The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-01-21

posing now here, now there, with the ut
ter freedom OF babyhood In Japan. \
pretty young mother. sitting on the floor
beside me, took her baby from the nurse
(who had been weeping freely over the
woes of Mashashige). and talked nom
sense to 1t. and smoothed out its gay
dress. all patterned with the wild pink
called "Nadeshiko" (Which also means
little darling'O, and, In another minute,
the dainty pipes were being lighted, gay
music struck up, and everybody put on
a smile of pleased expectation The next
piece was to be something very delight
fCl and cheerful
The Great Hirose,
Imagine my surprise when I beheld.
AS 1t seemed, the late Commander Hirosc,
attired I'm a magnificent costume OF the
Taira period, step forward TO be received
by two phoeniN-crowned Princcsses. with
whom. while the chorus chanted his eX-
polts. he went through a stately dance
OF triumph! Turned toward us the whole
time was the face which, line for line.
appeared TO be that OF the man who, on
tho 27th OF March, 1904. was so complete
ly annihlnted by 4 Russian shell at Port
Arthur that only a tiny fragment OF his
laid beside bis forefatEers in Dai Mp
pom;
companions, who were gazing at the
startling apparition with smile OF
pleased recognition of their gentle faces
DO you not see? Commander Hirose
- returning III triumph, ana Is DSlnS wei
coined by his countrymen. Surely you
know our Hirose?'
knew-who does not know9-the story
OF the idolized young officer, the man
who drew forth wherever he passcd-nt
school, at the naval college abroad, at
home-thc same adoring respect and az
lection. Not a shadow has ever suIled
me crystal record OF his short life Low
Ing and beloved. he ruled love aside be-
cause, as he said, WAR with Russia is
Inevitable. WIN have no ties to weaken
my VIII or share my devotion TO my coun-
trys service" On the 24th OF February
he had run the HolIoku Mnru to her des-
tined spot at the mouth OF the harbor
the fuse was set for the explosion, and
tliroSo and the crew were moving away
in the boat, when the commander found
hat hc had left his sword on the doomed
vessel He calmly went back to fetch H.
That time luck was with him The OK
ploslon took place just as he got back TO
the boat, and he and his men were res
cued by n Japanese torpedo boat from
the hall of Russian bullets which came
rattllng after them.
a month later the blocking operations
were TO he completed. and Hlrose under
took to sink the Fului Maru in the road
way. He had reached the entrance to
the harbor. when his ship was sunk by
n Russian torpedo. which set her on fire
and she began TO sink rapidly. Hlrose
them, being the last TO leave the Fukui
Maru On calling the roll, however, he
found that Warrant Officer Suglno was
missing. Hirose returned three times to
The sinking snip and searched for him in
vain. When at last, Just In tIme not TO
he sucked down with tho vessel Hlrose
sprang into the boat. q shell struck him
ing but the little fragment OF torn flesh
which was brought home by his com
rades, TO be laid in japanese ground and
become the center Of patriotic pilgrim
age.
Already God.
Tt
Ger. who died less than two years
ago, should already have taken his pIace
among the great mythical Characters 40
dear to his countrymen's hearts that they
the stage; But the Japanese arc born
hero worshipers. and OF all the fine
young officers whom the war called into
prominence and then swept away. there
was none who more closely carried ont
certain National ideals than Cor. .mander
iirose- To Western minds his apotheosIs
seems SO premature as 10 be in bad
pears fitting that he should be of once
cnshrined In the VaIhalla where departed
heroes become the demigods of after
SSensLatlons. S we must remember that
dsath Is scarcely death to the Japancso.
IL Is only the death OF the visible mart
M humanity. They are certain that III
rose was grateful for the decorations
cohiGrred 60, upon him by the Emperor af-
tcf MS death; certain that his spirit
attended the athletic festival which his
old comrades Of the Judo school held in
his honor Their plastic minds sec no
nnachronism In the fact that owing ~
Interchangeable stage traditions Conn
mandcr Hlrose VIII appear to unborn
generations as Tara warrior. being
welcomed on his triumphant return bS
Taira ladies, with whom. I'm robes of
archaic splendor, he treads a mystic
measure composed some six hundred
years before his birth The actor who
took his part had perfectly reproduced
his peculiar type OF countcnance. that
having been created will remain correct
and unchanged; so that. although his his
tory may become oycrlaid with myth
as that of Bcnkei. future play-gocrs Will
always have true impression OF his an
pcarance.
New School of Drama.
with this exception the production Of
plays OF interludes suggested by the war