The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-13
Calls Commodore Perry
Father of NeW Japan
Prominent Resident Says American Naval Of
fiCer Opened Up a New Era in Land
of the Rising Sum-

call & man a 'chickshaw in Japan
and the probabilities are you will need
an ambulance the next minute to take
you home" said prominent japanese
resident Of Washington. discussing the
fact that there were no swear words
IN the Japanese language.
1T is perfectly correct that we have
not these swear words" said this Of
fetal. but there are terms with US
which are curses more IN the way they
are said than in the word itself We
have nothing to express the commonly
used English and American expression
damn. with all its variations. With
a Japanese you cannot damn him TO
perdition or politely ask him TO step
to a lower region. because we don't
believe in such things. but by hkening
him to a low form OF animal or calling
him in the generic term beast you
use the worst form of condemnation.
That Is what 'chickshaw' means in our
language. Even the mildest-mannered
Japanese will be melted to attack
should you bestow such a term upon
him. II is a choice curse which is not
often used, as IT means a fight TO the
death.
Term Not Applicable
Judging from that then the term
'swore Ike a trooper could not be
very we'll applied to your soldiers who
are now ir the field fighting against
Russia, was suggested.
perfectly true" he replied Our
soldiers as a body OF men would prob
abIv be incomprehensible to the ordI-
nary American or English trooper ae-
sustained as he is in spite of his splen-
did efficiency and discipline while on
duty. to giving vent 10 his teehngs IN
explosions of wrath when out OF ranse
of his superior officers and very ofte1
not that far of. The japanese soldler
is a quiet inoffensive looking Sort ca
fellow, but that only Is an o1.gl
ana energy in him. and above an an
irnpIicit faith in the ability OF MS SUI
perior officers, which is perhaps me a,,' -
feet Of Western influence on the Co"l-
mon people in the new Japan
'FoIlow to Death"
when their officers go to military
training schools and cultivate them
salves the private soldiers know that
tbsv have become equipped with knowi-
adS,e of the most valuable sort In the
art Of war, and they are willing 10
follow their orders in the most minute
and practical fashion. even II II meahf
certain death Their muscles are hard
and their figures WHY. MANY VI 1As
soldiers are made up OF the class known
as runners or chair carriers in the
nrincipal cities. These men are accus-
toned to carrying heavy burdens about
the streets an day at fast trOt ana
the hardships and hunger TO be encoun-
tered on the march are not likely TO
have any terrors for them
'sWhat influences do you think nave
served to bring about the friendship
which the Japanese have for Americans
and the evident cordial relations main
tained between the two peoples? was
asked.
Admiration for America.
1T is first of all the admiration which
the people of the now Japan have Tor the
spirit of energy and progress so evident
on every side in America We are like
a people who awakened to a new world
about half a century ago. In 1853 Japan
was a medieval nation. She had art.
temples. n completely developed feudal
system. and good local industries, but
she knew literally nothing or modern
science and was where Europe was
about the year 500.
1T was an American. Commodore Per
~. who opened the new world to rs.