The sun., 1915-10-17

but tne man III tHe CarTiHHe Wdo
not really Arihira. Tie was Otomo-
no-kuronushi. the other passionate
adorer OF komachi. lying In wait to
take Arihira's life" Arihira was hid
den In a pine tree by the wall.
The faction" of the play begins. and
proceeds with startling swiftness; al
formation of unstressed scenes with
those of violent conflict marks the
progress Of these dramas. KurOnushi
thinks II liz Komachi that Is In his
power. and means to kidnap her. when
the double error is revealed to him.
In a surprisingly casual way he stabs
U-noha: "tIc determined that he
would sacrifice the life of the poor
girl, and lay the crime Of murder upon
his rival" U-noha's father. finding
Arihira, who had run to the girl end
called for help, In 80 compromising
n situation. was about to kill him. but
finally gave him three days grace.
saying "that II the real offender did
not appear within the stipulated period
he would take Arihira's life
Drought had fallen upon the land.
the country faced a famine. and the
Emperor ordered a conversation OF
poets "to offer verses to the god or
rain" In those days people believed
that a preeminently excellent poem
could move heaven and earth, the gods
and evil spirits. Komachi's poem finally
prcvailed:
All present were downcast with regret
and disappoint mcnt and had almost given
up hope when Lady Komachi walked
gracefully forward and offered her poem
with modest words. The Poet Laureate
had scarcely finished reading It aloud when
black clouds suddenly covered the sky and
rain poured in torrents. revivins all the
withered vegetation.
But meanwhile the competition OF
the poets had produced an incident OF
more than sentimental Importance in
the play. kuronushi was the first to
offer a poem. The judge read 1t aloud.
with great respect" but 1T was a
commonplace composition. both In
words and sentiments" Kuronushi
was boastful: Have YOU ordered your
servants to bring some protection
against the rain. friends?" While the
friends looked at one another with
bitter Smiles" the retainer OF Arihira
suddenly walked up to Kuronushi, and
all were astonished to hear him say
hrusouelv. .Excuse mo sir hut are
yo,, n,,its sure that that poem is YOUR
own composition? I fancy Il is an
ancient one, isn't II. sir?" Kuronushi
registers righteous wrath: the as
se-mblage is silenced in amazement.
Arihira's man caps the climax by de-
nouncing the offended poet as the
murderer Of U-noha.
The Prime Minister. presiding. asks
mildly for s,,bstantiation. The faithful
servitor rcplies.
,,
u pu ,,'. r.,,.n.,. 49,,
,,,nx ~. h.y. ,,d,snut.h,. evidence
:. .. when we examined the unfor,u.
nate maiden's garments We found among
them a poem written on piece OF besu,i-
ful paper which was evidently prepared
for to-day's meeting. have II mere your
Exceilency
we eone'uueu 'na' .he "r".' VI ."''
posm - -, "a s,,,, -, 49,. r,"a,,n. Ths
~, ~, "a xuroru.h, which was read
,u., now was exactly the same as the one
We found In U.noha's clothes, and l have
therefore Judged him to be the culpri' I
hope that your EScellency VIII agree with
the ru'h Oh my judgment
kuronushi lost his rank and title. MS
| estate and property were confiscated.
his retainers We're banished: but the
criminals proper Tunishment was de-
| f,rred. his present punishment being
| only a preliminary step After that
what can possibly he said except that
Lord Kuronushi certainly got what
was coming to him?