Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-27
GEN. NOGI AN ASCETIC.
How He Lived ON the Simple Fare of a
Monk

| From the Chicago News.
| Many stories are told about Gen. Nogi.
| the victor of Port Arthur There is a
famous story" says a Tokyo newspaper.
| of his love for shojinryori. Now shojin-
ryori means the food prepared for priests
and monks.) 1t was upon his return from
Formosa. He was appointed a commander
| of the eleventh division, stationed at
ZentsuJi. in the province of Samuki The
division in question was passing through
the busy period of organzation. Devoted
always. first of all. to his duty to the
state. the general left his family in To-
kyo. only three servants accompanied
him. Not far from Zentsuji there Is a
modest village called Kinzoji Mura in
the village stands humble temple called
kinzogi. after which the village is nam
ed. The general found little corner in
the temple which never was meant 10
entertain any one or anything more pre-
tentlOuS than an 'Out-of- the world as
the monk is called in our country-a man
absolutely Indifferent to the Injuries of
this life. There young priest in
the temple who did the cooking for every
one who stayed on the compound Upon
the food, which is simple beyond all the
dreams of simplicity, the comma nder of
the eleventh division sustained his life.
For four years he lived upon the simple
food of the monk.
LAS soon as the news of this rigorous
simplicity of diet reached his family at
Tokyo Mrs. Nogi wrote him at once advls-
lllS !lilU Oh icT WISH 10 tIt distant post AS
she looked upon IL. it was a crime that he
should allow himself, III his devotion to
the simplicity of life, to do a permanent
injury to his health through the coarse
food prepared by the monk. Without walt
ing for the answer from the general she
started in company with their son Hoten.
taking the first train that left Tokyo. II
the general We're to live so rigorous life
: in his devotion to duty that called him she
certainly was entitled to share it. OF one
thing else she was sure-she should aid to
moderate the hardship of life for him. Hap
py in the conviction. she spent four days
on the trip and at last found him living
full-fedged ascetic. The general declined
her kindly offer point blank. The pleasure
of home life, he said was beyond his
ability to enjoy IN those days of crowded
duties. and in spite OF the strong persUa-
sioHs of the officers under him, especially
of Maj. Ashiwara, the general begged his
family to make their way back to their
Tokyo home"
a little Chinese poem which Gen Nogi
wrote about the red poppies and the red
wounds on Nanshan battlefield, where his
son ShOten was slain has become a classic
III Japan and is repeated on all sides. The
generals other son, Hoten. was killed in
the closing battles about Port Arthur. 1t
is said" asserts a Japanese writer, that
Gen. Nogi seemed almost unconscious of
the need Of sleep during the last weeks of
the siege and after the death of his second
son. He maintained cheerful and even
buoyant mien during the hours of daylight
or in the presence of others. and he woG!d
make his staff lie down 10 rest at the
earliest possible moment. But more
than one occasion when he was supposed
to be himself sleeping his officers observed
that he was sitting with his head buried
in his hands and evidently weeping. All
Joy had gone out of the brave old generals
life. and to the loss of both his sons was
added the misery of seeing thousands OF
brave men under his command struck down
fruitlessly."
Gen. Nogi was one of the principal com
manders of the japanese army that cap
tured Port Arthur from the Chinese In 1891.
Later. as governor general OF Formosa, he
brought about many improvements In the
affairs of that semi-barbarous dependency
OF Japan