The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-05-06
them only what is good and right.

them only what is good and right.
Patriotism in Japanese woman is
like religion. 1t is inbred in her,
inherited from countless ancestors,
whose loyalty to Tenshi-sama, the en-
peror, was as natural as living itself.
Yet patriotism with the Japanese is
not felt chiefly for country and fellow
countrymen, but for the emperor. He
comes first of all.
When boy is wee little chap of
8 Years old his mother begins to. teach
him the first principles of patriotism
and loyalty to the emperor. She will
put some object into his hand-an
apple or orange, say, and she will ask:
"What will you do with this or
ange?"
The child is taught to answer:
81 will give it Tenshi-sama.'
He is taught that everything in Jap
IN belongs, by divine right, to the em.
peror. and that all that he has is given
him by the emperor. Only few years
ago the children were taught that they
owed their very existence to the EN-
peror; that he was the child of heaven,
a descendant of the gods whom they
could not see. for if they did, they
would become blind at once.
"Whcre do you get your food!'
would ask the mother.
"From Tcnshi-sama, would answer
Che child.
Where does this ground come
fromy'
"From Tenshi-sama."
'To whom do we owe everything
that is good in hfe?"
"Tenshi-sama.'
And at last:
"If Tenshi- needs you what Will
You do for him."
IL will die for Tenshi- sama," answers
the future soldier of japan.
Was ever nation 80 instructed in
slavish alteration for the ruler, and
is it any wonder that the child, taught
from his babyhood to reverence the
emperor. should, when put to the test,
be willing, as he said as child, to
die for Tenshi-
1t is well that the guardians of the
emperors have been wise men. who
cultivating this love in the emperor's
subjects, so ordered the personal lives
of the rulers that these subjects were
not aware that often their faith and
love were misplaced. Today Mutsuh-
ito. who they know now is not a spir-
itual being, but an actual living man,
Is held in even q more affectionate es-
teen because he is good and kind and
returns the love of his subjects The
Japanese women of today do not
change their little code of patriotic
teaching of their children. Still do
they teach that "Tenshi- is the
:. owner and giver of all the good in
Japan.
When the son of Samurai reached
the manly age of 5 years the mother
would put into his hands the two
swords of his father; they were sell
dom too heavy for the young warrior
to hold. She would tell her son that
his father was warrior, as had been
his grandfather before him, and that
with one of these swords he had glo-
riously defended the honor of the EN-
peror. and with the other his own per-
sonal honor
She would tell this 5-year-old boy
that no longer was he baby. He
must put away all Of his toys, and
henceforward devote his mind to more
serious things. as would become the
son of Samurai Thus from his
fifth birthday until he attained to
manhood the son of warrior was
taught each day patriotism and loyalty.
"You must die in the presence Of the
Daimio," would instruct the mother,
for the Daimio was the chosen vassal
Of the emperor.
Revenge 10 said to be the strongest