The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-03-01
MDJapaneSeSeTVdn
IOrlginaLl

Sukey. Sukey was my body servant
and was native OF Japan, ave feet
one inch in his stockings and quick
and wiry as a cat Talk about serv-
ants never knew what servant
WIS TIL got sukey. II / wanted any
article at table. before knew want.
ed 1t Sukey held it right under my
nose II needed shaving. sukey
knew Just the minute my mind was
OF more important things and would
have me lathered and my beard OF
without leaving scratch, and all in a
jiffy To have Sukey for servant was
to have another pair OF legs, another
pair OF arms and another brain that
cost the master no effort to work,
But nothing Is perfect. Sukey had
one falling. he was continually Dor.
rowing my belongings. Now it was an
ink well, now a magnifying glass. any
thing. everything that he could lay his
hands on. and. since he had the free
dom'tof my cabin. he could lay his
hands on anything 1t contained. 1t
seemed to be mania with Sukey, for
he never took anything TO keep. and
he took lots OF things that could not
possibly be OF any use 'to the captains
body servant One evening missed
my chronometer and nautical almanac.
! asked Sukey what had become OF
them. whereupon he went to the little
cubby hole where he slept and brought
them TO me. questioned him as to the
cause OF his borrowing my things. and
he said he could not help 1t; he was
born so. put 1t down TO kleptomanin:
but. MS kleptomaniacs usually hide the
things they steal. this was not very
satisfactory.
One day Sukey went out on the fore
ward deck. The weather was very
rangh. and a sea came aboard. When
1t went back into the ocean, It took
Sukey with 1t. was on the deck at
the time and saw Sukey look at me
with an appealing glance. stopped
the ship at once. called to man on the
deck below me to threw Sukey life
buoy and had a small boat lowered.
1t remained out at great risk for half
an hour, and when It returned the
young ensign commanding 1t reported
that Sukey was not to be found. Sukey,
being only copper colored Japanese.
would not usually be considered worth
risking other lives for, but he was in.
valuable as servant, and couldn't
get over the look he had given me. So
I sent the boat back to make another
search. This time they remained out
an hour, but when they returned Sukey
was with them. AS the drenched little
beggar climbed the ladder and hoped
over the gunwale gave him a dress.
Ing on the Improperly of tilting over
the forward deck when the ship was
taking water, telling him IL he ever did
1t again would put him in irons The
truth is was angry with myself as
well as with him for risking other good
lives-the lives Of white men-to save
little FIVE foot Japanese. Sukey knew
well enough what had done for him
and from that time forward evinced
the greatest affection for me. he even
conquered his kleptomaniac proclivi-
ties.
All this happened several years be-
fore the Russo-Japanese war came ON.
sukey left me not long before that
event. During the war took my ship
into port at Nagasaki. An admiral
with several ships. all of which formed
part soon afterward OF Admiral To
COS feet at the battle OF the sea Of
Japan, was lying in the harbor. A
boat came from the Japanese flagship
with an invitation for me to dine with
the admiral accepted and at 6 in
the evening was rowed in my gig to
keep the engagement
What was my surprise to be met
on going over the ships side by little
Sukey with napkin over his arm and
a tray on his hand. The captain Of the
ship was there, too, TO receive me-
Sukey, whose eyes were glistening
with pleasure. told me that the admiral
had deputed him to take me to a cabin
below to mix me a cocktail. follow
ed him, and he gave me such a cock
tail as l had not tasted since he left
me. Leaving me to enjoy 1t, he went
away, and after. awhile servant came
and informed me that the admiral was
waiting for me at dinner. l followed
the man, who led me to the admirars
dining cabin. Who should advance to
meet me, respondent in a magnificent
uniform, but little Sukey.
Captain" he said, radiant with
smiles, Il am happy TO welcome you
on my flagship, especially as 1t gives
me an opportunity to thank you for
making a special effort to save my
life. for l would now be with my an
cestors but for you. / must also thank
you for bearing with my kleptomania
habits, for your things, especially your
scientific books and instruments. were
OF great use to me. Bht more than
all-even my life-I must :htns-yoa for
the experience guine f-r my GOVERN
ment In noting your m, hols IN man
aging yonr ship We -. - needed
| knowledge of naval eta.rS fSr we