The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-24

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49, lightened age of Meiji. 1903 With
the baby days Of the year of grace 1904
was born within the hearts of the men
of Nippon a determination to fight for
the honor of the surround flag, and
also Tor the very life OF the land OF the
gods.
The reserves were called out. Il,sda
Taro simply brought out a tray and
placed upon it couple Of tiny cups
filed with clear cold water. He laid it
before his grandmother. Facing her
across the tray. he sat down, and bow
ing to the matted floor before her he
said: August grandmother, you have
heard the call of the country. I am
a child of the man who gave his life
for the flag. am going. Before
start honor me with the exchange of the
cups of cold water. according to the
old custom OF samuraI departing to
war-to the war Of defending the very
life of my country and the Emperor
The old lady gave her grandson a
beautiful smile-yes, she knew all about
it; she was quite ready. All she wanted
was that her little boy would not forget
whose son ne was; what ancient blood
it was that warmed his young veins.
~HE Nippon Government was suf-
fering from the embarrassment
of riches. Such a number CT
able and competent men offered them
selves both for the army and the navy
but especially for the navy-that there
was no possibility OF accepting anything
like a goodly percentage Of the am
bilious young applicants. 1t rejected
Ikeda Taro on the ground of being
the sole support of his aged grand
mother A number of officers whose
duty it was to examine and select the
best fitted and qualified for the service
were the old friends of his father They
knew him very well; they knew low
well qualified he was to claim fhe ser
vice. They took pains to explain to
him, therefore. that it was not because
he was lacking in ability or training
that they were rejecting him, but solely
on the ground of his being the only sup
port of the declining years of his aged
grandmother
do you not see," they said &c. him,
pointing out an overwhelming number
of applicants, there are a number of
good fellows to answer for the luster
of the surround flag on sea; and is rot
hliaI piety the foundation Of all vir-
tues?'
He went to his Sanuki home, beside
the dimplings of the Inland Sea, not
over happy-no; nevertheless quite con-
soled-"dear, precious grandmother.
What could she do without me?' And
- he xHa&
roof, he told his grandmother the story
of his rejection. The old lady said
nothing. She heard the story of her
grandchild with dropping head.
Yes she said at last, as if she were
signing, Eyes, that is very good. I
would have missed you. oh. so much.
My child. you have made me 50 very.
very happy in my fading days"
~BE next morning-which had al
the quiet and uneventful appear
ance of any other day in his life
he awoke rather early, made fire, and
while the rice was steaming he went
into the courtyard of the shrine of the
guardian deity of the village.
After sweeping the court he went back
TO the cottage. When the breakfast was
upon the tray he took il to the room OF
his grandmother. He called her and al
most az the seme time, as was his wont,
he gently pulled open the shoji.
The sight before him made him pause.
Z There was no sign Of bed. In the mid
die of the room. TO be sure, there was
his grandmother, in a strange posture,
which booked as if she were making a
profound bow to some one. Her fore
head was upon the mat.
Ikeda Taro approached her. Then he
saw tie naked blade of a dagger which
the women of the Samurai class used to
carry in the Drawer days of Nippon.
And upon the blade Taro saw a stain
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