Imperial Valley press., 1911-11-16


person that my Junior officers reduced
it to Zip. He was very smart could
see that at once. He learned every
thing on sight When he came to me
he had never shaved a man. and yet he
had done the work but twice before
he gave me the best shave ! ever had.
There was one thing about Zip that
didn't like-a propensity to occupy
my cabin. Vixen l went out Of it in
the morning left him there to put it
in order. Considering his quickness.
would have expected him to do the
work in ten minutes. Instead it re-
Quired all the morning Whenever
had occasion to go there the little Jap
was busy as bee buzzing from one
ly that l wondered how he managed to
keep busy for SO long a time. True,
one day after having returned several
times during the morning found him
looking over a book. Curious to know
what he was reading, | glanced at it
and found it to be novel,
Don't waste your time with that
sort Of reading. Zip" said. go to
the galley and ask for a cookbook II
you want better wages study cookery.
Some chefs get very high wages"
Zip thanked me for the advice, and
after that whenever he had time on
his hands he was always to be found
with cookbook on his knees. But on
one occasion / saw something to cause
me to suspect that he was wasting his
time, after all, for when l came upon
him unawares he slipped the book he
was reading under one that had been
beneath il. 1t occurred to me that
he had more love for fiction than for
cookery.
Zip remained in my service three
years, when our ship again entered
Mississippi bay and he left me. ! of
fered him higher wages. but he said
that it was not the wages he wanted.
but sojourn on shore. He thanked
me for my kindness to him. especially
for suggesting that be study cookery.
His intention was to apply for po-
sition as cook to some wealthy Japa-
nese.
One day while in port I received an
invitation to dine with an officer Of the
government. He was in the marine
department and a very important
branch at the time. for the japanese
were then preparing, though did not
know it, to fight the Russians. l ac-
cepted the invitation and found when
l arrived a number of persons promi-
nent in naval matters. After we were
introduced the host led the way to his
dining room. where we seated our
selves and waited for the first dish to
be brought in. l was placed on the
right Of the host, who sat at the head
Of the table. and noticed that the seat
on his left. opposite me. was vacant.
While was wondering who would oc-
cupy it a door opened, and the cook.
in white Jacket. apron and cap, en-
tered the room. holding aloft an i'm
mense platter, on which was fish.
What was my surprise to see my old
body servant Zip.
"Well, Zip" l said to him. you've
not lost much time In securing q stu
alton, l see."
Zip smiled and set down the platter;
but. instead Of retiring, he threw off
his jacket, apron and cap, appearing
in the uniform Of an official in the
naval service and took the vacant chair
beside the host.
Captain. permit me to introduce my
SON." said the latter. He went with
you several years ago to prepare him
self to succeed me in our naval depart
ment. He tells me that he has picked
up 81 great deal of valuable informa-
lion on the subject. which he is now
ready to offer to the shades Of his an
cesturS"
Pardon me. captain" said Zip, "for
having imposed upon you. 1t seemed
to me when l entered your service that
it was the only practical way to ac-
quire the knowledge l needed We
japanese are very secretive race, and
l naturally supposed you Americans to
be the same. But three years. cruising
with you had taught me differently.
studied your books
when you were not occupying your
Sdpiu anu many a uiSut Stutleu III
from one of them I had pur-
lOined."
"You are quite excusable." replied.
I'VE all make different standards for
ourselves. Ours is not like yours. But
l should think your national secretive-
ness would be Of immense value in
war;
The very next year after this the
fight between the Japanese and the
Russians came on. and. in my opinion,
this japanese secretiveness did more
for the latter to win than any other
one cause.