The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-07-23

y
amounts TO.
Sherlock Holmes in Japan.
The professional reader ranks next
TO the actor as an entertainer. AL
though his long winded yarns deal
with many topics they cost his hearers
but few coppers. Ny interpreter
translated what one hOary-headed
saVant was reading. 1t was about a
judge named Okla who was a famous
character in his time possessing such
Wit and reSOurcefulness that his, very
name was a terror to every evil doer.
The methods of this oriental sleuth
were so unique that Sherlock Holmes
couldn't hold a candle to him. Wit
ness these instances of his ShreWduesS.
A young girl, left in poor circum-
stances. gave her baby to a neighbor
woman to bring up while she went
away to work the understanding be-
ing that the little one should be re-
turned to her upon the payment of
sum of money for its keep. When the
time came for the restoration of the
child to its parent, the foster mother
disputed the agreement and claimed
the youngster as her own.
The wise judge found himself in
dilemma. He had no evidence other
than the conflicting statements of the
two women confronting him. It was
here that he showed his wisdom He
ordered the disputants TO take hold of
other, the strongest to have first claim
for possession. As the first sign of
pain fitted across the chiIds face
from this unusual tug-Of-War, the real
mother let go her hold, while the inn
poster braCed herself to make use of
all her strength. The judge at once
arraiSned the cruel pretender and re-
stored the little one to the woman
who by her gentenesS had proved her
relationship He had only to rely upon
fr1b Of
Once when a storekeeper was
robbed Okla found the thief by clever
ruse- The merchant sold picked veg
etables which, when touched, left d
strong odor on the hands. As soon
as the judge learned that the stolen
money had been secreted in the vege-
table bin, he summoned all the SER
wants and proceeded to smell of their
hands. In this way he promptly de-
tected the thief.
Beware of Family Cats.
On still another occasion a man
who had been away from home for a
length Of time learned that his wife
had been unfaithful to him during his
absence. Not having any idea who
his home he gave the case to Okla.
! That worthy again proved himself
equal to the emergency. He secured a
( list of possible culprits and then
called IOE the FAMILY cat. win pussy
repOSing on mat by his side he sum-
moned the suspects one after the other
to question them As one young man
entered tabby showed signs of recog-
milton. She purrsd. rubbed against
his knees, then climbed into his lap
and went to sleep. When the wise man
pointed him out as the guilty one he
thought the gods had betrayed him
and his confession followed. If Mr..
Conan Doyle has retired his famous
of material he can surely get some
original ideas by looking up the rec
ord OF Judge Okla.
The stOry-teller concluded his read
ing with a humorous yarn that caused
roars of laughter equal to the merri-
logue artists in our vaudeville houses.
He said there was once an old man
who had a love of money, a fondness
for good things to eat. and wonderful
imagination The miser lived over a
restaurant which had the reputation Of
serving the finest eels in the city CeeIs
and rice are ire great Japanese delica-
cy). AS the eDicures assembled each
day in the eat ng house the appetizing
OdOr of frying eels filled the rooms
above. The imagination of the miser
was 50 strong that when their savOry
smell filed his nostrils he could sit
down TO his meal of plain food with
the keeneSt relish. When the owner of
scented a bin forthwith. Whereupon
the stingy tenant produced his money
bag. ratified it, then returned il to his
pocket. When asked to explain, he re-
piled; You have charged me for the
smell of your eels and I have paid you
with the sound Of my money"
Jusglers and Maeicians-
The jugglers and magicians seen in
Japan are far more clever than those of
the same nationality who appear in the
United States. It seems the best per-
formers do not care to leave their coun-
try although it would be 10 their de-
cided financial interest If they could
be persuaded to do so. During the fire.
quent festivals many wonderful per-
formances may be seen in the temple
grounds, or in the district where the
baZaars flourish Since have been in
Japan a notice appeared in the news
papers about some men walking bare