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

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 for the very life Of the land of the
gods
The reserves were called out. Ikeda
Taro simply brought out a tray and
placed upon it a 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 ain
a child of the man who gave his life
for the flag. I am going. Before 2
start honor me with the exchange of tie
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 he was; what ancient blood
it was that warmed his young veins.
~HE Nippon Government was suf-
tering from the embarrassment
of riches. Such a number of
able ana 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. s 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 how
well qualified he was to claim Che 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 to 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 not
fliaI 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
at home under the ancient matched
roof. he told his grandmother the story
Of his rejection. The old lady said
, nothing She heard the story of her
grandchild with a dropping head.
Yes she said at last, as if she were
signing. Eyes. that is very good
, would have missed you, oh, so much!
My child, you have made me so very.
very happy in my fading days"
, -BE next morning-which had all
, 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 it to the room OF
his grandmother. He called her and, al
most at the same time, as was his won't,
ne gently pulled open the shoji.
The sight before him made him pause.
There was no sign Of bed. In the mid
die of the room, to be sure, there was
J his grandmother, in strange posture,
which looked as il she were making
profound bow to some one. Her fore
head was upon the mat.
nkeda Taro approached her. Then he
saw the 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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