The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-04-19
.MDJapaneseSerYant



couldn't possibly think Of calling him
all that so we reduced the whole to
gukey. sukey was my body servant
end was a native Of Japan, Eve feet
one inch IN his stockings and quick
and wiry as a cat Talk about serv.
antsl ! never knew what a servant
was TN got sukey. II wanted any
article at table, before knew ! want
cd It sukey held II right under my
nose. II needed shaving, Sukey
knew Just the minute my mind was
on more important things ana would
have me lathered and my beard OF
without leaving a scratch, and all In
jiGfy To have sukey for a 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 failing. He was continually Dor
rowing my belongings. Now II 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 OF my cabin. he could lay his
hands on anything II contained. II
seemed to be a mania with Sulgey, for
he never took anything to keep, and
be took lots Of things that could not
possibly be OF any use to the captains
body servant One evening I missed
my chronometer and nautical almanac,
I asked sukey what had become Of
them, whereupon he went to the little
cubby hole where he slept and brought
them to me. I questioned him as to the
cause OF his borrowing my things, and
he said he could not help II: he was
born 80. put II down to klept0mania;
but, as 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
rough. and a sea came aboard, When
II went back into the ocean, It took
Sukey with II. l was ON the deck at
the time ana saw Sukey look at me
with an appealing glance stopped
the ship at once. called to a man on the
deck below me TO throw Sukey a life
buoy and had a small boat lowered.
II remained out at great risk for half
an hour. and when It returned the
young ensign commanding It reported
that sukey was not to be found. SuIxey.
being only copper colored Japanese.
would not usually be considered worth
FiskinR other lives for. but he was In
valuable as a servant, and / couldn't
set 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 l gave him dress
Ing on the improperly Of fitting over
the forward deck when the ship was
taking water. telling him II he ever did
Il again would put him In irons. The
truth Is ! was angry with myself as
well as with him for risklng other good
uves-the lives OF white men--to save
= little Eve foot Japanese. sukey knew
well enough what had done Tor him
and from that time forward evinced
the greatest affection for me. he even
conquered his kleptomanlac procllvi-
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
q part soon afterward Of Admiral To
SOS fieet 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 l accepted and at Q 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 b napkin over his arm and
a tray ON his hand. The captain Of the
shlp was there. too, to receive me.
Sukoy, whose eyes were glistening
with pleasure. told me that the admiral
had deputed him to take me to q cabin
below to mix me a cocktail follow.
Cd him. and he gave me such a cock
tall ~ | had not tasted since he left
me. Leaving me to enjoy II. he went
away, and after awhile a servant came
and informed me that the admiral was
waiting for me at dinner. l followed
the man. who led me to the admlraPs
dining cabin. Who should advance to
meet me. resplendent In a magnificent
unlfOrm. but little sukey.
Captain be said. radiant with
amile@ Il am happy to welcome you
On my flagship. especially a. It gives
me an opportunity to thank you for
making a special effort to save my
life. for l would now be with my an
eeators but for you. I must also thank
yOu for bearing With my kleptomania
habits. for your things. especially your
scientific books and Instruments. were
az great use 10 me- But more than
atl-sven my life-I must thank yOn TOR
the experience gained for my govern
ment in noting your methods IN man
aging your ship. We japanese needed
knowiodve OF naval afralra for wa