The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-16

order, and carefully cleaning the
house, according to old time rule.
Thereafter she donned her dea1n
robe. laid mattings down opposite u
the alcoye in the guest room. placed
her husbands portrait in the aico'e'
and set offerings before 1t. "heh
everything had been arranged. she
seated herself before the portrait. took
uu her dagger. and with a single skill
full thrust divided the arteries OK ne'
throat
One of the most venerated spots IN
Japan is the tomb Of the Forty, seven
Ronins." These forty-seven followers
of Lord Asano committed hari-kiri az
the same time because their lord nao
died by his own hand This was In the
year 1903 and the address which tney
wrote before their final act - stili
preserved, and Is as follows:
Just Before They Died.
We have come this day t. co hom-
age here; forty-seven men IN an trom
Oishi down to the foot soldier. Teraska.
all cheerfuuy about to lay down our
lives on your behalf. We reverentiy
announce this to the honored ,s sp dsx OF
the third month Of last year our hon
ored master was pleased to attack
Eira, for what reason we know not.
Our honored master put an emo 70 MS
own life, but kira lived
Alt. ough We fear that after the
decree issued by the 60 '-sent this
honored MASTER. still We, VII have
eaten your food. could not withOut
biushing repeat the verse, Tnou shaA'
not live under the same heaven. nor
, tread the same earth with the enemy
of thy father or lord" nor could We
have dared to leave hades and present
ourselves before you in paradise. un'
! less we had carried out the vengeance
which you began. Every day that we
, waited seemed three autumns to US
one day, nay for two days. and have
tasted food but once. The old and
decrepit, the sick and the ailing. have
come forth gladly TO lay down their
lives. Men might laugh at US. a. al
srasshoppers trusting in the strength
honores lord: but we could not halt
in our deed of vengeance. Having
taken counsel together last night We
have escorted my lord hither to your
tomb. Thi. dirk by which our honored
lord set great store last year, and
back.
If your noble spirit be now present
! before this tomb we pray you, as
sign. TO take the dirk. and striking
4 the nea0 OF your enemy WIN ~
! ond time. TO dispel your hatred Tor.
ever This IL the respectful statement
| Of forty-scven men"
DUrSe6 % Fr00s - TO0o.
After committing hart-kaS5, tneoe
I forty-seven men were buried In front
Of the tomb Of their lord. Hearn says:
Before their graves the smoke 81
| incense. offered BY admir:ng visitors
has been ascending daily for ,oo years
There was another instance Of hsrs'
kari at the close % the JapansSe-Rus.
sian War. company 81 laps nred
upon o Russian regiment during 9
! temporary truce Russia demanded
| the punishment Of tie person respon.
sible for this. and the ofheer Of the
company was sentenced 70 death. but
being a wember Of the samuras clasS
, was pcrmnseH TO commit bari-xar1. TH<
| representatives. Of the foreign p0Wers
were invited 60 be present ana witness
I the act.
On arriving az the hose Of the on.
Ger they were usherod into a room.
where seats had been placed around Q
platform erected at the end. Soon
the condemned man entered. clad In
q white kinons- and sscended the
platform. After Offering Sbtnto
prayer he Arose an1 addresses the
assembla0. fTe said thss he alone
had given the order 70 firs esa wss
now prepared 20 exyefr1aee ne Ame
with bic Me. He ebso IoS4 osSoe -