The Newark journal. (Newark, Ark.) 1901-1959, 1906-03-30
THE EMPEROR
AND HAPPINESS
A STORY OF OLD JAPAN
BY JOSEPH HEATING
A STORY OF OLD JAPAN


By mysterious means an old man
had got into the palace. No one
could tell how. He had reached even
the very door OF the throne-room be-
fore anyone discovered him.
There sat Yoritimo, the greatest OF
all the ancient emperors of Japan,
who had fought so hard against might
and against right to win that throne.
He had gained the thing that should
make him happy. Yet he looked I'M
happy.
why do you Gomez" commanded the
emperor.
ITO bring you happiness"
The emperor leaned back In his
throne and smiled sadly.
"Old man, said he, you cannot
bring me what is already here.
The old man bowed low.
The Son of Heaven he said,
wishes to test me. answer: Did
not the WEAKNESS of life overcome
your majesty but moment ago?''
The emperor sighed
You say the truth. | have gained
all things, and l am not happy. In
weariness of spirit | fell into slumber
here upon my throne of gold and
dreamed-oh! l have dreamed such
things! l dreamed magician sough;
TO transform me into strange shape
He sought to enter my very soul un-
Ger the pretense of bringing me happi
ness.
Son of Heaven" put in the old
man; your mood shall be your rem
edy. A life of fighting leaves no time
'ar love"
"What?"
4 mean that your crown lacks
jewel
"A jewel! Is not my crown com
rlete?"
The old man bowed humbly.
1T is not complete; it lacks the
turquoise ornament"
The turquoise ornament" ex-
claimed the emperor in anger
The eourtiers around, as they heard
this. drew closely together in an ex-
cited group, staring at the old man and
at the emperor.
Can this be true" said Yoritimo.
He lifted his arms and took the
crown from his head. He rested the pre-
eIous thing upon the golden arm o.
the throne. Then he stared down
upon it. and in the heart of the gilt
tering jewels that covered it he de-
tected a vacant place.
The turquoise is LOST" he ex
claimed
The old man bowed humbly, smiled
cunningly and said
Il have found the malady-shall
find the remedy?''
Your life shall depend upon that.
What says your magic now?"
The answer took away the breath of
all present:
My magic says that in this the
master shall obey his slave"
No magic can harm me- the en-
reror said. Il cannot be made more
unhappy than l am. l will give this
slave his wish. Speak on"
The old man raised his head and
looked steadily before him. He
crossed his arms upon his breast and
said:
The Son of Heaven will obey his
slave and will sail in the boat upon
the sacred lake within the walls of
this royal palace.
The emperor looked down upon him
suspieiously.
Us that all your magic?"
at is"
Then let the royal boat" com
manded the emperor. be made ready
with all the rowers-"
THE rowers must be chosen by me,
put in the old man. quickly
1T shall be so, agreed Yoritimo.
He came down from his throne and
led the way out of the palace to the
sacred lake The courtiers followed
But the mysterious old man suddenly
disappeared.
When the emperor came to the brink
of the lake he found the royal boat
ready. and in the boat sat 20 virgins,
with beautiful long black hair and
lovely forms and shapely limbs; and
they were arrayed in silver nets in
stead of ordinary robes Each maiden
held an oar, and all tho - oars We're
made of ebony inlaid with gold
No one could find the old magician
But the emperor, true to his promise
that he would sail upon the sacred
lake, stepped into the boat. As he did
so he could not help noticing the
beauty of the young girl that sat be-
hind all the others in the stern, and
seemed to be their leader The en-