The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-06

lthe country by her activities in behalf
of all those who are suffering or in dis
tress. she may be seen frequently visit
ing the great military hospitals, ac-
cOmpanied by a party of court ladies
and nOblemens wives.
Following the example Of the empress
all the great ladies of Toxic society do
what they can to relieve the distress
and suffering that inevitably follow
war. There is no class OF women that
does not contribute something TO this
cause: even those butterflies. the gei-
shas, and the unhappy creatures in the
Ioshiwaras give their share.
II is not only the women of the
samural class who show passionate pa
triotism in wartime All classes of So
ciety are represented in the modern
japanese army. and the peasant woman
has given proof that she is quite as
devoted TO the mikado as the samural
lady.
A story is told of an old peasant wo-
man who sent her only son to fight for
the emperor in the Chinese war By
depriving herself of everything but the
barest necessaries of life. and toiling
been able 10 give her ssh q. superior ed
ucation. and she had the satisfaction of
seeing him fairly started or, business
career. which promised to be success
full. when the call to arms sounded
The little peasant mother babe her
son give up his business and enter the
ranks OF the army. The boy did as his
mother wished. and his regiment was
one Of the first to set foot on Chinese
soil.
Every morning just before daybreak
the little peasant mother rose and, aft
er making a careful toilet as an ortho-
doX Buddhist she went to little shrine
nearby and prayed to DIN, the god OF
war. She did not pray for her son to
come home safe and sound, but she
prayed that he might prove worthy Of
the honor Of wearing the mikado's uni
form.
One day, when the old woman was
returning to her home from the temple
she met a messenger who told her that
her sOr, had been killed in the attack on
Port Arthur. The mothers eyes grew
dim with tears, and she swayed IN
steadily for a moment. Then she turned
and started 10 go back 10 the temple.
Where are YOU going?" cried the
messenger Don't you understand
what ] say? Your son has been killed. -
Yes. ! understand said the old
woman. calmly. 'and I am going TO
thank Ojir for the honor he has con-
ferred upon me-"
The japanese woman who above all
bAlItIS ulSlltlEulSntu HtIStli III wartime
was the Empress Jingu Kogo, who led
a japanese army I'm person TO Korea in
20S \. D. and conquered that country.
She was equally renowned for her beau
ty. her piety, her energy and her mar
tial valor.
She assumed the supreme power on
! the death of her husband. the Mikado
! Chiunai. in 200 ~ D., and Immediately
, demonstrated her military genius by
suppressing a formidable rebellion. A
few years later she invaded Korea, and
quickly subjugated that country.
She dressed in male attire and fought
I at the head of her soldiers
After her return from Korea she gave
birth 10 a son, who became the Mika-
do DIN. and like his mother, a great
warrior. Jingu Kogo is worshipped as
the goddess Of war in Japan today, and
her son DIN as the god of war.
The history of the feudal warfare in
Japan is replete with instances of the
heroism of the women. 1t often hap
/ pened that the wife of a daimio was
called upon TO defend the castle from
attack during the absence OF her hus-
band. She was well qualified for the
task both by training and experience.
Considering what Japan has been in
the past il does not seem strange that
/ the japanese woman of today should
| possess a keen martial spirit and in
tense patriotism.-New York Sun.