Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-07-03

L
word" Peter looked UP just in time to
discover a disappearing twinkle be-
tween the pretended burrows of per-
plexity, and decided that the little gen
tleman was teasing again.
'How big is this little farm?" The
question was repeated very distinctly,
while Peter waited in an expectant at
titude.
st is so small, can hardly tell ex-
actly, but about four thousand acres,
think, perhaps little more"
Peter doesn't speak English alto
gether faultlessly, but he understands
the language Of faces very we'll, indeed,
and when the questioner spluttered
and demonstrated that this was very,
very large farm, he fastened a knowing
eye on his master and awaited devel-
opments.
viscount Aoki decided that he had
leased long enough and proceeded to
explain.
"In America, it is true, where agri-
culture lis so developed pursuit, and
the value of land is so much appreciat-
ed. that would, indeed, be a very big
farm.
"It would make a very nice front
yard for man in Washington. but IN
Japan, that is comparatively small
place. There are so many farms
around me which far exceed my own in
their extent that always, call my es-
tate little
THAT is why am trying to teach
the peasants the art of farming. There
is so much land there, which could be
made to furnish so much wealth for
the people, if they only understood how
to get the wealth out of it. The poor IN
Japan does not realize the value OF
Just land He does not understand the
principles of cultivating it, though II
there is on it already plants, or trees,
he understands that they have value"
Glow do you show them how to farm
since your own estate is devoted to
trees and cannot be used for demon
strations?"
ooh. they have little places around
me, and they are learning. more and
more to buy the land noW while it is
not expensive.
con their own plates they raise
wheat and corn. They are learning to
use the most improved implements
and to become experts in planting and
tilling at the proper time. 1t is go
ing some day to be a great and serious
thing in Japan, this farming"
"Your own estate is for hunting, you
say. Are you very good shot?' he
was asked
~ have killed eighty-two stays, ne
said, with the slightest pardonable
pride. and Peter raised his tail aloft
and swung it slowly back and forth in
evident pride. Here, evidently, was
family matter in which there was just
cause for hateur, though again Peter
was translating the language OF races
into the language of tails.
viscount Aoki tells many interesting
stories of his life in the diplomatic SER
vice in Germany His ruling interest
when his play time comes, has always
been hunting and shooting. The great
German forests seemed to have woven
their charm into his blood, and his
fondest memories of the country where
he served his apprenticeship are OF
the delights of those deep-shadoWed
woods !;
Gin Germany they have magnificent
game preserves" he said. "They keep
great varieties of game, which is some
| thing I do not do on my own estate.
NV Enclosure is small, in spite OF the
fact that it sounds SO big, and it seems
to me it is not good for animals to
he kept together unless they are all
of the same family
81 have mostly stag, a few wild
ducks, and pheasants. In this way
when I shoot them the ones which are
killed are rarely missed, and the stock
is not spoiled. Then, think they like
it better themselves not to have Sc
many strangers among them.
5. "You will find some very Industrious
hunters in America. even If you cannot
! find the farmers" he was told, but at
the mention of American hunters he
looked very grave.
Americans as nation are not hunt
ers. Some of your men are fonc
4 enough Of the sport, and some Of them
I am told are very excellent shots, bu'
you have never made an art OF 1t, as
we do in Japan, as they do in Germany
and England
And Peter set his tail straight w
\ and stalked around as if the matter
had been settled.
Viscount Aoki is one of the few me1
not born to it who like American jour
nalism.
!; "There are about it." he said, ''somt
things which do not understand. Fol
instance, if in Japan a lady came to in
terview me, l cannot think what
: would do, though l think sometimes
that surprises American men.
But like your journalistic interest
| was told that when | came to Thu
country l must be interviewed, ant
that | must not object. as the newspa
pers would want to know about me, ant
it seems to me to be very kind. On
,, grows to expect it and to understand
it as one reads your papers. One cal
have an excellent idea of all America
+ great men through the good papers
+ "And the others should not worr,
YOU" said Peters bristling tail, for Pc
, ter, too. has had his share of newspa
! per notoriety, and the humiliating de
, scriptions of his seasickness hav