The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-05-16
WHAT CAME OF
"A FILTRATION
BY E. bartlett THORPE
Copyright, 1910, BY American Press
Association.

i ia @hVNhtHc WAtHt3 jazz hhN &Nl per
mission to 20 ashore together
We sauntered along one u th,
streets till We came to the outskirts
where the houses were farther apar
and their surroundings more ample
Passing a garden lnclosed BY a Low
wall, we saw d couple Of pretty Japa
nese girls picking flowers Jack tool
out bis handkerchief the method II
those days Of firting; l don't know
how thoy do It now-and waved it
We were not more than a dozen yard,
from the girls, one Of whom, seeing q
couple Of European youngsters Ia uni
FORM tossed d rose over the wall. Il
fell az Jacks feet He picked # up
inhaled its odor, kissed It and put Il
in the buttonhole Of his jacket
Both girls laughed, and the Other
girl threw another rose, which I pick
ed up, inhaled, kissed and put IN my
own buttonholes Then, like good boys
we walked on We didn't care to ap
pear too preauming, and we didn'l
wish to brighten the little birds BY
rushing matters. But we didn't wall
very far. We soon turned and wen
back toward the place where we bad
seen the girls We argued that II they
wished for onr further acquaintance
they would remain where they were
expecting our return.
We found them IN exactly the same
place, but as we drew near they turn
ed their backs upon US. Jack gave q
loud "Ahemg One Of the girls turned
and smiled | gave another "Ahemlf
and the other girl turned also. This
was enough for Jack, who needed
only a moiety Of encouragement, and
be vaulted the wall followed him
II was making an acquaintance under
difficulties, we not speaking the Japa-
nese language and they not knowing
a word OF English Jack, whose bold
ness naturally gave him the initiative
pointed 10 the flowers growing about
Us and BY a well enacted pantomime
indicated that we would like some OF
them The girls understood, plucked
a lot for each Of us, then BY pantomime
asked Us to inspect the grounds
OF course we got separated Jack 60
ing with her who had thrown him the
rose, / with her companion, who had
favored me Why they took the lib
erty Of receiving us 50 unceremonious-
Iy I didn't know. They were surely
Of the samurai class and must have
been OF wealthy and respectable par
ents. FOR the place i'd which they lived
was d large one and their kimonos
we're made Of - finest texture.
was inclined 10 think that papa and
mamma were not at home At any
rate. we spent q couple Of hours with
them, chatting all the while IN the un-
spoken language of love which young
people don't need 10 study Before
parting with them we exhibited sum
rient ingenuity to inform them that
we would call again as soon as we
could get another leave
II was two days after this that we
were ordered 70 report Ia the captains
cabin. We found there couple q
Japanese men Of the higher class and
a third who was an Interpreter The
men looked as solemn as owls.
Young gentlemen" said the cap
tain, "since You we're the only officers
ashore on leave the day before yes
terday think that message brough
By these persons must be for you
Besides. / recognize these gewgaws q
belonging 70 you
lie held up q scarfpin that I hae
given one Of the girls and ring Jacl
had given the other Jack and ! ser
dumfounded The captain motlonea
the interpreter 70 speak. He told i
that each Of as having given pre-
ent to 4 Young girl--a gift "a Japa
being considered proposition Of mai
rage their fathers had come aboart
60 say that two noble Japanese FAM
lies would feel honored at an ALLIANCE
With So great d nation as the Unitel
States by giving a daughter to each q
the young officers who had asked fof
her hand
The matter was far too serious ta
warrant any expression Of amusement
The captain saw at once that we bad
got into Irritation and unwittinglg
proposed marriage Not wishing t.
give offense, be took the matter into
his own hands, much to the relief Of
us Youngsters who had got into the
scrape.
"Teil the gentlemen" be said 70 the
Interpreter, that. representing the
United States, / am highly honored
that the propositions Of my officers
should be accepted, but that since the
uffer was made without permission
shall be obliged to lay the matter be.
fore the president l sail for America
tomorrow, win discover his excellen-
ey's wishes, If possible obtain his per
mission and act accordingly"
The Interpreter translated the cap
tain's speech, and the Japanese gentle
men signlhed acquiescence and after
leaving their addresses, with all nee
essary information. departed
Gentlemen. said the captain when
our would be fathers-in-law had gone.
syou may consider yourselves under
arrest 10 suffer any Of my officers to
put a slight upon the japanese people
might cost me my commission
We sailed the next day and on
reaching American waters the captain
wrote TO Japan that, while the presi-
aent felt highly honored that two no
bic japanese families had accepted the
Of two Of his young naval
officers IN the American navy mar
rage was DISCOURAGED and permission