The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-14
LIFE IS QUIET
WITHIN TOXIC
ARCHIBALD HARDING, EXPERT ON
CURIOs, IN MINNEAPOLIS.
Letter of His Japanese Agent Reveals
the Spirit With Which Fathers Send
Their Sons to the 'FRONT.' MIR. Hard
ing on His Way to China.

Archibald Harding, collector Of rare
curios from the far east and a, buyer
for some of the shops in London and
Paris, passed thru Minneapolis today on
bark on the Pacific, Mail line for his
home at Shanghai, China. Mr.. Hard
ing is deeply Interested in the war, not
only from it's historical side but also
from the effect it will have IN open
ing the east to travellers and commerce.
letter from an acquaintance In Eokio,
which might serve to throw s!de1ght
of human interest upon the situation
from Japanese stand point. -, =,
"Would you, prefer to have the letter
in the original Jap:al4ese, or . transl "a
the greetings:
O-Ko-San! o kawari wa gozaimasen
ka? Watakushi wa buchohomono de
gozaimasu ga, nanabun. Kore Wa skik-
| kei Makoto nj shibaraku. Mappira
gomen kudasai. Tonen mo, ai-kawaradsu,
tsuki-ai wo negaimsu.
These Were Greetings.
"Before I 20 any further,n said Mr..
Harding, "perhaps it would pc pest TO
ings.' I will be able to give you =; a
rough translation only, but that will
convey an idea Of the magnificent
humility of my friend, Takura Kodsu,
who is one Of the noblemen who lost
their rank at the beginning of the new
regime when the present emperor as
sumed the throne and the power of the
Shogunate was overthrown. Listen:
Oh, Son of Your Fathers House!
A thousand hopes that health rests will
you! My abominable assurance Is sucl
that I trust your worthy patience viii
hear me out. Pray, excuse this repro
hensible rudeness, for the assumption o
which there is no excuse. But, notWlth
standing, I beg that you will cont1nu
your heavenly friendship thru the coming
years.
"Perhaps I had better simply rea!
the rest of the letter. hurrledly. 1t WI
give you an idea Of the comparatlVel.
Quiet life at the Nippon capital ever
in the midst of war. 1t says:
| The Son of Soldier.
When you were the guest Of our un
worthy home, perhaps you noticed the so
| of our house. A1tho we have been cas-
down since the emperor took his throne
nevertheless, my son burned to be a
lowed to go to the front against the Rus
SLAMS. Ever since the Chinese war he ha
| buried himself night and day with yol
| foreign drill books. Part Of the time
|spent with the troops at Nagoya, and wa
favorably received by the officers. NJ
long before the war he spent some tin
along the Yalu river, studying tt
topography.
When he was ordered to the front, n
mother might have wept, but con
manded her rather to rejoice and If
should die for his country, declared th
- I would give a week Of feasts and ded
% cate his patrimony to the state. But
n you, who are my friend and will unde
n stand the love Of a. fathers heart for
e son, I will say that simply live to res
It. the war bulletins and to devour the dal
r. Jill skimpu, which,, thanks to 70
20 American Methods, faithfully deta
every days news.
a. But to turn to the matter that y
III spoke Of in your last letter. l have car
70 fully examined the tea cups at Ikeda
but do not think. that they have the nj
:, torical value that you Judged have
- cured an elegant cloisonne plate from
rs makawa Of Toxic, which I would
q. pleased to give to you when you rea
~ Yokohama.
IS. Newspaper Most Interesting. .
~, MY everyday life is much the same
of when you were with me. I rise early
". enjoy a slight repast while the "nesan
remove the bamboo slides and screens
then walk in the gardens and a serva
ock brings me book; but, I must confess
md would rather have the neWspaper
A. After have read for an hour, 1 walk
,r's quiet contemplation thru the gardens.
? cherry blossoms this season were exec
ird tionally beautiful and the hues of the g
fish in the little lake most gorgeous. AT
ties Tho o,,ia+ hour 7 watch the labOrers
and 'iAo 49, yr,.o 49,. 1,,+o,
100. work IN the grove. Lie oIollo lo'li.o'
Pal from Nara and Nikko are perhaps
1di- oonsnicuons
ge: In the afternoon my friends gather
the house and We discuss the schools
p 59t art from the time Of Korin. But e
ad, and anon, my mind steals away to
front and fingers with my son.
lot ~ a1,o,;,r ie tho roos+ exci+Ino =,