The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-01-05

person that my Junior officers reduced
1t 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 be
had done the work but twice before
he gave me the best shave ever had
There was one thing about Zip that
l didn't Ikea propensity to occupy
my cabin. When l went out of 1t 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 1t re-
quired all the morning. Whenever I
had occasion to 60 there the little Jap
was busy as bee buzzing from one
thing to another so rapidly and SO deft-
~ that wondered how he managed to
keep busy for 80 long time. True.
one day after having returned several
times during the morning l found him
looking over a book. Curious to know
what he was reading. | glanced at 1t
and found 1t to be a novel.
Don't waste your time with that
sort of reading. Zip" | said. "Go to
the galley and ask for 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 q 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 / came upon
him unawares he slipped the book he
was reading under one that had been
beneath it. 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. l Of
fered him higher wages. but he said
that 1t was not the wages he wanted.
but q sojourn on shore. He thanked
me for my kindness to him. especially
for suggesting that he study cookery.
His intention was to apply for a p0-
sition as cook to some wealthy Japa-
nese.
One day while in port received an
invitation to dine with an officer Of the
government he was in the marine
department and very important
branch at the time. for the japanese
were then preparing. though | did not
know it. to fight the Russians. &C.
cepted the invitation and found when
] 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 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 said to him. you've
not lost much time in securing stu
alton. see.'
Zip smiled and set down the platter;
but. instead of retiring. he threw of
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 q great deal Of valuable informa-
ton on the subject. which he Is now
ready to offer to the shades Of his an
cestors."
"Pardon me. captain" said Zip. for
having imposed upon you. 1t seemed
to me when | entered your service that
it was the only practical way to ac-
uuire the knowledge l needed. We
Japanese are a very secretive race. and
I naturally supposed you Americans to
be the same But three years cruising
with you had taught me differently. I
surreptitiously studied your books
when you were not occupying your
cabin and many a night studied till
morning from one of them l had pur-
Joined"
You are quite excusable." replied
1--WE all make different standards for
ourselves. Ours is not like yours. But
I 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.