Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-31
The JAPANESE SMILE.
Part Of the Peoples Rudimentary
Education, Says Native.
A RUSSIANS VIEW OF THE HABIT.

Su-JapaaeSe smile Even "nen
They XIII or Die.
The opinion prevails among the hun,
dred or more prisoners of war who re-
Gently arrived at Tokyo from Port Ar
thur, out of whose icy waters they
were rescued and pulled aboard Japa-
nese vessels, that Russia is doomed to
lose The war for the reason that the
japanese meet the enemy, face death
and infict death with smiling faces.
Among the cars jackies are several
who speak English and the Cincinnati
Enquirer's special correspondent was
permitted to talk with them in the
presence of an imperial officer.
The most intelligent of the crew, a
bright midshipman, said:
I'm afraid that when the great
mass of the Russian army learns of
this japanese habit-the great mass
that is ignorant and superstitious-our
soldiers will think witchcraft is at
work. In that event their fighting
spirit will evapOraie as fear of the su-
pernatural takes possession of them.
If any one had told me, would have
thought him romancing, but 1 was
near enough to see for myself. AS the
mikado's ships advanced, officers and
men, as seen through our spyglasses,
went about their deadly work with
smiles upon their lips. Stern words of
command were given and obeyed with
the joyous courtesy an invitation to
the bar evokes among the average sol
der. Smilingly the Japs aimed their
guns. Whenever we got a glimpse Of
the commander on the bridge he SEEM
ed to be listening to Jokes.
I'VE heard OF Captain Phillips hu-
name command at Santiago, Don't
cheer, boys; they are dying words
that are enshrined in every true sail
Or's heart, but the japanese. it seems
TO me, outdid the gallant captain of
the Texas in graciousness at Port Ar
thur. When the Russian ships We're
sinking and our men struck out for
shore, or any other place of safety, for
that matter, the enemy advanced with
smiling faces TO lend us a brothers
helping hand. Indeed, myself and com
rades were pulled aboard with such
hearty welcome of demeanor as one
might expect of the crew of n yachting
party engaged in rescuing the owners
guests.
"As we were sent below 1 saw n |
japanese official kill one of our men
who had discharged a revolver at him
on being brought upon deck. And this
act of justice-for 1 admit such it was
was likewise performed without
trace of anger in mein or manner. The !
mikado's lieutenant plunged a huge !
bowie knife in my comrades abdomen |
while laughing, not boisterously or tri- |
umphantly, but in a serene. courteous
manner. This. have since learned, is |
a japanese trait little known to the
outside world. To them it means moth |
ing, in warfare at least, but to an en-
envy such smiling composure is nothing
short of terrible.
1.-The Russian soldier in particular is .
accustomed to see his commander and |
superiors grave and severe, frowning
even on every sort of preteXt. Our
troops are used TO being overawed. Re
fleet what ii means TO them to come
face to face with an enemy who bat
tiers their ships and harnesses their
TANKS. who deals death and destruc-
ton, apparently in the happiest frame
Of mind, without effort.
1.-The great mass Of our men will
look upon an adversary of that sort as
n superior being, as one under 4 spell
as invincible. Among my fellow pris-
oners l hear It argued all the time: IF
the japanese were not conscious of su-
perior strength they would not enter
into the fury with such unheard of
assurance. Surely, if they didn't know
that they can lick us they
wouldn't have that air Of hooking
merriment.'
Think OF q charge of light brigade
with each man smiling his best; every
corps, after the battle, bearing the
stamp of pleasantly on pallid lips
why it needs no Tennyson TO make
such an army a terror far and wide"
The mikado's officer made sign to
Indicate that the interview was at an
end, and l withdrew not little as
founded and perpleXed ut what l had
heard. Subsequently 1 talked to a
member of the war minister's staff on
the subject, who said that with the
Japanese soldier the aspect of smiling
was a matter Of special drill
He said:
"a smiling countenance is in fact a
part OF our peoples rudimentary edu-
cation, vastly expanded and strictly in
sisted upon with our boys in blue and
The jackies. We don't want morose
men; we know that brave deeds can
De accomplished without fierce grim
ices, and we know, too, that q smiling
enemy, suffering wounds and leopard
zing life and limb. is very liable TO
,ain reputation for bravery and reck-
essness with opposite forces used TO
savage demeanor. blasphemy and raw
ng with pain and lust for revenge
The following explanations Of and
comments on the japanese smile that
won't come of even in death were
from natives and long time
foreign residents in the island empire.
There are no pleasanter babies born