Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-04

charge of the Treaty House, it did not
run lengthy course News that was whispered
about, first among the multitude of unofficial Wis
itors crowding all the surrounding points Of van
tage not occupied by the Shogun's troops pene-
trated gradually to the focal spot Of the greatest
curiosity, the Treaty House. It was an event
OF secondary Importance to the expected visit
from the men.of.war. The princes Aidzu and
Catzu had arrived from Yedo, and were
awaiting the foreigners in the quarters prepared
for them.
Many of those present had never seen these
powerful princes. So, crowding past the com
mon soldiers, they pressed upon their headquar-
ters, until stopped by the chosen guard Of
mural surrounding the princely pavions.
About the tent Of Catzu the press Of the mob
was heaviest. The huge Sir Genj toying with
ms glittering blade significantly whenever cu-
rlous citizen came too near the entrance, remark
ed grimly to fellowsamurai
OF truth, all the dogs of Nippon invade our
ranks to-day. have only to extend my sword
to split dozen fat merchants"
Extend it, then" growled the other, as with
the flat of his blade he dealt gentle blow upon
the pate of vender of wines
The treatment accorded to the crowd by the
samurai engendered no bitterness. The mercan-
tile classes, awed at all times by the sight of
one in samurai orders, shrank back at the first
sign of displeasure brought upon themselves from
the proudest grade in Japan.
Nor, indeed, was the real displeasure Of the
samurai at any time in evidence They, too, like
the common people, were engrossed in the ex-
pectation of events. Although their impassive
faces did not permit the revelation of their real
feeling, there among them the same subtle
curiosity and foreboding.
From across the bay, rolling and reverberatng,
striking the rocky angles of the highlands and
driven back repused, came the long roar of the
foreigners sauting guns. Instantly the popu-
lace became silent, riveted to whatever locality
they occupied.
Among the ships there was hustle and move
ment. The foreigners were lowering boats from
every vessel in their squadron. With their crews
and officers sitting in them, the boats swung
from the davits into the water. Plainly the
squadron was sending every man and officer to
be spared
While the guns were still vomiting forth their
salute to the occasion, the Lord Catzu came
forth from his tent. With wave of his hand
he turned to Gen
Drive me back this rabbe," he ordered.
Instantly the samurai, joining with the COM
mon troop, beat back the mass of citizens fore
ing open a wide lane, that extended but short
distance towards the Treaty House. Where no
guards were, there the people obstructed the
passage
Genji quickly remedied this by dispatching
guards to clear pathway to point where
similar line from the Prince of Aidzu's pavilion
should Join. Into the two paths opened by the
Shogun's troops the cortege of the two prince
commissioners passed. That of the Lord Catzu
was headed by troop of the young sons of sa-
mural, boys small in stature bearing aloft silk
banner whose gold embroideries were the
crests of the Shotgun and his feudal vassal Catzu.
Next rode troop of inferior samurai, heavily
armed, on black horses. After them came the
chief vassal Of the Lord Catzu, mounted ON a
white horse, with three of his own vassals, each
with his train Of attendants Finally, at the
head of brilliant and sparkling train of war
riors and courtiers, came the imposing and port
ly Lord of Catzu, carried in gilded norimon.
A company Of samurai, whose chief upon all
ordinary occasions was Sir Genji, brought up the
rear.
The train of the Prince of Aidzu was in gen
eral order and arrangement, similar to that of
the Lord Catzu
The two corteges moved in lines slightly con-
verging until they met. Then the heads of each
side column or division rode side by side.
Throughout the whole company in perfect order,
this arrangement held, the left train of the Lord
Catzu being nearer the bay than that of Aidzu.
So completely the symmetry of the parallel
movement carried out that the Prince of Catzu
had on his left the Prince of Aidzu
AT the moment of complete juncture, word
In moment Gcnji, at the head of large body of
mounted samurai, passed to the right of his
lord on his way to the van. A similar body
passed along the left.
These samurai arrived at the front, rapidly
drove the crowds back from the line of march,
leaving passage, which they lined at intervals,
clear TO the Treaty House. Each samurai rode
back and forth in the side space he had kept
free to himself.
The gorgeous pageant advanced rapidly
through the short passage until its head rested
upon the entrance of the Treaty House. In
stantly the lines of the two princes divided as
before, falling back on either side until the two
norimons Of the princes were reached. These
advanced as before until the chief vassal of each
prince stood before the Treaty House. Then
the vassas assisted their lords to dismount from
their norimons, bowling deeply and profoundly
as they did so.
Side by side the two commissioners marched
to the door of entrance, whose threshold they
crossed alone. After a respectful interval the
chief vassas and functionaries, with number of
samurai, followed their lords. The military
force and other attendants still stood with their
ranks open outside. Genji gave quick COM
mand, and, the double ranks closing, faced about
so as to present solid armed front to any one
moving against the Treaty House.
Inside, the princes with their chief commits
sioners were ranged at the head Of the Treaty
House, in silent waiting on the foreigners
Meanwhile the fleet of small boats from the
squadron were nearing the shore Splendid as
was the retinue of the commissioners and out
numbering as it did that Of the Americans, yet
il was apparent at a glance that Perry had
stripped his hips of all but small force. The
boats, crowded to the gunwales, moved slowly