The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-04-22
MDJapaneseSerVant
loriRinaL.l

all that, 30 we reduced the whole to
gukey. sukey was my body servant
and was a native Of Japan, Eve fest
one inch In his stockings and quick
and wiry as q cat Talk about serv.
antsl never knew what a servant
was till got sukey. II l wanted any
article ut table. before I knew want
I'd It sukey held It right under my
nose. n / needed shaving, gukey
knew Just the minute my mind wac
on more important things and would
have me lathered and my beard on
without leaving a scratch. and ali IN a
Jify 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 .suksy had
one failing. He was continually Dor
rowing my belongings. Now 1t 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 Sukey, for
be 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 missed
my Chronometer and nautical almanac.
asked sukey what had become Of
them, whereupon be went to the little
cubby hole where he slept ana brought
them to me. 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 kleptomania:
but. az 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
tough, and a sea came aboard. When
Il went back into the ocean. II took
sukey with It. was on the deck at
the time and saw sukey look at me
with an appealing glance. I stopped
the ship at once. called to 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 1t returned the
young ensign commanding II reported
that sukey was not to be found. sukey,
being only a copper colored Japanese.
would not usually be considered worth
Fisl1lnR other lives for, but he was In
valuable as a servant and I couldn't
get over the look he had given me. So
I sent the boat back 10 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 fitting over
the forward deck when the ship was
taking water. telling him II he ever did
II again l would put him In irons. The
truth is was angry with myself as
well as with him for risking other good
llves-the lives Of white men--to save
q little Ave foot japanese. sukey knew
well enough what had done for him
and from that tune 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
9 part soon afterward OF Admiral To
SOS feet at the battle OF the sea Of
Japan. was lying In the harbor. A
hnD K.RA he a.
with an invitation for me to dine with
the admiral. accepted and at 0 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
tray on his hand. The captain Of the
ship was there, too. to receive me.
sukey, whose eyes were gllstening
with pleasure. told me that the admiral
had deputed him to take me to q cabin
below to mix mo a cocktail I follow
Cd him, and he gave me such a cock
tail ~ had not tasted since be left
me. Leaving me 70 enjoy II, he went
away, and after awhile a servant came
and Informed me that the admiral was
waiting for me at dinner. followed
the man. who led me TO the admirafs
dining cabin. Who should advance TO
meet me. resplendent In q magnificent
uniform. but little Sukey.
~Captain." he said. radiant with
smiles. II am happy to welcome you
On my flagship. especially as II gives
me an opportunity to thank you for
making special effort TO save my
life. for l would now be with my an
eastors but for you. must also thank
you for bearing with my kleptomanla
habits. for your things. especially your
scientific books and instruments. were
Of great use TO me. But more than
aIi-sven my life-f must thank you fcR
the experience gained for my govern
ment In noting Jour methods In man
aging Jour chip. We Japanese needed
knowledge OF naval aafalrs. for We