Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-28

aS88MM country, and while the dreaded for
s<"sS1aS eigners kept careful watch upon their
ships, native artisans reared the structure after
wards known in the memories of the strangers
as the "Ireaty House"
Simple as was the building. its erection was at
tended with certain outward signs which would
have led the observer to identify in them the
same spirit pervading the market-place, the open
public gathering space, the theatres, the shops.
Those who abored under torch-lght, an I'M
usual proceeding in itself, were impressed with a
misshapen, grotesque wholly underlined fear.
Artisans as they were, they realized, if sub-con-
sciously, that their act had in it the germs of a
future-dark and ominous, their instances as
serted The Japanese officials-of minor grade
who directed the work. being higher in the
scale of intelligence, were by no means so vague
in their minds. They believed firmly that the
raising of this simple building meant the down
fall of their country, its government, its institu
tions. Rapacious foreigners for two centuries had
insulted them and fouted at Japan, had returned
to accept no delay or parley.
Indeed, certain sub-rosa expressions of opin-
ion and declarations of purpose among officers of
the, feet translated to them by visitors to the
foreign ships of that alien nation alone tolerated
in Japan at this period-the Dutch-had deep
ened the alarm. The strangers had said in eff
feet: "No nation has a right to withdraw it.
self from the comfy and commerce Of other ma
lions. Japan must come to this view; amcably
if possible, but through cannoned arguments if
not otherwise.
Every act Of the strangers thus far had been
in accord with this secret expression Of policy.
The reserve and punctilious etiquette of the jap
anese had been met with bold advance by Com
modore Perry's squadron AT each pretext for
delay advanced by the japanese the ships had
moved nearer to Yedo, believed by the officers
of the squadron, knowing nothing of the Shotgun
Emperor relationship, to be the capital of the
Emperor of Japan.
| When Perry had been told that he might de-
liver his letters and credentials to minor officials
he had replied that first they must send to him
| commissioners second in rank only to the Emper-
or Perry himself, initiating the secuson of
those whom he sought to reach, took care to be
seen or approached by Japanese delegating
| inferior officers to the task. Now for the first
| time he was to show himself to the people, and
the MOBILES the princes AidZu and Catzu, in their
| capacity of high commissioners were to meet
| him.
Thus it was that all watched the work upon
the Treaty House in sullen emotion. The work
men themselves moved in complete silence, which
was broken not by word, but only by the noise
of their operations. Their superiors gave their
| instructions by gesture or brief word.
The building itself was not pretentious al
though its situation on slight elevation near
| the water was central, IN full view of the feet
| ont in the bay and was overlooked by the sur
ante.chamber and long audience-hal around
| whose side sort of divan had been built. Al
the head of this apartment number of chairs
were placed for the comfort of the foreigners. In
the centre of the space, upon raised platform
whose tapestries and hangings suggested the altar
of some semi.barbarian church, stood an immense
red.lacauered box, destined for the reception oil
the papers brought by the foreigners for trans
initial to the Emperor.
In the distance were the encampments con
tanning the retinues of the princes Aidzu and
! Catz,I. TO which the artisans withdrew when, a;
a final touch of preparation, they had secluded
the entire surrounding of the Treaty House by
the erection of huge bamboo and silken screens
All were now awaiting the hour of eleven in
the morning. the hour set for the ceremonial. The
departure Of a boat from the Susquehanna wal
observed. In addition to its rowing crew, il
contained single officer in the stern
Those about the Treaty House watched the
dancing course Of the boat over the waves, until
having discharged its officer at the coastline, il
withdrew into stiler water; watched with seem
ing apprehension his landward course up thu
heights
The officer was young; he knew few word
of japanese, and went at once to the point upoI
his arrival before the Treaty House.
"What do these screens meany" he demanded.
The minor officials looked from one TO another
! One official, determined expression passing 70
an instant over his face, stepped forward III
bowed politely.