The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-05-03
JAPS ARE FIGHTERS.
YOUNG MEN OF WARRIOR STOCK
IMBUED WITH FINE SPIRIT.
Principles of the Samurai Code of
Honor Govern from Childhood
Up-Are Early Taught the
Arts of War.

Every Japanese, be he noble or plebe-
ian, must now serve his term in the
army. Nor are the officers an exclusive
caste, for promotion is open to every
man who will take the trouble TO earn
1t. But it happens in the Japanese army,
as 1t happens in the English and the
German, while every private soldier is
free to become an officer, the great bulk
Of the officers do, as matter of fact,
states the Brooklyn Eagle, come from
restricted section. In England it Is
the upper and middle cless; in Japan it
Is the samurai-samurai still, whatever
the edict and constitutions may say.
In the very fiber of their being the
traditions of Bushido-the code of
honor which was the religion of the
samurai-remain. Although Bushido,
with its fortitude and its punctilio, it's
odd mixture of the Spartan and the
Quixotic, is no longer recognized sys-
TEN, its spirit remains, and these are the
principles that are expected to count so
much in meeting a foe supposed to be
so much stronger numerically.
Those who are not less than 35 years
old were taught their Bushido at their
mothers knee and many of the younger
men, coming of the same warrior stock,
are imbued with the principles Of the
code.
The samurai began his training at a
very tender age. Young children were
sent among strangers with messages
to deliver; they were made to rise before
the sun. and to walk to their teachers
with bare feet in the cold of winter;
small boys were taken to see executions.
and sent back alone to the place by
night to leave mark on the decapitated
head. Sometimes they were made to go
without food, and taught that samurai
should not be ashamed to be hungry.
Self-control, courage, fortitude, loyalty
were the cardinal virtues. Every
samurai counted it plain duty to sac
rifice himself for his lord.
The young samurai were taught fenc-
ing, archery, jim jutsu (clutching such
part of the enemy's body as will make
him numb and incapable of resistance)
Workmanship, the use of the spear, tao
tics, caligraphy, ethics, literature and
history
He was not to think of money; ig-
norance of the value of different coins
WIS token of good breeding. lie was
taught to forgive injuries, but he was
also taught to hold his honor sacred,
and to defend it at all times and at all
hazards. To win honor and to avoid
shame, the samurai would go to any
lengths.
Naturally, the man with a sword and
Quixotic notions of honor was not al
ways as gentle as he might be with those
who assailed that honor 1t is related
that citizen called the attention of
Bushi to flea jumping on his back.
Forthwith the Bushi cut him in two,
and afterward explained his reason by
a syllogism: "Fleas are parasites which
feed on animals; he said flea was on
me; and it is an objectionable insult to
identify noble warrior with beast"
The sword was the soul of the samurai,
and the swordsmith worked as if he were
performing holy rites
Under certain conditions suicide was
the plainest duty, and elaborate cere-
monials were laid down for the man
ner in which it should be done. The
women also were taught that death is a
better thing than shame