Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-04-15

food. Thou art from Kobe thou say
est. 1t is not often that one comes to
us from the outer places. Sit and
talk"
Thanks, hospitable burner Of
charcoal" the other accepted. He
squatted down and produced his to-
bacco and papers. He began rolling
several cigarettes.
Shikoku passed on to the hut and
presently emerged, having washed his
hands and face. The stranger offered
him cigarette. He took it and light
ed it at the furnace. The two squat
ted down.
"Tell me-" urged Shikoku, "what
is this war-talk of which have
heard family of late? Thou has been
in the cities and shouldst have heard
more.
at is war with the American ma
ton" informed the other. "Our pco-
pie do not like these whites. We do
not like their discrimination against
our people. We demand that they
treat us as equals. 1t is question Of
honor among us. If needs be we shall
fight"
"Aiw cried Shikoku; chat is fool
ish. For what should we fight And
this talk Of discrimination If our
people like not the laws of the white
man let them stay in Nippon. 1t is
the restless ones who leave Nippon
who would plunge her into war"
"We want also the Philippine is
lands," the stranger resumed, speak
ing. "If Nippon is to grow she must
have ROOM"
Shikoku nodded sagely. "I have
head them mentioned" he said slow
ly. "But why do we want them now?
Did we want them before the Ameri-
cans took them? Were they not there
then-the same as now? 1t is not the
people of Nippon who want war, be-
lieve me. 1t is the rich men who have
money, who barter and sell to get
more money. My father and my faith
er's father lived on the mountain for
years and burned the charcoal as
have l.
"Did we want war? No! 1t is he
who buys our charcoal for a small
price and sells it for a greater who
would profit. War means but added
hardship for the common people-the
loss of our sons to feed the red mouth
of dragon, the wasting of our crops,
the grieving of our women, and after
that greater tax laid on our earn
ings to pay for it all. There is but
one war which the people of Nippon
would favor. If some other nation
should threaten, then they would rise
and strike back for Nippon-rise and
strike and cry 'Banzai! and perish
that Nippon might live. To war for
ones country is mans duty. To
war to put more gold into the pockets
of already rich men is the trick of a
fool"
"Thou art philosopher, worthy
Shikoku," said the stranger. "But il
these whites will not treat us as
equals shall we lie down like chidden
dogs?"
aThe ways Of the East are the
East's ways and the ways of the
West the Vests. They are different
ways" said Shikoku. "Let the sons
Of the East stay where the gods have
put them. A grain of rice in the
mouth is good. In the windpipe it is
a different thing, and can do HARM"
"Thou sayest true" rejoined the
stranger and lit another cigarette.
The little Shima lifted the pot from
the furnace and poured it's contents
into bowl. This she carried to her
father and placed on small, flat
stone. Going again to the hut, she
returned with three small bowls. Shi-
koku rendered one to his guest and
took one himself. He waved his hand
in invitation to the steaming mix
ture.
The stranger dipped his small bowl
into the greater and sank back. Shi-
koku helped himself next. Across
from them, Shima filled her own Twi
light had fallen with the sun behind
the mountain, and the flame from the
uncovered furnace lit up the little
glade. For time they ate in si-
lence, which the charcoal burner
broke. Tell me-" he questioned,
twill there be war;"
at is undecided" said the stran-
ger. nippon will not forever stand
for the whites treatment of her peo-
pie. Even now the Secretary Of
Sta.o of the Americans is on mis-
sion to the government of Tokyo. /
do not think that our government
wants war.
"The trouble will be settled by the
government if nothing happens to
make trouble before It is settled.
Americas government is not un-
friendly to US. 1t is only the people
in sections who have done the things
to which we object. But there are
those among us who want to see trou-
BILE. They will try to make it."
at is those who have to gain by
it," declared Shikoku. at is not the
people of Nippon. 1t would be po-
litical war-not one of the people.
beseech the gods that it will not
come. l myself am a man of peace,
content to burn my charcoal and see
my daughter married and go to the
gods when my time shall come.
"When we fought with Russia /
saw what war meant. Nippon will be
long in regaining her loss even
T. ough she won some miles Of land.
Still, the tax-gatherer levies a war
tax on my earnings. Our mothers
still grieve for the sons who came not
home. The whites say that we grieve
not because we do not weep. They
are wrong. Our children are our chill
dren, the same IS theirs. ! have had