The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-28
"a Cloud 81 Pink SO Light That
One Expects It to Float
Away.
THE MYSTIC, CHILD AND MAN
Western Man Unable to Fathon1
Strange Mystery OF
Silent East.
By Eleanor Franklin.

BY Eleanor FIdnKllIl.
TOXIC, May 27.--should YOU ask me
what is the true spirit Of Japan. ]
would answer, Its the scent of the
mountain cherry trec in the morning
nir," says the poet Motoori. beloved of
the Japanese.
The scent OF the mountain cherry tree
in the morning air! IT'S peace odor,
that which wins tho hearts of aliens
evensand when think how 1t must per-
mcate the happy memories of each OF
the little brown sons and daughters OF
this tinkling small. sweet land of elfin
faiths believe understand the true
spirit of Japan" that Yamato danashi,
which Is at once the religion and the
pride earth earthly of this country mys-
teries screened by fantasy The cherry
blossom is the emblem of Bushido; Bush.
lido is Japanese chivalry;, tho Soul OF
Japan" SO enthusiastically dwelt upon
by that best interpreter for his own,
1nazo Nitrobe.
Story of the Cherry Blossom.
The cherry blossom. beloved for itself,
md not, as by us, for what 1t promises,
Is native to Japan. as native as tho
firmly fixed belief in Amn-tcrasu. the
Heaven Z Shining : Great August Deity.
Goddess Of the Sun, whose descendant,
now augustly deigning to sit upon the
throne of the Empire. is the first OF ms
great line who has ever been fearleSsy
looked upon by his adoring subjects
Away back in a century engulfed in cen-
turtles when the gray dawn OF Englands
history was Just beginning to pale upon
5lTlme's horizon. there lived an emperor
of Japan called Richicu. Nov neither
8 Richieu nor his predecessors had ever
felt the potency OF the scent OF the noun
tain cherry tree In the morning air, nor
were the palace gardens luXuriantly
adorned as they are to-day with THIS
most luxuriant Of all Towering trees. But
one day Richieu and some OF his cour-
tiers were plcasuring in Il boat upon q
small lake near the palace when, MS the
Emperor lifted his acquered wine-cup
to his lips, q cherry blossom from the mus
above floated down and settled with q
gentle suggestion of companionship Into
& the amber LIQUID. His Majesty, keenly
aliye to the poetry that Is of Japan Japa-
nesc, paused to wonder whilo all MS
courtlers Frustrated themselves before
the unseen divinity who had thus SO
graciously and highly deigned to an
nounce her presence among them.
The cherry flower of the hills! Until
4 that moment it had been neglected, I'M
Il observed in it's cloud-pnll lovcincsS, but
having thrust itself with such charming
insis tence upon the notice of the Heaven
born the Tenshi, 1t was destined thence
forth to occupy first place In the hearts
of the people of the land wherein alone
1t blossoms to perfection. Tho ladies or
the court Of Richieu had never, in their
holy seclusion. looked upon cherry blos-
som. and when they were told the sweet
story of the single dying flower dropping
SO sadly into tho Empcrors wine cup.
their curiosity was SO great that His Ma
ijesty caused to be brought from the hills
some of the most perfect trees. which
were planted In tho palace gardens and
coaxed to luxuriant blooming for his au-
gust pleasure, and the Joy Of his thousand
human butterflies. Then the poets Of
the empire began to frame sweet
thoughts about the hitherto unsung
sakura in words of fantastic m elody.
They wrote of morning dew lingering
ongingly upon pink velvet clouds. un-
responsive to the passionate woolng OF
the sunbcnms. They spoke Of mellow
moonlight suffuscd with the intoxicat-
Ing breathof sagura. Queen OF Spring
They wrote of Spring, soft shower OF
tears" when the withcred blooms flut-
tered down to earth. and as they wrote
the whole world that is Japan grew In
love with this pink cloud flower, and
tho sentiment gradually developed,
which found its htshcst expression when
3 hlOtOOrl WrOte,. issAoulu-y you uah ms VIII
is the true spirit Of. Japan would an
swer, It's the scent of the mountain
cherry tree In the morning air.
have wondered how the Japanese
came to be such economists In pleas
ures. do not know. We OF the great
western world take our joys SO mndly
and SO sadly. We live lives OF such
riotousness tempered by regrets. For
sensation that consumes us we barter our
peace For luxury that smothers we
exchange the serenity that is Gods d.
vinest blessing, and so completely are
we cnwrappcd in the confusion of achieve
ments which our untrammcled desires
have wrought that we pause embar-
raised before simplicity and wonler how
II came to be. Al least that is my expe
rience here in Japan In these cherry bios
som days when m!ngle with the throngt
of people who walk so silently, so
sadly, almost beneath the fragrant clouds
OF pink. unmatched beneath the sun
that express TO me such magnificent
riot Of Joy
The Spirit of the East.
If the cherry groves Of uyeno grew II
Central Park. the May day crowds would
dance under their flower-wcighted boughs
there would be blatant music OF bands
fountains would splash and play owe
white marble goddesses of love; children
would shrek exuberantly In the dap
plng shadows. and only lovers yroul,
so silently, because thus lovers expires
greatest love. Such is our intemperanc
IN pleasures, But here in Uyeno III
people are mute, sitting upon thor fee
beneath the Towering trees, serene a