The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-03
STORIES OF eENERAL NoeI.
Took Delight in Living Ascetic Life
 of Monks.
Prom the Chicago News.

From the Chicago News.
 Just now the Japanses press is full of stories about General Nogi, the victor of Port Arthur. "There is q famous story" says a Tokyo newspaper, "of his love for shojinryori, (Now shojinryori means the food prepared for priests and monks). It was upon his return from Formosa. He was appointed the commander of the 1lth division stationed at Zentsuji, in the pro- vince of Sanuki. The division in question was passing through the busy period of organization. Devoted always, first of al to his duty to the state the general left his family in Tokyo. Only three servants accompanied him. Not far from Zentsuji there is a modest village called Kinzoji Mura; in the village stands humble temple called hinzoji, after which the village is named. The general found lit tie corner in the temple which never was meant to entertain any one or anything more pretentious than an 'out-of-the- world, as the monk is called in our country-a man absolutely indifferent to the fuxuries of this life. There was young priest in the temple who did the cooking for every one who stayed on the compound. Upon the food, which is sim pie beyond all the dreams of simplicity, the commander of the 11th division sus- ldlHeu HIS llle- UT IOuI 3tdIH It llNC0 upon the simple food of the monk.
 AS soon as the news of this rigorous simplicity of diet reached his family at Tokyo Mrs. Nogi wrote him at once ad- vising him of her visit to the distant post. As she looked upon it, 1t was a crime that he should allow himself, in his devotion to the simplicity of life. to do permanent injury to his health through the course food prepared by the monk. Without AI,a al she started in company with her son Hoten, taking the first train that left Tokyo. If the general were to live so rig orous a life in his devotion to duty that she called him she certainly was en- titled to share it. Of one thing else she was sure-she should aid to moderate the hardship of life for him. Happy in the conviction, she spent four days on the trip and at last found him living full hedged ascetic. The general declined her kindly offer point blank. The pleasure of a home life, he said, was beyond his abil- ty to enjoy in those days of crowded duties and in spite of the strong persuas- ions of the officers under him, especially
 of Maj, Ashlwara, the general begged his family to make their way back to their Tokyo home'
 A little Chinese poem which General
 Nogi wrote about the red peoples and the Itu WOuuuS OI ANdllSIdll Ddllltiltltli Wlitl e his son Shoten. was slain, has become a classic in Japa.. and is repeated on all sides. The generals other son, Hoten, was killed in the closing battles around Port Arthur. Tt is said asserts a Jap
 anese writer that general 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 would
 make his staff lie down to rest at the earliest possible moment. But on more than one occasion when he was supposed to be himself sleeping his officers ooserv- ed that he was sitting with head buried in his hands and evidently weeping. All joy had gone out of the brave old gen erals 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."
 General Nogi was one of the principal commanders of the Japanese army that captured Port Arthur from the Chinese eleven years ago Later, as Governor General of Formosa, he brought about many improvements in tlfe affairs of that contradictions dependency of Japan.