The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-20
Gate OF the Sengakuji Temple. Toxic.

Vengeance and self-imnoiatfon!
the records ring with examples of
them Through the japanese drama
and art and literature OF a thousand
years they hold The central place OF
honor. The ~ Ronins' was perhaps
the first story shown in the japanese
movies 1t seems in one phase or
another on every moving picture pro-
gramme.
And so Of the growing cult OF NoE.
From the beg inning the Government
has quietly favored II. My first oh
servation was at the Military Museum
near the kudan temple in Toxic.
There amid the historic cannon, the
ancient and modern guns, the old
mu2zle loading muskets and the
modern rifles. the glitterlng displays
OF superb samurai swords. there are
large rooms devoted 10 the relics of
The General. most conspicuous being
the Generals uniform and the robe
his wife wore when they took them
selves out OF the world so hloodily. In
the front OF the glass case containing
them are the blades OF the knives they
usod-for him a long lean blade about
u inches longer than the usual
harakiri knife, for hcr a narrow
slightly curved blade about nine iAchcs
long. Above these grim relics hang
his portrait and hers in black and
white. obviously enlarged photographs
"a lean. gr!zz.ed soldier face and the
face. somewhat careworn. Of a mother.
In these cases around are his medals
from all hts wars and his orders of
knishthood from the Emperor and
other crowned heads, with many
swords and some ancient arms and
armor, family heirlooms, most of them
bearing in some way the insignia OF
the family or the Choshu CLAN. The
rooms were thronged by visitors
hushed with awe.
1t was Of a gray forenoon Of early
May that ! went to the late home OF
Gen. NoC! on the crest OF Akasaka-
/ Mounting n steep street. TIL lateiy
known as Ghost Hill. but now renamed
Nogcsaka, or Nogi H.ll, W. turned to
the right and a few rods down came
upon the little two story house stand
ing back from the outer fence only
far enough to make room for a Japa-
aese pine tree, with slightly curved
I u hllh, WIKI a lllt ulll'I'Ilh N'pIti
LEAKAGE.
People. pilgrims In groups. visitors
In twos and threes We're entering or
leaving, and it is so every day. they
told me. 4 naive method Of exhibit
ing the rooms has been devised, namely
II platform raised about two feet run
ming along the side of the house The
window shades are raised, leaving the
whole interior In full view.
We pass along with the rest. hats
In hand. First we see the modest re-
ception parlor and note that the house
has electric light. \ large print OF
the bombardment OF Port Arthur
hangs on the wall. The dining room
opens out beyond the parlor, showing
n table with rounded corners about
which eight people might be seated
The room furthcst from the front
an eight mat room-was the scene OF
the double suicide.
1t was quite clear OF furniture. A
notice indicating a place on one OF the
mats showing a faint brownish stain
says; BLOOD stain of the last mo-
mcnt.' Here the plainly clad visitors
We're fain 10 halt, staring In with sub
dued excitement, whispering. pointing
until an official waved them tc
pass on,
As we pass on slowly with them 'h'
thought comes OF that weird e%veninl
and what the thoughts of the self
doomed couple had been. He was 81
his wife a shade younger. They wer'
very much alone in the world, thei'
children gone, their Emperor gone
their minds weakened by much brood
ing. Blu In the doing there was 81
much method, such a timing OF tn
event, thai one is forced to think tina
his last thought was that II was no
so hard to barter a few dun years 70
a leap into the dark that would opel
upon a high immortality,
>, Out in the garden on one side Of tn
/ house a miniature shrine temple ma