Evening journal., 1909-06-21
IMUJapaneseSeTVant
lOrirlnaI1


We all liked little Sukey. from the
commander myself to the lowest
ranking officer on board. Sukeys
name was Chonosuke Hirano, but we
couldn't possibly think Of calling him
all that, so we reduced the whole &c |
Sukey. Sukey was my body servant
and was a native Of Japan, five feel
one inch in his stockings and quick
and wiry MS a cat. Talk about serv.
antsi I never knew what a servani
was till got sukey. II wanted any
article at table, before knew l want |
ed it Sukey held it right under my
nose. If I needed shaving, Sukey
knew just the minute my mind was
Off more important things and would
have me lathered and my beard OF
without leaving a scratch and all in 0
jlffy. To have Sukey for a 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. sukey had
one failing. He was continually Dor
rowing my belongings Now ii was anl
ink well, now a magnifying glass, any
thing, everything that he could lay his
hands on, and, since he had the free
dom of ny cabin, he could lay his
hands on anything It contained. III
seemed to be a mania with Sukey, for
he never took anything TO keep, and
he took lots OF things that could noil
possibly be of any use to the captains
no. inf I'M II
my chronometer and nautical almanac
/ asked Sukey what had become oil
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 IL; he was
born so. put 1t down TO kleptomania
hut, as 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
rough. and a sea came aboard. When
II went back into the ocean, It took
Sukey with it. l was on the deck al
the time and saw sulKey look at me
with an appealing glance. stopped
the ship at once, called to a man on the
deck below me to throw Sukey a life
buoy and had a small boat lowered.
1t remained out at great risk for half
an hour, and when Il returned the
/ young ensign commanding 1t reported
that sulIey was not to be found. sukey,
being only copper colored japanese,
would not usually be considered worth
/ rsl1ing other lives for, but he was in
valuable as a servant, and / 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 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
/ IL again world put him in irons. The
truth is was angry with myself as
we'll as with him for risklng other good
lives-the lives Of white men-to save
a little FIVE foot Japanese. Sukey knew
well enough what / had done for him
and from that time forward evinced
the greatest affection for me. He even
conquered his kleptomaniac proclivi-
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 I took my shiT
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
boat came from the Japanese flagshiT
with an invitation for me to dine witt
the admiral. accepted and at 6 ii
the evening was rowed in my gig tC
keep the engagement.
What was my surprise to be me
on going over the ships side by little
Sukey with a napkin over his arm anC
a tray on his hand. The captain Of th'
ship was there, too, to receive me
Sukey, whose eyes were glisteninl
{ with pleasure. told me that the admira
! had deputed him to take me to cabil
below to mix me a cocktail. follow
ed him, and he gave me such a cock
tail as 1 had not tasted since he lef
me. Leaving me to enjoy It, he wen
away, and after awhile a servant cam
and informed me that the admiral wa
! waiting for me at dinner. I followe'
the man, who led me TO the ADMIRAL
dining cabin. who should advance t
meet me, resplendent in a magnificen
uniform, but little Sukey.
{ Captain he said, radiant witt
n smiles, Il am happy to welcome yol
. on my flagship, especially as it give
! me an opportunity to thank you 70
making a special effort to save m,
life, for I would now be with my an
. cestors but for you. I must also than
4 you for bearing with my kleptomani
! habits, for your things. especially you
= scientific books and instruments, wer
s of great use to me. But more thai
S all-even my life-I must thank you 10
$ the experience gained for my govern
o ment in noting your methods in mar
aging your ship. We Japanese needle
knowledge of naval affairs. for W
knew we would soon have to meet tn
Russian navy"
a stood looking at him In blank as
IS tonishment tn he had finished, the
e said: