The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-29

barracks, and at the big gate, where
all civilians are shut out they saw
goodby. If the soldier has anything to
carry they lug it for him.
Most of the men on Sunday and yes
terday marched along stoically at the
mead or their little professions, now
and then exchanging a joking word
with those who tagged after them. Oc-
casionally one walked with two or
three friends, and more formed a little
column behind him. Occasionally one OF
the group carried a bamboo pole. from
which Haunted a long streamer bearing
the name and address OF the soldier
with any particulars there might be Of
previous valorous service
There was never a sign OF weepine
or of grief in it all. On the contrary,
II was a laughing, joyous ceremony
Yet there was a tremendous signifi-
canoe about IT, for neither the men nor
their friends believe that any OF them
VIII come back. They count their lives
as forfeit to the empire, and they are
proud and glad Of II.
Perhaps If 1t were the policy of the
government toa parade the troops
through the streets and to send them
away from the main railroad stations
In the daylight there would be large
crowds to cheer them on and TO make
public ado about their going, but since
the government chooses to send them
away secretly, to conceal it's prepara-
tons with care that makes them al
most furtive. the people acquiesce with
out complaint. They make no public
demonstration, but they have thought
long and deeply on what It all means.
Their newspapers print scant inform
alton about what Is going on, but the
people know what the main question is,
and nave made the quarrel theirs.
Willing to Sacrifice.
That they were all in sober earnest
showed only the more how determined
the Japanese are for this war and
something Of the sacrifice they will
make to carry it on. Collectively thew
are POOR people, but they are as
wen extraordinarily frugal. They are
rich in their capacity for saving, and
this war seems likely to prove Ii.
Down on the road TO Kamakura an
old woman known to the foreigners as
Oyster Mary" keeps the roadhouse
that was kept there by her father in
the days when Perry came to Tokyo
bay. On Saturday afternoon an AmerIo
can, whom she has known for years,
dropped in for cup of tea.
Yes she said. as she brought the
tea to him, the soldiers are going out
at last. We are going to fight Just
In this little road as far az the next
corner Inefe are Twelve. / know them
all. The order came last night, and
they have until tomorrow morning to
say good-by to their friends l could
not sleep last night for thinking about
them.
1T is very sad for them and their
friends. for they will not come back.
They have their wives and their moth
ers, and l thought about them all, and
L am very sorry for them, but, after
all, they are only one here and another
there. 1t is not so much, but I was
thinking Of the emperor and what sor-
row 1t must be for him, for they are all
his, and l could not sleep all night for
thinking of how he must worry"
If one wonders at the almost fanatf-
cal esprit de corps OF the Japanese
army he must remember that it is still
differed by the men who made that
memorable personal sacrifice, and the
men of the line have ever before them
the tradition Of the soldier Of the day
when the fighting man was-in a class
by himself, far ahead of his fellow, who
bargained or toiled for a living, and IL
Is their conceit now to hVe up to the
glory Of that day. Eacn soldier feels
himself to be the individual champion
of the emperor, the personal represents
alive of his sovereign, and the call to
the colors Is an opportunity greatly to
be priced rather than sacrifice 10 be
regretted.