The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-11-27
HAMA,
Daughter of Japan

japanese and bound after the quaint
style OF the japanese book craftsmen
After a quick survey of the colCred
prints Illustrating the text and dip
here and there into the chapter head
ings ! laid aside one OF the thirty ODD
books that have been crying for atten-
ton these several weeks and plunged
boldly at my maiden dip into Japanese
fiction. 1t was refreshing beyond any
book experience Of the year.
Hama. a Daughter Of Japan" is the
title Of t. story. one Gei5ai Mural its
author. word OF explanation as to
the books purpose must preface and
IN some measure assist in a consider
alton Of its merits and dement's.
Mr.. Unkichi Hawai-. the gentleman
who has given the admirable transla-
ton OF Murais story. besides telling
the Occidental reader all he knows
about the author, his life and works,
devotes d paragraph 10 the story tell
ers purpose in having Hama" thus
opened TO Western reading. In the
midst Of his manifold and pressing la
bors as editor in chief Of the Hochi-
Shimbun, a Toxic newspaper, Gensai
Mural wrote this novel for the sole
purpose OF revealing to the world the
spirit Japan is showing in the present
conflict and the fundamentals of her
peoples ethical and social life. which
makes such a brave stand possible. To
this exposition OF the inspiration direct
ing his pen the author himself adds
thought in a commercially brief pre-
face. He declares that deeming it his
duty as a writer to add his talent 10
the grand treasury Of national defense
~ %
translation, so that the world outside
Of Japan might see and understand.
Furthermore, this novel he sends as the
herald Of many 10 be given to the Eng
Lsh tongue Then this naive admoni-
ton:
Because one fruit that has been
snatched from a tree may taste sour
do not disoain the whole Of the tree;
time viii ripen the rest Of the fruit"
purpose novel" categorically reck-
oned. is this, therefore. Indeed read
ing Of the first chapter alone would
convince Of this even had we not the
authors prefaced word for it. Purpose
looms large from every page. Uncle
Toms Cabin" in ante-bellum days had
not more didactic force than Hama, a
Daughter OF japan Russia is beyond
the pale Of righteous. consideration;
Japan is everlastingly right. Russia is
the aggrandizer, the ruthless oppressor;
Japan is the fighter for liberty. The
Muscovite represents the decadence Of
the human type; the japanese stands
in the foreground OF enlightenment
Ossa piled on Pelion could not o'ertop
the high heaped argument Of Mr.. Gen
sal Mural.
To-
these accumulated sentiments-that is
a queer grated product Of good old
Occidental melodrama on a japanese
root stock The opening chapter Of the
story discloses an unfortunte young
gentlema:- from Chicago Mr.. Con-
ner, seeking health at the springs Of
hlfyanoshits- His malady is not
broken heart, not nostalgia even, but
oyspepsiai Blunt realism this. At the
watering place he falls IN with a patri-
archsl japanese doctor and his charm
ing daughter, Hama The villain also
enters upon the scene Of action-Mr.
DGnsld. a Russian naval officer. The
good doctor undertakes to cure Mr..
Counor OF his silment and the bad
Russian undertakes simultaneously a
EieFe Of the fair maiden's heart But
N6I EAELLAh AnNNALAkS NAC RAS6AC3S "a
bofa operations. Mr.. Danski hurries
20 Join bis feet at Port Arthur and
Hana's household ie plunged into gloom
81 the departure OF the only son for the
scene OF activities.
We are spectators next OF the thrill
ing torpedo boat attack upon the Port
Arthur squadron. In the midst OF the
exultant Banzais of the victorious jap
snese sailors sounds this reproof.
strangely reminiscent Of the admonition
that made an American ship captain
famous IN the engagement at Santiago.
Boys, don't cheer. men are dying"
Despite this, however, the Russian
Dansd comes near dying under the
sword OF Hana's valiant brother, but
he is snatched from death and sent to
Sasebo Hospital in Japan. where for
tuitousiy, Hama, the beautiful, serves as
a Red Cross nurse. The plot thickens.
Hama feels II to be her duty to Japan
70 worm out of Danski all the military
secrets Of Port Arthur. The villain con-
sents 70 give them only on promise OF
marriage. After much mental travail
Hama agrees. The villain tells all he
knows and Hama is sacrificed to a
pledge inviolable for the honor and
-B4OLg o. the 44halO-
Meanwhile the dyspeptic Mr.. Con-
ner, through love of the beautiful jap
anese girl, has passed through hide
Gus adventures among the Russians in
vain attempt TO save her from self
appointed martyrdOm. He comes to
Sasebo Hospital grievously wounded
and falls under the care of the fair
one Thus he importunes her for the
cause Of her manifest grief:
Miss Hama, IL you have an inch of
sorrow in your heart, it will reflect
upon mine a foot Of grief. You will
excuse me for telling it, Miss Hama,
but you have the whole of my sym
pathy. why can you not tell me the
cause Of your affliction?"
7 have no objection to telling YOU"
rerILas Hama ..hllt I fear IL will only.