Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-29


account for the fact that when it was opened
it contained nothing but RIM?
"A1ei WorShipful HighneSs, that without
doubt was the work of the fox spirit. These
spirits are very mischievous at times"
YES said the magistrate. these spirits
are accountable for much miSChef6 but
cannot command their presence at our courts
of law nor punish them for their misdeeds.
Has anyone present any doubt OF the truth
of what o Haiku San, the wife of Cho-ki-che,
has deponed in relation to the matter before
u.s."
Honorable officer said Ito, 81 do not
believe that fox spirit has had anything to
do with the substitution of rim for silver riyos
in the ginger Jar.
Did you see the jar opened?" asked the
magistrate;
self"
Did the cover of the jar or the seal show
any evidence of having been tempered with"
asked Namagka
They certainly did not l examined the
lar very closely before opening it, replied Ito.
What then is your idea of the agency
through which the contents were changed from
silver to lead and copper, and how do you
think the substitution OF rim for riyos was
NADER?
Il cannot imagine" admitted Ito.
Since no other explanation IS offered, or
even suggested, that of the wife of Cho-kl-che
stands" said the Discerning Magistrate.
A this moment Shori San, the wife of the
Discerning Magistrate, who had been ex-
aiming the ginger jar outside and inside both
with her eyes and her fingers, uttered sup
pressed exclamation of surprise, set it down,
and pretending to retire, got behind the backs
of those present. AS as she became sure
that she was unobserved. she possessed her
self of valuable piece of Satsuma ware that
stood near the entrance, and quickly, silently,
and adroitly placed it directly behind the en-
ployer of Ito, the maker of artistic vases,
Token Gombei. As as she had done so,
she reappeared and began to thread her way
among the witnesses as if to get to her husband.
Seeing that he was in her way, Token Com
bel who with the others was sitting on his
heels, rose to his feet and with a profound
obesance stepped back to allow her to pass.
beautiful vase that Shori San had placed at his
heels. Overwhelmed with modification at his
awkwardness, though he could not understand
how the vessel came to be so nearly behind
him. he overwhelmed Shori San with apologies
assuring her that he owned many really fine
specimens of Satsuma, and that she might
select any she liked to replace the one he had
broken.
1t soon appeared, however, that she placed
a special value on this particular vase. 1t had.
she said, belonged to her husbands mother
and had many associations connected with 1t
that she was not likely ever to forget. My
honorable husband will be very angry to know
that it is broken, and will not easily forgive
the person that broke it, said Shori San.
This alarmed Token Gombei; for the judg
ment which he now confidently expected to
be in his favor had not yet been pronounced,
and he assured Shori San that he could have
the Jar so skilfully repaired that the closest
inspection would fail to discover that it had
ever been fractured
"How wonderful" exclaimed Shori San.
If this is indeed true, it is almost worth hav-
ing a vessel broken to see such an exhibition
of skilful workmanship. Do you yourself do
this mending?"
ooh, no. replied Token Gonbei. ct is
not done at my shop, but in quite different
part of Yedo. l will myself, if you will gra-
ciously allow me to do SO, at once take the
three pieces into which this beautiful piece of
Satsuma is broken to the that does such
work, and when it is returned to you from his
hands, neither your honorable husband nor
anyone else, with the exception of yourself,
myself, and the member, will know that it has
ever been as it now is.
But why trouble your honorable self"
said Shori San. 1--WE have servants enough
and to spare. Tell me the mans name, and
where he is to be found, and l will send the
broken jar to him"
But Token Gombei shook his head. Il
am deeply grieved," he said, but ex-
cept the members of our guild know him. 1t
is a trade secret, and | cannot, without violat-
ing a solemn OATH tell you where he is to be