The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-21
THE EVENING STOR Y
NV JAPANESE Servant.


My japanese Servant.
We all liked little Sukey, from the
commander (myself) to the lowest
ranking officer on board. Sukey's name
was Chonosuke Hirano, but we coulon
possibly think of calling him all tnal,
so we reduced the whole to Sukey,
Sukey was my body servant and was
native of Japan, five feet one inch IN
his stockings and quick and wiry as d
cat Talk about servants. never knew
what servant was till 1 got Sukey. II
wanted any article at table, before L
knew 1 wanted it Sukey held it right
under my nose. If / needed shaving,
Suke-- knew just the minute my mind
was off more important things ana
would have me lathered and my beard
off without leaving a scratch, and all
in Jiffy. To have Sukey for servant
was to have another pair of legs, anoth-
er 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 bor-
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 of my cabin, he could lay his
hands on anything it contained. 1t
seemed to be a 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 1 missed
my chronometer and nautical almanac.
l 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 it; he was
born SO. put it down to kleptomania;
but, as kleptomaniacs usually hide the
things they steal, this was not very
satisfactory
One day Sukey went out on the
forward deck. The weather was
very rough, and a sea came aboard.
took Sukey with it / was on the deck
at the time and saw Sukey look at me
with an appealing glance. 1 stopped
the ship al once, called man on the
and had a small boat lowered. 1t re-
manned out at great risk for half an
hour, and when 1t 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 a servant, and L couldn't
get over the look he had given me. So
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 drench-
ed little beggar climbed the LADDER
and hoped over the gunwale l gave
him a dressing on the Improperly OF
fitting over the forward deck when the
ship was taking water, telling him II
he ever did it again I would put him
in irons. The truth is 1 was angry
with myself as well as with him for
risking other good lives-the lives OF
white men-to save a little hVe 1901
Japanese. Sukey knew wen enough
what I had done for him and from
that time forward evinced the greatest
affection for me. He even conquered
his kleptomaniac proclivities
All this happened several years pc
fore the Russo-Japanese war came on.
Sukey left me not long before that
event. During the war I took my ship
into port at Nagasaki. An admiral
with several ships, all of which formed
a part soon afterward of Admiral To-
go's fleet at the battle of the sea of
Japan, was lying in the harbor a
boat came from the japanese hagsnlp
the admiral 1 accepted and at 6 in |
the evening was rowed in my gig to |
keep the engagement.
What was my surprise TO De met
Sukey with a 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 gltstening with
pleasure told me that the admiral had |
deputed him to take me to cabin be-
low to mix me a cocktail. l followed |
him, and he gave me such cocktail
as 1 had not tasted since he left me. |
Leaving me to enjoy it, he went away, |
and after awhile a servant came and |
me that the admiral was !
waiting for me at dinner 1 followed |
the man, who led me to the admiral's
lining cabin. Who should advance to
meet me, Respondent In a magnificent
uniform but little Sukey.
Captain" he said, radiant with
smiles, II am happy to welcome you
IN my flagship, especially as it gives
ne an OPPORTUNITY to thank you for
making a special effort to save my
life, for 1 would now be with my an
,estors but for you. 1 must also thank
you for bearing with my kleptomania
Ia bits for your things, especially your
scientific books and instruments, were
# great use to me. But more than
lll-even my life-I must thank you for
he experience gained for my govern
nent in noting your methods in man
tgfng your ship. We Japanese needed
of naval affairs, for we
1new we would soon have to meet the
Russian navy.
I stood looking at him in blank as
enlistment till he had finished, then
aid:
land l. admiral, have to thank you
or most excellent attendance. If you
re as good an officer as you were a
ervant you will have little trouble
With the Russian ships of war; ,
NY establishment was far greater
when in conversation at dinner 1 found
he admiral knew more than 1 about
dvanced naval warfare.