The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-04-23
DEF|ED THE MIkADO
BY JANE CRAWFORD.

My aunt's predictions as to my fate
were dire and dreadful, If continued
longer to defy the traditions of my
family. My prediction for girl
bachelorhood was thorn in the
flesh of my worthy relative, who de-
clared she didn't know where | got
IT, She mentioned it as disease
/ that had stolen upon me in spite OF
her watchful care. Again and again
she recited the matrimonial achieve
ments OF my family, My mother was
bride at seventeen. My two sisters
were debutants and brides simulta-
neously. She herself was twice re-
lict, while at twenty-eight | still
roamed the earth under the name to
which ! was born. reminded her OF
my engagement to John. which al
ways served to divert her wrath to-
wards that most devoted and consid-
crate of lovers. She had no personal
objections to John; on the contrary,
she. in common with other designing
mothers and aunts, realized that he
was most eligible parti, but court
ship of three years standing! Well, it
was not so in her day. A more i'm.
patient wooing was far more fiatter-
ing than such patient waiting. 1t was
bad enough for man to be i'm
mersed in mu.ty books studying the
manners and c1s,oms of the heather
Japanese, but to made those manners
and customs the sole subject of con-
versation with his fiance, that was
loo much
She admitted the Japanese were an
interesting people, and John talked
well, but she threatened to assert her
authority as my legal guardian and
break off the match. laughed and
so did John. knowing that she
couldn't and wouldn't We demanded
why we should rush out upon trou-
| bed sea when we were both enjoying
the calm of the harbor? Why slip
the ropes from the present pleasant
moorlngs?
Which fippancy she received in
disdainful silence.
My perversity finally got upon her
|
| threatening to go into a decline, but
our good doctor persuaded her that
a long sea voyage would restore
her poise and, wonder OF wonders,
| she selected the Oriental route. with
Japan as the objective point, and one
beautiful spring morning we landed
| In the kingdom of the Mikado, that
land of sunshine and flowers, and con-
trary customs where the little brown
people laugh when they should weep
and make merry when they mourn.
met Carolyn Warrington one morn
ing strolling through the shops in
Tokyo, and after the first greetings
were over she demanded: Aren't
you married YETI"
Not yet" I responded.
Take care" she cautioned, "the
| laws are strict here regarding old
maids" at which we both laughed
and after promising to see each other
soon and often we parted,
Married yet! An old maid. in
| deed" I'm year younger than she.
But her recurring words were like
the pricking of pin. wondered
what she meant by that law. Some Of
her nonsense, of course. She was al
ways joker, and then | forgot all
about it in the bewildering display of
silks and curios, but when | returned
to our hotel | found my aunt in
state bordering on hysteria. The
who looked like toy in the conven-
tional black that Americans wear
only after six o'clock in the after.
noon. He was bowling and salaam.ng
and endeavoring to force upon her
rot Of parchment, which he said was
letter, 1t was written by the yard,
and looked like the laundry cheek for
the entire kingdom.
Il am the Imperial Go-Between,"
he explained, turning to me.
| looked properly impressed. yes?
Go-Between WHAT"
Read the letter; it will explain"
But can't read Japanese; Pm
sorry"
"Ah then will translate" and in
beautiful, correct English he read
most interesting epistle. 1t said that
in this charming country of his the
affairs of the heart were managed by
third disinterested party, called
Nakodo. or Go-Between. That when 4
lady refused the husband selected for
her by her relatives the Emperor
himself took hand and chose a hus.
band for her ] was long past the age
when the women of Japan marry:
quite an old maid, in fact WINGED,
but smiled and blushed when he con
tinued that | was too rich, and far
too beautiful to live longer without a
husband. He said other nice things,
which | am too modest to repeat In
short, the Emperor, mindful Of my
many fine points had selected for my
husband Lis own elder brother and
was commanded to come at once to
the Imperial Palace to be united In
marriage to this worthy gentleman.
| laughed heartily. What absurd
nonsense! I'm not japanese"
1T doesn't seem at all funny to
me-" remarked my aunt grimly 81
knew some ridiculous thing would
happen to you. I've always told you
So" and she seemed somewhat con.
soled at the fulfillment of one of her
many dire prophecies.
Don't be foolish. Auntie. It's a
Joke. | met Carolyn Warrington this
morning and she has lived here for
Nua yaaro JJnr b,,abanI A.. -