The Washington herald., 1911-07-23
CoPYRIoHr ~ JAxss sLVsRsoy

JL accorded 70 foreign nstions the privi
/" Iege of sending, at their own az
pense, youths to the naval school 1t
- Annapolis TO learn the arts Of war
The Japanese were among those who
most willingly availed themselves Of the privi
lege, and when was at the Naval Academy
there were twQ Japanese there, both Of whom
are now prominent in their home navy. They
are Admiral Matzmulia and Captain Kafs
About two yean after my arrival, Prince
Azuma, q brother of the Mikado. came t.
the academy. He was then a lad Of sixtesn.
the only instance in which q cadet had been
allowed an attendant, and special permission
bad to be obtained from Washington. Mats--
muila was clasmate of mine, and Katx had
They still haze the newcomers to the Naval
Academy, but in my time the practice wns
earned on TO an even greater extent than 4
Is now. The third classmen were very 1T
consent, the japanese were never intafered
with, nor were other foreigner. They were
therefore spared the ignominy Of dangling N
baskets from the outside Of Window. rocst-
ing in trees, grinding imaginary hand-orEana,
and other tasks. from which no Americas
None Of us would. however, have cared T.
bashful sS 9a
He. could never have. passed the physicsl
examination necessary If he had been al
American. His condition, therefore, appealed
(. We had sort Of reverence for him, too. =
In those days the saGedneas Of the Mikado'a
person was more generally believed, and w
fered with, our government would mete severe
punishment on the offenders.
Katz was very different sort of feIlowl
Most Japanese are small in stature. but h$
had escaped haxing, but he never sppreciated
his immunity, and ! believe he would hayd
rather come in for his share. He was a jollyj
rollicking fellow, who could enjoy joke q
IN all the pleasures Of school-Eis. ineindin2
those forbidden as well as those permitted \,
Katz had become thoroughly imbued viii
American ideas. and told M that he intRdsd
cl.as sbgye the. prince, which, sccording 9
the traditions OF the academy, had night q
worry the class IN which the prince was.
We laughed ut him, but never imagined tha&
he would be 90 rash az to carry out ~
Not two week. after the arrival of Prino1
Azuma his valet rushed frantically into th4
quarters Of the officer Of the day, With horrp7
clared to the officer Of the Gay, who was q
horri6ed az the valet, that my Lord Kat&
was taking the most unseemly liberties will
the person Of his august master, the Prine4
The officer, alarmed. hastened toward
Azuma's rooms. This is what be heard a. he
drew near: 3
Il YIN have you ordered home. and thei
"Oh, thqnderl What's the matter Will
you? This isn't Japan, and If you don't
kick higher and keep up that whistling / wiz
singe your hair for you"
just then the officer rushed in, and ssw
Azuma, in his nightrobe. executing some
very high steps, with puckered lips. Kat3
with a candle In his hand, was encouraginj
him to greater efforts.
The officer Of the day, Of course, stopped
the third classman's amusement at once1
Katx was sent to the guard house. Withouf
demur he bore the punishment which wa8
meted to him q /. hazer, but he indignantly
class distinctions in free country.
Katz's head was not chopped Of. The
prince fcrgave him, and he afterward becanS
o captain in the japanese navy.