Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1908-01-02

ern side OF the bay. At the head OF
it stood the village or hamlet of Kuri-
hama. That was the spot selected for
the meeting of the western envoy and
the imperial commissioners. And
there the Japanese erected a temper
airy hall of audience.
1T was a memorable scene. The
two frigates steamed slowly down and
anchored off the harbor. How big,
black and sullen they looked to the
natives! Our little flotilla of Is boats
landed under cover of their guns.
I'VE were not quite 300 all told, but
every one was in full uniform and
armed to the teeth. The commodore
had given orders to make as magnifi
cent an appearance as we could, for
the purpose of impressing a people
who lay much stress on show. Yet
our little body of men were few in
number to confront 5000 native troops
drawn up on the beach to receive us
outshone the Japanese.
Crowds of curious spectators lined
the housetops and grouped on the hills
in the rear to witness our landing
Radiant uniforms, trappings and en-
signs were everywhere-but we COM
pared favorably. Commodore Perry
had, in fact outshone the Japanese.
THE Japanese regiments seemed
to have ben cut out of rainbows and
sunsets. But If they were lively, their
officers were not For they sat in
silent dignity on camp stools in front
of the lines.
mot until our force had disem-
barked and formed on the beach did
the commodore show himself. No
Japanese had seen him up to that
time. He had remained to them a
mysterious presence, who would only
appear when the duly qualified ambas-
sailors of the emperor came to treat
with him-and they must be princes
of the blood
"As our lines formed, the commo-
dore stepped into his barge. Instantly
the fleet was enveloped in great crowds
of smoke. The guns were laundering
out a salute that echoed among the
hills back of the village. In all the
negotiations he had played the Japa-
nese peoples own game and had en-
veloped himself in mystery.
This was not child's play. 1t was
not an assumption of pomp inconsist-
ent with republican simplicity. Com
modore Perry was dealing with an orr
entail potentate according to oriental
ideas; and results proved his sagacity.
At this time Commodore Perry was SO
years Old man of splendid physique
and commanding presence. He was
the right kind Of man for America to
send on such an errand to such a peo-
pie.
within the hall sat the Japanese
commissioners on chairs. The imperi-
al commissioners were Princes Idzu
and Iwami, and they were surrounded
by their kneeling suite The vacant
seats opposite were taken by the COM
modore and his staff. He entered the
pavilion escorted by two gorgeously
comparisoned blacks, preceded by two
richly uniformed pages bearing the
precious caskets containing the official
papers to the emperor
Ceremony Not Long.
"The ceremony began. 1t was very
brief At a signal the two boys in blue
brought forward in slow and impress
sive fashion the rosewood caskets con-
tanning the mysterious papers which
were to be conveyed to the court.
They were to be thus conveyed in q
richly lacquered chest of scarlet pro-
vided for the purpose, The two
gorgeous negroes, who had followed
the boys, opened the boxes in silence,
and in silence drew out the papers,
done in red and gold most magnifi-
Gently. They laid them on the scar
let Golfer
"The imperial commissioners were
much impressed. They had never
seen black men before except in their
stage plays, when actors used burnt
cork. Therefore, they estimated that
this admiral as they knew him, must
be man of supreme power. Prince
Iwami handed to the interpreters a
formal receipt for the documents.
THE commodore announced that he
would return in the spring for his re-
ply. After a further brief conversation
the conference closed, having lasted
not more than 20 minutes. 1t had been
witnessed by not more than so or 60
persons of both the countries engaged.
Yet that short meeting was to lead to
the opening of Japan"
But the Japanese were alarmed at
the persistence of the ambassador,
too. The formal receipt closed with:
Because this place is not designed to
treat of anything from foreigners, so
neither can conference nor entertain
ment take place. The letter being re-
ceived, you will leave here"
The actual landing took place on
July IA, 1853, and is commemorated
by single shaft Of granite rising SO
feet into the air, placed on the spot
where Perry landed from his ships.
This monument was erected in 1901.
The treaty was not concluded and
signed until March of 1854, when Per