, 1904-03-30

defeat them. His beloved Adsuma
went with him. A furious storm arose,
which threatened to send Yamato Da-
keno Mikoto and all his heroes to the
bottom of the sea and snuff out for
ever the %sprouting empire of Japan.
This disaster would have happened,
says the tradition, except for Adsuma.
She felt certain that the god of the
sea was offended at the Japs, and only
the sacrifice to him of something most
beloved of them all would appease
him. Dressing herself in her most
gorgeous robes of scarlet and gold,
merely telling those around her that
she was going to offer her life to the
angry god, before she could be pre-
vented this glorious Adsuma plunged
into the boiling sea and was drowned.
Then the waters Immediately Gained
down, SO tits said, and Yamato Dakeno
Mikoto led his seamen on to victory,
and his rule was established.
All the district of Japan lear the
scene of this heroic act of a woman
was named for Adsuma, and from that
day to this wherever the sacred name
can be bestowed it is given. From
that day to this, too, the mothers of
Japan thrill their little SONS and daugh-
tiers with the splendid story of Adsu-
ma. Little girls are taught when the
sacrifice of their lives can help their
country not to hesitate a moment.
Where car life be given better than for
ones country?
Every day the Jap mother gives her
children a lesson in patriotism. There
Is a sort of ceremonial bowling and
r~everencing the present mikado and
the ancient heroes of Japan. Then the
little mother tells the young ones tales
of the grand deeds of the ancient he-
roes and of their ancestors. The glori-
u victories in war Of the JapS are
dwelt on. The names and exploits of
great Japs who have deserved well of
their country are dinned into the chill
dren's ears as an American mother
dins into her children not to soil or
tear their best clothes.
1t Is no wonder that with such moth
ers the Japs are the most patriotic peo-
pie in the world. No wonder even the
common sailor or soldier deems it the
highest honor he can achieve to die
for his country.
If we were so unhappy again as to
have a war on, no doubt soldier and
sailor volunteers would step forward
in plenty. But it is in time of peace
that patriotism is really made. Boys
and girls should be taught to love and
| carxya fhnir ant1nfru in fipon of naoAa
They can serve her best by unfolding
with all their souls that country's puri-
ty and honor.
In intoxicating patriotism into their
children Japanese mothers are greater
and wiser than American mothers. In
our country patriotism seems dying
down to embers and ashes. Only
American mothers and teachers can
supply the fuel which shall renew and
cause it to flame up gloriously. The
boys who are to be the municipal, state
and national officials of the future
| should learn from their own mothers
that incorruptible honesty which
counts their country's public admins
tration a thing too white to be soiled.
Each of them should be taught to say
as they say their daily school lessons,
"Never through me shall the good
name of this country suffer in war or
in peace"
In every house, in the room the chill
dren frequent, there should be por-
traits of our great heroes draped in
the national flag. In that room let
American mothers instruct their chill
dren in the patriotic deeds and spirit
of high honor of the builders of u
nation. And if the mothers themselves
do not know of these things-well,
they can learn. SUSAN PEPPER.