The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-26
SCENTED STEEL LOST
TRICK OF JAPANESE
london Amateur Collector. on
Visit Here. Tells Of Art
300 Years Old.
TRTE SPHERES HAND MADE
Says One Old Sword Maker
Forged Weapons That
Sought Blood.

steel made more than eight hundred
years ago with sweet odor put in so
that the metal still retains the scent
that is one OF the secrets OF an old
Japanese sword maker described by Reg
ina,d +. st Fere vaile of London. who IL
now a guest at tho Yale Club. Mr.. Vale
10 an amateur collector and his enthu-
siasm for the beauty Of old Japanese art
has carried him far back into the cen
turtles
Mr.. Vale actually owned sword of
scented steel one time, but It was stolen
from the office of his lawyer several years
ago lie regards this loss the greatest
a collector could face and feels sure that
he will never get that sword back again.
"The perfume was delicate and pleas
ing" lie said. at is not the only sword
Of the kind in the world the royal col
lection at Vienna has one, and there are
two or three more which have retained
their fragrance for all these hundreds of
years.
"1he scent is actually a part Of the
steel The sword was encased In wood
sheath. which gave forth no odor the
handle OF the sword WAS OF wood. which
was easily removed and which gave no
edor. The makers names. father and son.
were on the steel of the ha ndlc.
"Thc sword was of no particular use.
but I suppose II was made for the COL
isctcrB Of those days.
Surprise for Experts.
II entertained a group OF Sheffield steel
men at my home several years ago and
lust as a surprise for them I had the
sword on the table. They were boast
ing about what great steel makers they
were, and then asked them to smell the
, sword. They were the most surprised men
YOU ever saw.
"'Steel makers said. There is some
real art in making steel let us see you
equal that They could not OF course"
Mr.. Vale said that there are hundreds
of mechanical tricks of the Japanese
artisans Of hundreds OF years ago which
i have been lost. These men have made
many articles which cannot be duplicated
with moders machinery.
II have in my home a crystal ball six
inches in diameter" he said. 1T is as
round as a billiard ball it will stand any
,est for roundness. That was made by
hand several hundred years ago. IL would
be difficult to make now with machinery.
II II is possible but think OF the years
of toll and the special ability required
for a man to rub q block OF crystal into "a
perfect sphere.
Another wonderful piece which
possess IL Japanese ink block. The
Japanese write with brush and they use
q block with small space for mixing
the ink in. The ink then runs along
little runway toward the writer. gather
ing in a pool in one corner Of the block.
My block is eight inches by eight inches
and Is four inches thick. II Is made out
Of a solid block Of amethyst. They can't
do that now
Mr.. Vale said that old Japanese princes
kept hordes Of men AT work. paying them
fairly well. These men had food and lodg-
.ngs assured for the rest of their lives,
and they didn't have TO hurry with their
work
He told OF one cabinet started by ono
man for the prince who employed him
hut who failed TO finish It He died and
the prince died. The son Of the artisan
took up the work. expecting to finish IL
for the son OF the former prince. They
both died. and the cabinet was finally
finished by the grandson Of the original
cabinet maker and presented 10 the grand
son of the original prince.
There was one swordmaker VINO had
the trick OF making asdagger with very
hard steel point, which gradually grew
softer toward the handle. He did this by
taking a dagger blade of uniform hard
ness. packing it In clay which was thicker
toward the handle. In this way when he
heated the pack the heat was graded,
heing strong at the point and soft near
the handle.
The secret lay N the temperature OF
the water he put II in after heating II.
No one could discover how hot the water
was or how long he kept the mass in the
water.
He had several Young men working FOR
him and one of these men, a trickster.
was anxious 10 learn the secret. The old
man prepared his bath in a private tent.
One day he was coming out Of the tent
with newly finished sword under his
arm when the young man darted past him
and stuck his hand in the water.
Sword Faster Than Nerves
The old man wheeled and struck out
with his sword. He cut so quickly that
he severed the young mans arm off be-
fore the young mans nerves could con-
vey any idea Of the temperature Of the
water TO his brain. OR so they say"
One Of the old swordmakers had the
peculiar knack OF making swords which
81 Themselves, continually searched for
trouble Blood drinkers these swords
were named. There was one OF them in the
Bowes collection. which was sold In Eng.
land seven or eight years ago.
zone Of my friends bought this sword "
said Mr.. Vale. HE was explaining It's
peculiar nature to some Of us. One OF the
men laughed at the superstition. Just ms
sword slipped out Of Its sheath. the handle
struck the floor and the point fell agains,
his leg He was severely cut. l saw this
and while I myself don't attach any
supernatural power to the sword, tina,
series Of facts keeps mo from Laughing