Evening journal., 1918-07-30
By BURTON KNIsELY.
Copyright, 1918. by Newspaper Enter
prise Associatlon1

By BURTON KNISELY.
Copyright 1918, by Newspaper Enter
prise Associatlon)
TOKYO, July 23.-0n a summer even
ing in the middle Of the last century a
boy OF thirteen came into the house
from the indigo vats on his fathers
farm near Chisraijima, a village 45
miles from Tokyo, then called YedO.
He cleansed his body in a steaming
hot bath. He secured at his hands,
roughened by work In the fields and
then stained with the indigo which was
the chief support OF this simple peas
ant farmers family.
He ate some rice and fish, and drank
his tea. He took his daily lesson In
the Chinese classics from a scholar WHO
lived nearby. Then, while this learn
ed man sat chatting with his father the
boy shirked his lesson to read the
most interesting book he had ever got
hold of-a rather crude story OF the
opium War.
c'he book told OF Britain's armed de-
feat OF a Chinese governors rash at
tempt 10 stop the importation OF opium,
snd Of the British seizure OF Hong Kong.
While the boy. with his heart in
famed, was plcturing himself the hero
in an imaginary valiant defense OF his
Japan against such treatment as the
book said China suffered from England
there was a commotiOn at the door. A
messenger burst in. He told Of the ar
rival OF the Black Ships In Nedo bay.
In those delirious birthpangs OF Mod
ern Japan in the Perry era was born
also the manhood OF that boy, Baron
Elichi Shibusawa. the Grand Old Man
OF japan. who at 7s Is stlll the EN-
plre's leading citizen, who has no coun-
terpart in any other nation, ana whose
place will never be filled.
In the span Of his life he has seen
tho entire development OF the New
japan. He has caused most OF that de-
velopment. He has started almost every
important enterprise. commercial or
civic. He Is the father Of banks and
railroads. OF stores and factories, mines
and steamship lines. He has begotten
hundreds OF undertakings. and has been
director in more than 60 OF the lead
ing projects at one time.
His superior as a public private citl-
zen does not exist in the world To-Day.
And l would not know where TO matcn
him.
Awakened by Perrys arrival just al
a time when the East was learning how
ruthless the west could be, and nurtured
thus in enmity and in apprehension OF
similar exploitation OF his own coun-
trv. he has nevertheless given his lie
10 reconciling and amalgamating east
and west.
He is the father Of a civilization. as
we'll as OF a commercial empire.
He has tried to transmute Japan's
old hushido into the business ethics OF
a new day. To this task OF bringing
Tsultv modern commercial morality up
40 the samurai standards OF old Japan
he has devoted the last years OF MS
life. ,,,
lionaires. And he calls himself poor
man. Though wealthy, II Is true ne Is
comparatively poor in dollars and cents
besIde some who owe their fortunes
40 him. He has never lsbored primarily
for his own purse.
pnt 7 think he is in a higher sense
o,o ~ The richest men who walks the
earth. America would be proud 70 caii
him her own. - -.
/ have eaten with him In his home,
where Grant sat and where many great
Americans who have visited Japan have
learned to honor this living embodi-
roent. in one man Of all that is best In
Japan. There | saw Baron Shibusawo
and Captain Hardy, sole Perry survivor,
fax over with shining eyes the, old
days when they were boys, and Modern
Japan a baby. ] saw tears In the eyes
Of both. because OF their memories ana
their hopes.
| have had two other long talks with
Baron Shibusawa. At our third meet
ing he answered uninterruptedly Tor
three hours the most searching ques-
tions / could formulate about Japan and