Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-02-25
SHOWED
JAPAN The WORLD
Commodore Perry's Visit Re.
called by the Death OF
Admiral Beardsiee.
THE EXACT SPOT ARK
lid Sailor Tells the Story Of the FRS
Landing of the Americans Dec.
AIDES Ago in the Mikado's
Empire.

Eliza IL. Stidmore's Toxic letter in
the Chicago Tribune: The Japanese
have published Mandatory
notices of Admiral Lester Beardslee,
who died recently in Georgia. for TO
them he was Il historical figure and a
figure in their own history. AS a mid
shipman in Commodore Perry's fleet he
WAS a witness of the opening OF Japan
to the world. He revisited it as a ships
commander In 1870. When the country
was torn with The Satsuina rebellion,
and after his retirement from active
service he gratifed his long desire and
spent a yea in leisured ease on the
shore of the far east. .,
Admiral Beardslee hunted up, with
the aid of a yachting American friend.
the exact spot where the boats landed
Commodore Perry. and where the presi-
dents letter was delivered to the UNI
willing japanese officials OH the beach
of the little village of Kurihama, forty
miles below Yokohama.
AT the mex banquet given him by the
many societies and associations of
Toxic, eager to honor the survivor of
the Perry expedition, he demanded to
know why there was no monument TO
mark such an important spot. since
Japan is dotted with monuments and
ether. Forthwith. the Society of Those
Who Have Been in America. as
?3eiyukuwai might be translated, prom
Used to erect a monu!men If Admiral
B%eardsley would wait to dedicate 1t.
The committee of enthusiastic young
men headed by Baron Kaneko. that
Harvard graduate and degree man,
who stands for good government, pura
ty and reform in municipal matters,
went with the admiral to the spot. They
planted trees, marked the
site, and in a little over six months
had the memorial completed n IN
yelled with great ceremony on the
forty-eighth anniversary of the land
ing.
Admiral Beardslee had a stEonS
sense of humor and dearly loved to tell.
how he first set foot on Japan. When
the string of ships boats had landed
Commodore Perry and his staff n his
files of marines Midshipman Beardslee
IA told off to command one of the.
boats and told not to leave 1t. While
the mysterious proceedings went on.
in the drapAd Enclosure time dragged on
the hands 'of the lively young midship,
man, and, wearing his boat closer I'M
shore, he determined to step off on the
| beach for only a minute. Just to say
he had been or shore in Japan" Ono
cautious foot had just one over the
| ,%gunwhale and touched the soft sand.
when the other officer in command
spied him n roared out: Get into
your boat Immediately. Mr.. Beardslee,"
and his experience on shore went no
further.
Is Equally joyful was the old admiral's
memory of his first and last interview
with Commodore Perry. At that time
grog was regularly served in the Amer
lean navy. and on great occasions a
special ration was given to seamen!
One of he officers on the ship to which
Midshipman Beardslee was attached
IHas a hard drinker and had with diff
ficulty been brought out of an attack
of delirium tremens on the way uli
from Canton.
His ships commander feared that
the order for extra grog on the night
OF the delivery of the presidents let
ter might be his undoing. and, not to
make 1t an affair of official record and
correspondence, he sent Midshipman
state the case to Commodore Perry
INC ask that that particular ship be
omitted from the order.
1t was a hot night In mid-July. The
commodore sat at his desk, collarless,
writing. The little midshipman was
t,shered in and twirled his cap n few
minutes, waiting. The commodore's
quill pen scratched on and on, came to
a stop. and the handsome old head was
raised. An eagle glance shot from the
fye, and he naval diplomat said,
tEigh?"
The midshipman repeated the message,
gave the explanation. and stopped. The
ladsome old commodore meditated a min
ate. and said: "Umph!" and resumed
writing, and the midshipman slipped
through the cabin doorway and breathed
freely ON deck after the brief interval
In the commanders presence.
And that was my first n last inter-
view with he commodore during the
whole cruise" Admiral Beardslee used to
say with a chuckle of delight.
The emperor had a special interest in
receiving Admiral Beardslee. and the au-
dience was not the formal. impersonal at
fair OF Set speeches that such affairs
usually are. There were difficulties IN
arranging for the presentation, however,
is Admiral Beardslee had no naval uni
.orm with him In Japan. When he re-
.ired from the navy he retired, he said.
He was a private citizen only, and the
gold lace and buttons were not for him
any more.
But you must wear the uniform OF
your rank at the palace" said the de-
spa.ring minister.
Ibid General Grant wear uniforms in
Japan?' asked the retired admiral, and
the vanquished chamberlain arranged for
the presentation at d garden party, where
civilian dress was permissible.
After he had seen the Japan OF 1900 Ad
miral Beardslee In reality retired and set
tied down to an active life on his place
at Beaufort. n. c.. In an old colonial
mansion. crowded with he trophies ant
Accommodations of a busy life in many seas
Japanese servants and gardener went
to America with him. and the ~tireless ole
jldmiral had II little Japan on his place Of
EVERY green and growing thing IL hat
peen able to send. Seeds, roots, bulbs and
specimens from Japan. chrysanthemum,
Ind morning glories, iris and lilies made
splendid show for him In a first season
and his mulberry trees nourished sill
worms that netted their Japanese tenderi
seventy pounds of shining. glossy skein.
Rt the first trial. His was a happy OLE
age. full of honors and activities, and thu
Japanese mourn him.
Japan has never failed to recognize thu
debt she owes to the United States. /
was the fleets Of the latter power tina
showed Japan the open door OF the work
pnd started the chrysanthemurn Kingdom
bn its surprising march toward the from
rank among the great powers OF thu
world.