New-York tribune., 1912-02-04
ALegend That Tells OF a Son and
! His Mother Whose Love Sur.
{ Vived a Terrible Trial.
nND NAMED A MOUNTAIN
Told Within Sight Of obasute-
yama by a Descendant of the
Samurai Humbled by
Misfortune.
by Leon Mead.

During recent trip on horseback
through the interior OF Japan the Ameri-
can Journalist, John Reeves, found himself
late one afternoon in the small settlement
of Tosando, in the province Of Shinano.
In the very heart of the main island, it is
q dreary isolated place, and though for
slgn built trains now rush through this
dismally peaceful valley, few prowlinG,
loud mouthed tourists stop here to pro-
fame its sacred temples.
Tired and hungry after long ride
Reeves's chief concern was 10 procure
some refreshment and a nights lodging
The village is little more than strag-
Cling row Of straw thatched huts and
nowhere in sight was anything resem'
bling an inn. An old man, with face
like a dried persimmon, gave the visitor
the desired information in surprisingly
fluent and idiomatic English. lie said the
only good hosiery in the neighborhood
had burned down the week before, but
that if the stranger cared to honor ms
humble abode with his presence futan
(bed) and something to eat should be fur
nished him. AS for the horse, friend or
his would take care OF It
The bamboo dwelling OF This Japanese
peasant was not the worst one in that
drowsy little hamlet; neither was IT the
best one. lie made shift to give Reeves
bowl of cold rice, some cured fish, cup
of delicious tea and pointed TO rude
bunk in the corner where sleep might be
wooed SO the visitor felt little disposed
TO grumble because the hospitality was
not on more sumptuous scale To be
without food, drink and shelter for three
long days and nights-and TO have ones
horse fare no better-teaches man to be
grateful for the toughest kind Of creature
comforts At least. such was Reeves's eX-
perience. An abundant supply of tobacco
in various forms he had found wretched
substitute for the actual needs of the
stomach,
After supper the host and guest re-
paired TO the garden, for in Japan, no
matter how poor tine house, there is al
ways q more less beautiful little garden
before it. Reeves tried TO induce the old
chap 10 talk of the time when he was a
boy, which must have been during one of
the most interesting periods of Japanese
history, but he hedged and hesitated'
When the Journalist gave him very good
Yankee cigar however. his face bright
ened and at the same time he rubbed his
hand several times over his forehead as
though to polish up his rusty memory.
LEGEND OF O2ASUTEYAMA.
MY life has not bcoa Of enough impor-
tapce to talk about" said he, but II you
really want to hear something about us
mountaineers will tell YOU a little story
that has been handed down from genera
tion TO generation a"j that few half
grown children in tneae parts have not
heard. You see tust mountain over
against the western sk=. standing out like
a Titanic sentinel on guard? Well, its
name is Obasuteyama-oba mother. suite,
20 leave, and yama mOuntai1-and how
St received that name yo1 viii understand
after hearing the legend.
Excuse me-" Reeves interrupted but
how is il that you know English SO well?'