Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-30

friend of my father. He was man of
good brain, and after several vain attempts
to adjust himself to new conditions and at
the same time. retain his dignity, he con-
cluded to throw dignity aside and enter
into sons practical business which wou'o
bring material results. At that time niuc'
was being said about foreign food and IT'S
usefulness in making people strong ana
active. AS Mr.. Kato owned a gool-sizeo
estate which at that time nobody would ac-
cept even as gift, he converted it INTO a
grass-farm, and sent to a faraway coast
for some cattle. Then with a few "x3.r'
enced men assistants, h G once more
ventured into the business world; this time
as dairy man and butcher.
i harmonize at all with his new occupa-
ton, and he was looked upon with a sort
of curious horror. But nevertheless many
bought and ate the meat, and the business
prospered. The simpler part of his work
the selling of milk-was also prosperous
but it also had serious drawbacks. Most OF
the common people believed that cows milk
would influence the nature of those VINO
drank it, and this caused much gossip. we
children heard from servants that Mrs
Kato's newborn baby had a tiny horn on
. It's forehead. and that its fingers were all
dubbed together like cows hoofs. Thhs
not true. of course, but fear has
strong influence on our lives for happiness
desperate anxiety about many tr'f,ins
things in the daily life of the Kato houses
hold. AS years passed the trouble did not
lessen. Three children died in succession
and the constant friction between old and
new ideas filled the air with tragedy.
DUT Mr. Kato was an unnincting type of
D man. and being honest in his progressive
IDEAS his active brain thought out a scheme
by which to broaden the views of his super
stitious family. The majority OF intellectual
men Of that day, though broad thinkers
themselves, allowed the women of the fam
lily to remain narrow and ignorant; and so
it was that the female members of the kato
family were in the habit Of taking their prob
lens to a certain prestess who was rever-
enced for her marvellous supernatural pow
ers. Their faith in her was absolute.
One day Mr.. Kato called the priestess to
his home, apparently to assist in settling
some puzzling matters. Really it was an
attempt to open the eyes OF MS FAMILY to
the absurdity of their superstitious belief
He thought If that could be done that peace
would come once more into his home
The priestess went through very elabo-
rate ceremony. part of which consisted in
falling into a trance and interpreting mes
sages, supposed to come from unseen friends
in the spirit world. While she was in this
state Mr. Kato asked her many questions,
the answers of which We're well known to
the family. At first the replies were only
vague. but gradually. by sklllful leading
his part, they became more direct; but they
were unsatisfactory and even untrue. Finally
the spirit messages from the revered ances-
tors became so absurd that the entire family
was aroused. The children were startled.
the gentle wife was puzzled and grieved and
the poor old grandmother shocked beyond
words. ~
ID EFORMERS sometimes use cruel methods.
~ No man could have greater love and re-
spect for a parent than Mr.. Kato had fer
his mother but this experience saddened and
shortened her life A Japanese woman knows
only one way to right wrong, and that is to
sacrifice herself The brave woman sickened.
refused all medicine, and soon laid to
rest with the ancestors whose dignity and
honor she had died to uphold.
1TyHIS tragedy, over what to an American
i seems a trife is only one of many during
| the last decade in Japan. To greater or
less extent 1t has been the experience of al
most every family that has drifted from old
to new in IDEAS and customs. And amusing
as 1t may appear to an American. mere Of
! these tragedies than can be readily believed
have been due to the introduction Of meat.
Now things are more settled. Meat Is not
yet eaten universally, but even in the inte-
| rior II is no longer looked upon with horror
| and loathng. 1t is found in all restaurants
| and hotels. 1t Ia eaten daily In many homes
| and In Toxic there IL scarcely block that
! does not have its little '.Nikuya" where meat