The San Francisco call., 1907-02-17

A APAN. as everybody knows. is a
land OF pictures. folklore and
stories Of all kinds. Every lake,
mountain. waterfall and locality
has some story about it. These stories
are told in every possible way-in
nursery tales or by professional story
tellsrs. whether in writing or by word
OF mouth
There are two classes Of professional
story tellers-those who travel about
the country telling their stories. like
cur Ministries Of old, TO eager circles
OF listeners, or those who tell them in
pictures. the Japanese colored prints.
some OF which have become such fad
IL Europe and America
These pictures almost invariably are
based on incidents Of folklore, fairy
tales or ancient traditions Of Japan.
While these drawings are generally
meaningless or zrotesoue TO foreign
ers, every man. woman and child in
Japan knows what they are about.
They are as well known and liked by
the children OF Japan. whether tots or
Erownups, as our stories of Little Red
and his little hatchet are known TO US
In Japan these pictures. reproduced IN
cheap prints. are turned out by the
thousands and are for sale at all book
shops throughout the land.
The most famous japanese print
artist OF the present day. perhaps. is
an old artist who signs himself
'Gekko." His pictures have the merit
OF combining good. realistic drawing
and vigorous action with the ancient
conventional japanese style OF draw
ing imported from Nores, which is still
the fsvorite style OF drawing in Japan.
Notwithstanding the inroads of the
so-called Western style OF painting re-
Gently imported into Japan by native
artists who have studied in Paris
Munich and at American art academies
most Japanese still prefer the old ma
tional style, just as they prefer the
Chinese ideographs to Western letters
The best liked Of Gekko's drawings
ere his illustrations OF various incl
dents OF the famous tale OF The Forty
seven Ronin" This is one OF the IA
vorite national traditions OF Japan
which has been told and retold with a
thousand applications in Japanese
song, story, drama and art for the last
200 years. u has grown into z cycle
OF stories that can be compared only 70
such great collections OF legends as
The Arabian Nights" The Ring OF
the Nibelunge" or our own Knights
OF the Round Table"
The story OF The Forty seven Ronin'
Is based on a real tragedy Of Japanese
feudal times which happened near
Toxic. then called Yedo, at the begin
ming OF our eighteenth century. In
brief, il is the story OF a terrible re-
venge wrought by the forty-seven re-
tainers Of the Lord Of Ako. who had to
commit harakiri on account OF gross
other great feudsi lord This dainio
named Kotsuke no Suke, while giving
the young Lord OF Ako instruction In
court etiquette. became so arrogant
that be asked his lordly pupil to tie his
shoe FOR him. This was too much for
a noble OF Japan. so the Lord Of Ako
drew his sword and tried to slay him
This happened in the castle OF the
Tycoon at Yedo. For this fagrani
breach OF court etiquette the Lord OF
Ako had 20 disembowel himself There
upon ki- retainers swore 10 havs
vengeance on the man who caused
their masters death. In order TO &C.
complish their purpose they becamt
Ronin. that is to say rovers. or free
lances. what the japanese call ware
men. They dispersed all over thu
country, disguised. some as peddiers
others as fishermen, stablemen. serv.
ants and the like. Their leader pre-.
tended to become a common tavern
roisterer, brawler and drunkard.
After years OF plotting and adven.
fures they at last accomplished thei,
purpose. and having come together one
eight burst into Kotsuke no Suke';