Evening star., 1923-08-16
A JAPANESE MES.
SAGE TO GARCIA.
BY DIR. FRANK CRANE.

Ebert Hubbard wrote one thing
that has become a classic. 1t was his
| Message to Garcia. the story Of a SOL
uler' VINO was given message to de-
| liver to the Cuban general Garcia.
ana succeeded in delivering 1t in spite
OF apparently insurmountable OBJ
stacles 1t was the ever fascinating
tale of the triumph Of the determined
! human spirit.
/ have just heard an old Japanese
| legend that contains the same idea,
and shows how eternal 1t is in the
I thought OF man.
heard 1t at Kyoto from a mission
ary, who had spent eighteen years In
lore
Near Kyoto is the great Lake Biwa.
year this lake rises the mountain
Omi Fuji. Fuji means mountain, and
oml Is the name of the district in
which 1t is. Into this lake runs a
river and over 1t Is a bridge, called
Seta Hashi, which IS still one of the
eight sights of Omi
1t was across this bridge that lay
ahe highway running from Kyoto to
the merchants, the pilgrims and the
cavaliers
Now 1T seems that around the noun
tain OF Omi there was coiled in seven
huge folds a thousand legged dragon
Thfs dragon had a playful way of
devouring, now and then. some daimio
or lesser lord. who might be going
along that road
Many a bold warrior had under
taken to slay the dragon. but every
one of them had come to grief Each
had gone out bravely enough against
him. only to be devoured by his fiery
jaws.
At last a great hearted hero, Hide
sato. undertook the task of Kidding
the land of its plague He set out
upon his expedition and got as far as
the bridge. Seta Hashi, when he was
met by huge and fearsome monster.
not the dragon himself, but apparent
ly one of his assistants.
This monster menaced Hidesato and
glared at him with his hideous eyes
as IL to say: You had better see
whether you can tackle me before
you essay to slay the king of drag
ons."
Hidesato regarded this monster and
should he turn and fee, or should he
attempt to pass him by and reserve
hts strength to fight the dragon.
which was the thing he had set out
to do?
At last he determined that he would
go on: that he would not assault this
monster unless it first assaulted him..
He rode forward, therefore. The mon
ster moved and beloved. but did not
spring upon him. Z
When he reached the end Of the
bridge he looked back to see IL he was
going to be attacked in the rear. and
to his surprise he saw, not the mon
ster. but little old man with long.
white beard.
Come back" cried the little ole
man. IT am that monster whom yoii
saw on the bridge and passed by. II
was my purpose to turn you from the
great adventure you had in mind Aa
those who have gone before you osi
such an enterprise have stopped to
engage conflict with me and have
been slain. You alone have had a
mind that could not be defecteA.
Come with me and I will give you
your reward"
The little old man then led Hidesaso
down through a subterranean pas
sage to a castle deep under the river.
and there gave him a magic bow and
a poisoned arrow. the only weapon
with which the dragon could poSsi-
bly, be slain. ::
with these Hidesato returned to
the bridge. and standing upon it shot
the arrog seven miles to Omi Full
and slew the dragon.
This fable teaches--well, it teaChes
about the same lesson that is taught
in the Message to Garcia.