Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-01-29
STRANGE ENGLISH
WRITTEN BY JAPS

deter them. They keep right at II
and crack It.
An American gentleman, agent al
Yokohama for 4 trans-Pacifc steam
ship company. now on leave in New
York, brings quaint package of ma
terial illustrating the efforts of the
English schooled japanese to gain a
half-Nelson on the language Of Shake
| speare.
A few months ago young Japanese
applied to the steamship agent for q
job as clerk in the Yokohama steam
ship Office. There being no vacancies
says the New York Sun, the agent
civilly got rid Of the applicant. and on
the following day he received this ex
planatory letter from him:
Dear Sir: Many thanks for your
sparing precious time during business
hour on my visit yesterday
failed on that occasion, owing
rather to my sly nature to speak out
my principal motive for clerk life,
and should be much obliged If you will
take it into consideration. The cause
for my being clerk is that am lover
of Charles Lamb, with whom / have
many points in common. I have an
affectionate sister for whose sake /
will sacrifice my life and lead a sim
gle life, like the English humorist.
Was he not clerk in the Indian com
pany till his retirement through the
approaching age? said my sister,
but to tell the truth, she was my cou.
sin, and the past three years was
a tragic comedy to US, and from pure
love, and by mutual consent, we will
lead brother and sister life.
My second motive is that l may be-
come gentleman through your favor,
with whom | had no means to know
each other but such insolent way on
my part.
How glad my parents and dear sis
ter be IL they hear some day that l
get position in your office.
intend to enter some school with
in two or three days and train myself
in bookkeeping and in the practice of
typewriter.
Hoping you would not kindly forget
me through an artless fronties
(front?). Yours faithfully,
KATSUTARO.
Here is a letter from a Japanese
shipping firm to the steamship COM
pany respecting respecting
whatever 1t means:
Dear Sir: According to your favor
of November 28, 12-10th, with refer
ence to discrepancy of 275 sacks of
-four we send you the invoice No. 81,
which you have not. We beg you to
return the invoice when you will not
be short Of it-and to inform us what
it will be intend by you in reference
to this discrepancies explanation
One Of the Japanese employees of the
steamship Office in Yokohama was
summoned up-country by the illness of
4 brother. Here is the letter which
he wrote to the agent upon his arrival
home:
my Honorable Mr.. il will never
forget your kindness. When / was
to return to my home I felt
that train was exceedingly slow. Ger.
tainly train was quick, but my thought
rather sooner than its running. All
things which caught my eye on the
way were very beautiful and attractive |
In the past time, but now they seemed |
disagreeable, gloomy, clumsy and sor-
rowful.
Then in the future what appearance
they will have to show me! All time
on the way home could not avoid to
think fragments Of the following
phrases: What Is life? What Is hui
man being? What is ambition? Life
ls earnest or life is an empty dream.
From dust to dust What is the i'm.
Of the soul?
Such uncontrolling thoughts came to
occupy their places in my mind. Phan.
tom after phantom. Imagination after
all time. / found such an
irregular conception Of thinking and
could mot get categorical thought
But for moment changed from bust
ness man to philosopher.
When arrived at my home saw
hFee doctors and many relations gath.
,ring around my brothers bed. Al .
light Of such deplorable scene
thought that my brother has at last
zone. 90 ! FASTENED 20 see him, but
happily he was breathing but could
lot perceive me well, and only heard
NJ voice. In that moment / thought
II was gone, my tear dried, mind con.
used, only felt a. IL became a neu-
Sal being.
But fortunately he came to correct
lis mind. and to perceive objects well,
Ifter two hours by taking care Of doc. I,
crs. Then how great was our glad.
was beyond description. But after
hat no 10 staying In q very perilous
'oint whether he will die or live, sink
n swim in 80 slight change Of con.
'itiOn his fate Is to be destined. Doc
or said his destination can be known
a the course Of q few days, then
rant to know probable tendency Of
ondition Of his sickness.
VIII you please allow me to stay
ONE more aweek? have wished to
rite you a. soon as came here hukv