The National tribune., 1904-01-07

of half million men, if it falls any short
In addition all of her boys are drilled to
| point that would make them efficient, in
emergencies, for many military uses.
The National Museum does not possess
any japanese modern war exhibit. There
are in the cases number OF weapons OF
war used by them generations ago, and
these visitors find interesting.
In one case on the lower floor, in the
dissG ss s IS fssaR .s Of ss dns
armed, equipped and posed in Japan. They
present a japanese General and four of
his staff, listening to japanese soldier
who, having been captured by the enemy,
made his escape, and is now reporting. The
event is of the 18th century, and the cos.
tunes and arms worn by the figures are Of
that period. They are all in armor, and
wear chain and scale mail. The armor
of the General is glittering brass; that
of the others iron. Their helmets have
great skirts that spread to their shoulders
like dropping wings. They wear knives,
are like clubs or crossbows. the daggers
like butcher knives The spears are slim
poles, with blades like blades from jack
knives, attached.
periods and arrows, neat, supple,
strong; swords, heavy, clumsy, curved and
deadly-of steel fit for razoM Of watch
springs: spears with brnsh-hook beaks at
tached at the base of the blades; spears
with broad, long, swordlike blades; spears
with queer-looking florist trowels for
blades. They are weapons of strength and
beauty, made for slaughter; but they were
made for an age that is past and they are
now but relics.
The official and national religion of ia
pan is Shintoism. 1t worships host
hosts-of deities. kanussi- no-kami is the
supreme to whom is ascribed creation. In
all of his temples the metallic mirror is
placed as an emblem of creation. Associa-
ted with Kanussi-no-Kami is Amaterasu-
ocho-mi- Kami. the Sun goddess, who shares
in his worships.
means master of the gods. 1t must be rath-
er desirable job-unless the gods become
willful and insubordinate
Every japanese household nearly-has
it's miniature temple, with bells and foxes
and images, for family worship. Foxes
perhaps because Of their shrewdness and
cunning.
The Museum has no large image that is
exclusively japanese. There is one small
Kvanti that is interesting even he
is accepted by Chinese. 1t is carved in
low relief from basaltic lava and is found
on the gallery of Historic Religions.
Near him is little wooden god-about
as big, or as little, as baby's thumb ;
a war god, name unknown to any civil
liked alphabet. who is attended by two
minor war gods, Kongara DASH and Sur
TAXA Dashi
There is also there the Japanese God of
Plenty. He is done in gold: fat fellow
with q spoon in his hand. He sits astrad-
die of two bullying bags of rice. He is
coaxed for good crops and fervently thank
you'd for abundant harvests. Nor is he
forgotten when the devout Jap finds that
his surplus accumulation of coin tries
the hinges of his strong-box He is thanked
for wealth as well as for good crops; al
though the japanese are not a mercenary
people.
They are ardently deyoting themselves
now to modern military equipments and
methods. No other nation is to-day SO
earnestly seeking to advance or so willing
and anxious to learn and to secure the best
for effectiveness.
They worship their gods of war, but they
also believe that the gods of war do most
for those who use the best weapons and
have the wisest Generals and soldiers best
equipped with patriotism and staying quail
tiles. They believe in sand in the soldier
and powder in his Mauser.-H. B. JET
FRIES.