The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-02-10
PORT ARTHUR'S
CAPTOR.
Personality and Home Life OF
General NOgi.
-
STUDENT OF WAR SUBJECTS
JAPANESE Military Commander Not
LoOter, but Man of Strong Char
acter and Domestic Attributes.
Lover of Horses.
STUDENT OF WAR SUBJECTS

1904, that | made my visit to the home
Of our deyilish officer. General Nogi
who took on his shoulders the full bur
den Of the siege Of Port Arthur and
whose commands, issued by the virtue
Of our august emperor, even then were
drowning the laundering voices Of the
cannon and causing his soldiers to
march. brave as full grown lions, upon
the very bnyonets Of the enemy, says
II. Yeiga. the Tokyo correspondent Of
the Pittsburg Dispatch.
General Nogi's home stands near
Aoyrna park, Tokyo, on the left hand
side. It is bamboo hedged house |
something unique in Japan, and az the
gate are two beautiful columns Of
stone, each with the name Nogi Kitten
on it. Nogi translated means tree, and
in front Of the generals house stands
great old pine tree all alone, which
the day was there seemed to be beck
oning to the wind with It's green
leaves and to be repeating the harsh
voice of its owner as he gave com
mands to the army.
on the right hand side Of the beau
tiful gate and a little way back there
stands small brick built stable, for
General Nogi has ever been a famous
lover OF horses, and his one recreation
since he became a warrior has beer
riding. Unlike many Of our people, he
is a fine horseman and sits his saddle
with the cleverness of the best riders
ever saw in Central park when ]
lived il New York Until he went tc
NIanchuria he always kept four or five
chargers in his stable He never failed
to ride daily nor to caress even those
horses that remained behind, anxiously
paving for the honor of carrying theii
distinguished general swiftly and safe
ly over the ground Mr. N0gi Is eco
nomical BY nature and discipline, but
when he resigned from the army some
time after the war with China he beg
ged that he be permitted to take his
army horses home with him and feed
them, saying that the government then
| would not have to spend money on
them. That was the excuse he gave
| but all his friends knew he made the
offer because he could not bear to b
separated from his beloved chargers
SO you know why he has built q mag
nificent European stable, which is kept
very clean and sweet. and takes such
pride In giving his horses fine care.
After you pass the stable you walk
through finely kept garden, showing
numerous cherry trees, along q neat
path to the left. and soon you come
upon the generals home. 1t, too, il OF
brick, built in European style and, like
the stable. shows that Mr.. Nogi is pos
sessed of a progressive mind and be
Iieves that he and his family should
have the best comforts that he car
| give without being at all extravagant
Reaching the home, walked up the
broad white stone steps, which had
lust been scrubbed, pressed the electric
button and was politely introduced into
d most beautiful parlor. There was 9
round teak table ia the center, with
comfortable leather seated chairs plac
ed artistically about, and above the "a
bic were suspended electric lights. on
the front wall and almost covering j
was great map Of Asiatic Russia an,
Manehuria Hanging By the stove
were the imperial decorations in frames
while on the shelves were stuffed birds
photographs Of relatives and friends
and cannon balls. Everywhere were
bookcases. all filled with numerous mil
itary books and all looking as Il they
had been read over and over until theil
contents were known by heart, as my
American friends would say. The doc
was hidden 81 beautiful rugs bear ant
tiger skins, while in the entrance wer'
four ancient arlnor cases, a gift saddle
spears Of AN sorts covering the walls
ana on the hatraek the generals ret
hats ana other military hats, with goi'
bands, ana several swords
was received by the hitsuji (care
taker). an old man of about fifty years
After tile ordinary salutations aud Il
reply To my questions he politely 10
formed me that the generals famll'
consisted Of his wife, Shidzo, forty-iiv
years; Shouten, twentysix years, frs
son. ana Hoten, twentyfo four years. see
ond son. The elder son had graduate'
from the military school two years be
fore. had Joined the Second army en-
: had ended with great honor and vale
at Nanshan, where he was promoted {
a lieutenant after death and decorates
The second son graduated December Q
last year, joined the cavalry and wen
to the front with his brother The gel
eraI departed soon after, and now th
wife was at home with four servants.
SO much the caretaker told me. 500
: ! learned that when Shouten was abor
10 leave home In March he turned
his father and said:
II am glad am going to the from
There is no hope Of my coming bael
and / wish mother to take the best car
81 herself. RI ! die please praise m
deeds. You no doubt viii also go 70 q
front. but we max fight in differeI