The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-03
Old World Gossip
ny LA MAnqUIsE DE FoNTENoY.
n CUNT OkUMA. the ne-lcSgcd
new Premier Of Japan. is not

only very old man, but If
| also president OF very remarkable
| society. known rs the Iyakunun- kai.
that is, the Society Of CentenariRns, to
which persons of eighty years and over
alone arc eligible. Count Okuma con-
tends that man should be able to
live, under proper conditions, for at
least 'l25 years. and has announced his
determination to survive TO that age.
The society has about 800 members,
the majority OF them residents in
| Tokyo. though the eldest OF them Il
woman named Mani Shimuka aged IL.
invariably travels all the way from
famaguchi Prefecture to the capital
| TO attend the trinonthly meetings.
| These arc usually held at Count
Okuma's metropolitan residence, and
the conversation on these occasions
turns largely on problems of diet. on
| the most ci,icacious means OF warding
| OF the inirmities OF age. the cyesiphr.
the hearing, and last. but not least,
! the necessity of teeth not only for
purposes Of mastication. but likewise
for distinct enumeration.
Ihcre Is general Impression that
in Japan. where both boys and girls
mature 80 early, mothers of fourteen
being the rule rather than the cxccp-
ton, the people age prcmaturely. from
:, western point OF view. and that they
are quite old by the time they reach
forty Count OkuIaa's Society of Oc-
togenarians and centenarians, and it's
membership of 500. seems TO disprovc
this idea. and to demonstrate that both
men ana women are Just rs apt to at
tain the years of the Psalmist AS
Americans and Europeans
y remarkable feature of this society
is the wonderful mental and physical
vigor of those belonging thereto. Many
OF them dispense with spectaclcs
Most of them come on foot TO the
meetings at Count Okuma's house, of
ten from a considerable distance. The
only point In which they seem weak
| appears to be in their hearing. and 1t
is noticeable that when any address
is being delivered. there is a pretty
general raising o. the hands TO the
ears. Count Okumas hearing, how
ever. is perfect. and he is amazingly
energetic and active. in spite of the
loss OF his leg.
1t is n wonder that the count sur
vivcd the injury. for his leg was blown
of by means of n revolutionary bomb.
hurled into his carriage one day when
nc was driving away from the Dc
partment of Forein Onairs, in 1889.
1t is difficult to realize that he was
already Minister of Finance of Japan
in 1869. holding that Office for the fol-
lowing twelve years, during which
time he sent General Williams, of New
York. to negotiate the first foreign loan
OF Japan in the United States. When
he took office in 1869 the country was
in q stIte of chaos. owing to the civil
war which had Just come TO an end.
The administration to which he be-
longed was called upon TO meet not
only the cost Of the war. but also
that OF the construction of an entirely
new system OF government. built upon
the ruins of that which had gone be-
fore. tho foundation of schools. col
legcs and universities. OF the organizn-
tion ana armament OF Il brand-new
army and navy. and also to take over
the debts and obligations incurred by
the Shogunate and by the Daimios, or
feudal rulers of almost autonomous
provinces That Count Okuma should
have found means to face all these eX-
pensea. and to devise and create the
necessary resources, speaks volumes
for his positive genius in the matter of
financial stat esmanship.
Count Okuina Is very tall, much
taller than the majority of his coun-
trymen. has Il large, clean-shaven face.
and high forehead, the expression of
his face being unusually set and deter
mined, thus presenting a striking con-
trast to the ordinarily so mobile fca-
lures of the Japanese. lie has a we'll
merited reputation for great tenacity OF
purpose, cntertains n very keen sense
of national pride ana of what is due
by foreign powers to the dignity of
the Empire OF the Rising Sun, and is
to-day the only survivor of that band
OF so-called Elder Statesmen, to whom
modern Japan may be said 10 owe her
existence.
Captain the Hon. Louis CHI atwynd, of
the royal navy. who has just died in
London, where lie held the Office OF
superintendent OF compasses at the
admiralty. was younger brother OF
Lord Chetw!nd, in the line OF success
sion to the latter's viscourty. and
leaves an American widow, with two
half-American boys and the same mum
Der of daughters Mrs. Chetwynd was
Miss Augusta Beverley Robinson, OF
New York
The Chetwynd family is one Of the
Oldest in England. and extends back in
mn unbrokcn line to Adam de Chef
wynd. Lord OF Chetwynd. who figures
in the history OF tho twelfth century.
The Hiscounty is cGout 200 years old.
There Is also n baronetcy in the fam
ily. crcpted about Inn yeoro ouo a.,