Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-23
per annum," but this rent has since been

per annum,'' but this rent has since been
increased $50.
The building is by no means palatial 1t
is a white frame structure with two sto~
ries and an attic, covered with a tile roof
a combination seldom seen in America.
But on the whole it smacks of Yankee ar
chitecture, and is just such house as ii
moderately wealthy American farmer
would build for himself. 1t is built in the
shape of an L." the main wing being
adorned with a peak in the roof and a
porte-cochere ornamented with latticework.
The other wing juts out at the left, and
these two parts inclose circle where car
riages may turn after entering the porte
cochere. The driveway of m lcadam is
broad and well kept and is separated from
the lawn by stone cutters. The lawn is set
out with flowers, dwarf trees and other ma
tive shrubbery, while hedges bound the
grounds of the minister's house. In fact
the entire reservation has spick and span
appearance. For improving the grounds
and reconstructing the stable Congress al
lowed $500 last year. A new heating sys-
tenn and fireproof vault for records and
archives have lately been added. AT the
side of the building rises tall fagpole.
from which our national colors are dis
played.
The grounds of the legation are a part
of the beautiful park of the Temple of
Peace and ppiness-"ZempukuJi, IN the
tongue of Japan. This temple is one of the
oldest shrines of the Shin sect OF Buddhsts
having been founded by Shinran, the
founder of the sect.
Our entire compound is surrounded by a
stone WALL crowned with fence, just over
which the peaked roof of our ministers
house may be seen. Within are also the
houses of the secretary and Interpreter OF
the legation, the former a one-story build
ing of half japanese and half Americ an
architecture, with porte-cochere and a
long conservatory or piazza, inclosed IN
glass during the winter months. In cold
weather this sun-parlor is heated with
little stove, whose elbow-pire protrudes
through one of the sashes. The interpre-
ter's house is strictly western in architec-
ture, being larger than that of the sec
rotary. 1t is square white frame struc-
ture, with two stories and ar attic, and
looks as though it would hold large fam
lily comfortably.
Secretary Assassinated.
1t is to be hoped that Minister Griscoms
life in Tokyo will be more comfortable
than that of some of his predecessors. The
housing of our minister to the island en-
pire was long a vexed problem. After
Commodore M. c. Perry had opened up in
tercourse with Japan fifty years ago,
Townsend Harris was commissioned as
our first minister resident. He lived first
at Kakisaki, near Sihmoda and later went
to Yedo now Tokyo.
An anti-foreign sentiment had continued
to kindle among the natives soon as
white diplomats began to arrive. and one
result was the assassination of Mr.. Heus-
ken, our minister's secretary, the streets
of Tokyo in broad daylight. Minister Har-
ris remained at Tokyo, even after all other
diplomats had removed for better safety.
His perseverance was rewarded, for in 1858
he secured the first treaty of trade and
commerce which the Japanese ever signed
with a white nation.
In those trying days there were no tele-
graphic facilities. and months often elapsed
before our ministers in the orient could
receive their instructions from the State
Department. By the time they did arrive
they were generally inapplcable circum-
stances having changed and new problems
ha wing arisen. Hence our diplomats IN
these distant countries had responsibilities
ia. greater than their successors of today.
They had, to use their own discretion ana
were given wide license even in warlike
moves. 1t was our custom to keep small
squadron of warships in Japanese waters in