The Washington times., 1911-08-08
TOGO IN MODESTY
SHUNS PUBLICITY
AND OSTENTAT|ON
Light on Hero's Private
Life Comes From
Another. /

Dogs named after the idol of Japan
| land
But The spotlight of publicity Is the
admiraPs greatest fear. No more mod
est man ever lived. And In all that Is
written concerning him we see little
ABOUT his private life
Here are some observations under
that head by one who was born in
Japan and has had many opportunities
Of knowing the manner Of Togo's daily
walk.
Occasionally when at home the adj
mlral runs down to the seaside resort
of Zushi for an outing. At these times
1t Is his delight to put on nis Oldest
! clothes and a dilapidated mushroom hat
and TO wander out through the rice
helds and along the beach, indistin-
guishable in dress from the rustics who
peacefully continue tillIng their paddy
fields while the virtual head OF the
Mikado's navy stroIls by. The farm
ers and fishermen know the little old
man with the gentle but penetrating
glance and the stubbly gray beard, but
they respect his love of the incognito
too much to force themselves upon his
attention.
Likes Japanese Robes Best.
The same simplicity of life is char
acteristic of the admiral at home. He
loves the roomy and comfortable Japa-
nese robes better than the radiant gold
epaulets and braid which he dons on
state occasions. The first rays of the
morning sun find Togo up and water
ing his large and well-kept garden.
Flower culture is the admirars hobby.
One of the pleasures of his life is the
choice each morning of the spray or
flowers or brilliant leaves that form the
only spot of color in his severe little
study.
This arrangement-bouque II could
hardly be called-consisting of but two
OF three flowers with their leaves, is as
sembled with the most careful regard
for grace of line and balance of form
and color masses. 1t is always appro-
pirate to the season-now of scarlet
n2nten berries, now of delcate-hued
iris, and now of flaming azaleas- Some
day late in the fall a perfect chrys-
anthemum will be the choice, carefully
nurtured all the year, the pride of the
titled gardeners heart.
Spends Much Time Reading.
After Il plain breakfast with his
family the admiral retires to his study,
there spending much of the day reading
the latest naval and technical literature,
or, IL he does not feel so serious IN
mood, passing pleasant hours with his
favorite nOyelists.
II is ar unpretentious little room. The
floor IS neatly covered with the reguIa-
ton cream-cnlored mats. padded. and
bound in black cloth. The light comes
in through the translucent white paper
on the latticed sliding doors, some of
which are always pushed back so that
the admiral can look up and get a
glimpse of his beloved garden and the
blue hills in the distance. On the gray
brown walls are portraits of the Eni-
peror and Empress, and autograph pho
tographs of the Duke OF ConnauGht and
Of the American Admiral Dewey.
These and the bright-colored flowers
form the only decorations.
At one side of the low table beside
which Togo sits is a pile of letters
awaiting reply. Ey the hundred every
day come letters asking for a few words
in TOGO'S own handwriting. Yes, even
in Japan the autograph collector now
makes misera bic the lives OF the great
Friends usually drop in toward even-
ing, and then work is laid aside. While
dinner is preparing Togo listens TO the
latest news from the bustling Toxic
world of politics, now and then adding
a bit of special information. or show
ing his sure knowledge of men and af-
fairs by pointed questions.
Thus the admiraHs day comes to a
close in the company of those who have
passed with him through varied expert
ences of peace and war, and have grown
dear to the old mans heart. But
younger men, too, come often, glad Of
the opportunity to learn lessons in liv-
ing, at the feet of a hero whom the peo-
pie of the Island Empire regard as one
of the best examples of their national
ideals of life and conduct.