The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-08-18
A JAPANEsE ROMANCE
Wise Man will Decide Who Shall Wet
 Iame-San.

Kono Tomasara, who mends porce- lain ware and sells Osaka bronzes in his shop over Telllni's sausage store in East Houston street, near Second ave- nue, is awaiting the award of a tribu- nal of arbitration on the question of the proprietary rights in one fame-san Hosoye, a Japanese maiden from the plum gardens of OOmori, near Tokio. The other disputant in the suit is a Japanese window washer of Jersey City, Inumaru by name. The tribunal is Every wise man" whose name is at present not revealed.
 Mir. Tamarara's case, as told to an interested and sympathetic listener over the bronze incense burners in his shop is one that requires all the deli cacy and tact of the ''very wise" urn- pire. The bronze dealer believes that Iame-san, the maid from Omori, is, ac- cording to Japanese rite, his lawfully welded wife. The plebeian window washer of Jersey City has a stronger hold on Miss Iame's affections, Tama- sara admits, but he gained that advan- tage unfairly and without regard for the honor of a fellow countryman.
 One day last week Tamasara, dressed himself in his best cutaway coat and bought pink for his buttonhole. Then he went across to the Jersey City ter ninal of the Pennsylvania railroad to meet the young woman, who was to arrive direct from Japan on an even- Ing train from the west. He had re- ceived a letter five yards in length, written from Seattle by his bride-t -to-be the day of her landing from the steam CT, saying that she would travel east in the company of a Japanese gentleman and his wife, and that she would ex- pect to see her future husband at the end of the honorably long and arduous journey.
 When the train drew up at the sta tion Tamasara removed his hat in the excitement of anticipation. He caught a glimpse of a small young person in a pink shirt waist and straw sailor mak- ing her way through the car to the steps, Thither he went in some haste and stood, hat in hand, to greet the young woman.
 q am honorably overwhelmed with | joy to see your face again" spoke Ta- nasara.
 Many times has the cherry blos- somed since I have had the humble honor of listening to your musical voice." demurely lisped Miss lame. If you will deign to come to my humble house. began Tamasara. Then came the intervention of the window washing gentleman. He had been standing awkwardly by, awaiting the chance to speak.
 Without daring to interrupt" said he of the swab and pail, ''let me hum ply beg to suggest that Iame-san will not go to the house of Tamasara. She has most graciously deigned to become myNwife and will now depart with me after taking courteous leave of the honorably gentleman whom I am ad- dressing"
 Tamasara was foored for the in stant
 But has she not exchanged photo graphs with me and did I not provide, poorly, no doubt, for Miss Iame's pas- sage from Onori to New York? Not on your honorable tintype, but words to that effect will the lady go to your house as your wife"
 l Then with appropriate tears the maiden of the plum blossoms inter- vened True, she had known the Hon. orable Tamasara in Omori when he used to own rikisha stand near the temple gate And true, she had seen .him depart for America with tears. Had she not become his betrothed with joy and eagerly exchanged photo graphs with him? An, yes! but she had met the window washer on the train from Chicago and he spoke so wonderfully of his love- What was she but miserable girl, whose heart was in the hand of Kwanmon, goddess of love, and not for her own dispos- ing?
 The window washer from Jersey City said he would gladly reimburse Mr. Tamasara for the passage money he had spent all unworthily on Miss lame The window washer said he would even set out a sake cup for Mir. Tannasara at the wedding feast.
 But this was not for Tamasara. They should take the girl to the home of a very wise man whom he knew. They should ask this man of wisdom to de- eide where she would hestow her hand He, Tamasara, would abide by the de- cisfon.
 So after .A1uch barley on the plat form of tR 6Tersey City station 1t was decided tha Nhe very wise man should act as a court of arbitration.
 Two very stern faced Japanese men and one toddling nesan, whose eyes glstened with tears, took the ferry to Cortlandt street and there set out for the home of the very wise man. There Iame-san stnl is, awaiting the time when the high court of arbitration shall render his judgment,
 Tt is highly improper that a young woman should act thus,r says Kono Tanlasara, as he dusts his Osaka bronzes in his shop on East Houston street "But then women have not been given the honorable sense that men have They are little children. '- New York Sun.