The daily Alaskan., 1912-10-22
THE FOX WOMAN Story of a Japanese
 Superstition
By cLARIssA NlAcKIE

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 The tragic death Of General Nogi and his wife In Japan by suicide recalls to me what | experienced during my long residence in that country-that is, the peculiar supersttlons of the Japanese, But while there are a marvellous stole Ism, heroism, belief in the connection of this life and "that boum from which no traveller rcturns"-call lt what you will In the case Of General and Mime. NoUi-the superstition among the lower classes is as absurd as any other blgotry the world has ever seen.
 It may be a misuse of the word to call General Nogi's suicide a supersu- ton It was rather obedience Co a tra- dlton, though perhaps it was both. ! was In Japan during the Russo-Japa ncsc war and saw a good deal of that stole superstition that made the little men the vlctors over their ponderous enemy. That, toe, was f07 removed from the following absurd case. which happened in my own family during my residence in Japan.
 It happened In Tokyo, and l would never have believed 1t 1T I had not witnessed it myself
 OUouu. my Japanese servant came scudIiug into my room just at twilight one day. The shojl, or sliding panels. were pushed aside, and I hod been sit ting there watching the glory Of the moon rising above my miniature gar den.
 "Oh, mastcrT cried the man, falling on his face before me.
 "What Is Che matter, O-UonuF ] demanded quickly, for this servant was ordinarily quiet, self contained fellow, not cfycu Co excitement of any sort
 "What is Che mattorE" ! repeated.
 "I have seen her, master" he walled
 "Segn whomF
 "Tle fox woman" hc cried, shuidcr ing.
 "Tne fox w0man2 Who Is she, pr1yt Does she deal iu foXcsE" ! was clearly puzzled. for at that time ] had not studied Japanese Superstitions.
 Aye. ! have seen her Woe is upon me and my housc-" mourucd Che thor ouEHry aTrIghtcd maD.
 "Tcu me about it O-Honu; then per hans can help you" ! insisted.
 There Is no help for one who has eazod upon Che face of the fox woman,' 20 be Er0aucd. Woe is upon me and my house"
 took him by the shoulder and ad. mfnfstcrod a good American shake
 "Now, O-Honu, stop this bawling and tcI me what is the matter with you" I shouted
 The gentle hammered O.Uonu flew Co his feet and stared gt me in the twi light
 "Uou0rabIe master" he said broken Iv. "I have said the truth to you. l have gzed upon the face of Che fox woman. and disaster Is upon me"
 "IC you mean that you've gone crazy ! think you're right" ! said sternly "Now tcU me who is this fox woman '
 "Shc is an evil spirit master" mur- murcd OUonu. with a frightened glance toward the open window and the moouHt garden beyond,
 said nothing for a moment ] knew that belief in spirit life was too deeply iugr0incd in the nation for me to scoT at his fear or endcavor to allay his fears
 "TcII me an about it O-Uouu," Q" l s1id. and for the moment be ceased his trembling and ohcyed
 "I was passing through the cedar grove beyond the temple, master, and ! was hustenIng. for it bas been said that the fox woman has been seen tnprcanouts. when | was conscious that ] was not alone In the grove.
 "SomotbluC ran beside me and breath. ed as It ran thought it was a dog or a fox. and looked down, but ! saw nothing
 oI looked to either side of me, In front and behind me. but there was nothing Co be seen save the cedar trees, but an tho time heard the quick, hurried breathing and knew that some thing was near me.
 "As came into the moonlight | turn cd once more and looked. and, master It was sher' Again my servant fell to trembling like a Ieat
 "Tbe Fox womauT' [ asked
 "Ycs. master"
 "Whgt Is she IikeE"
 He shuddered and placed his hands before his eyes. "She has the form of woman. but her face-ah,"
 You are sure that you haven't made some mistakeE Perhaps it was some woman servant who thought Co fright en you"
 He shook his head. "I would that it were SO" be said sadly. But lt was the fox woman-nonc other"
 "You have seen her beforeT' | asked
 "NO. master"
 what can be done-anythinc to ward or the evil of her prcsenceT' ] asked, more Co soothe him into Quictude than of any belief had in the 0pnNrition TTa shook his hp7d hOnpIpSsIv