and the inception Of a new
ideal of an Cceidentalized Orient.
bay. which had witnessed the humilia-
ton Of the old, should be the scene of
the crowning triumph OF the new Ten
years ago Japan proved by force OF
arms her power to enter the ranks Of
the world nations. China lay defeated
before her despised rival and IL was
to Shimonosekf that Ii Hung Chang,
China's envoy came, craving and OBJ
tanning peace.
1t was the triumph of the new Japan,
a triumph which every japanese he
lIeves will be repeated soon ever A
greater rival. The people here have
faith that as the triumph OF 1894 wiped
out the bitter memories Of 1888 so snaH
their coming conquest make even the
glories of the last victory fade. For
che modern japanese does not hope Tor
victory: he is firmly convinced. whether
cOolie or soldier. that anything except
victory is now impossible for his ma
ton.