Evening star., 1928-04-15
BY saBURo H. KATSuRA.

MS people. so that the latter appeared
as real patriots.
In those days. in the Province of
Choshiu at Norris clan, there was a
sanurai (warriorl named Baisen Basa-
ragawa, who was dissatisfied with the
Shogunate and conspired with kindred
spirits to rise III revolt against the
Shogunate. About 100 Samurais Joined
him in secret league.
Among the chief insurgents were
youthful Samurais. between 20 and IS
years OF age, who wished from the
depths of their hearts TO be of service
to their country in time OF need. 1t
was the FIRST cry of a rebirth of the
nation Indeed. the future of the ma
tion was dependent upon the rising
generation.
BaiSen BaSaragawa was high-spirit-
ed Young NipponeSe, head master OF
private school at the age OF 80. He was
an accomplished scholar. having been
placed in MatSuShita- -juku tthe great
est institution III old Nippon) while
very young.
He was always trying to better him.
self intellectually. studying many for
eign books. which at the time were pro-
hibited by law even dealing with the
expulsion Of aliens. When he taught
school his righteous indignation was
frequently aroused. He deplored the
corruption of public morals, and spoke
eloouently whenever he happened to
deal with the matter Of expulsion OF
aliens: Unless you remove this law,
civilization will be put back for gen.
erationS"
He was a man possessing great love
Of Justice. and he pleaded with mis-
pupils TO join in the fight for Justice
whenever it happened, and said. we
young NipponeSe must under no con-
Sideration. see our country sink into
perdition" Indeed. he was political
prophet. peering into the future IN ad-
cition to teaching private school.
Once in his life he loved girl and
he married at So. but this wife, whom
he so loved. died and he could never
love another. At the age of 10 he was
left alone with his little daughter.
MaSa, who was barely year old when
her mother died, and this proved TO be
o great hardship for the father.
It was in March. 1912, that the plot
was laid bare by the arrest of Baisen's
secret messenger and made known to
his comrade. Koroku Den, at Je0o City,
capital of old Nippon.
They used torture on Koroku Den
and the messenger to extort from them
q confession. Because of the comrade-
ship, no torture could cause them to
confess. but as the act was generally
attributed to men of the Choshiu clan,
the government issued instructions for
Lord Nori to capture all men who OPP
posed the Shogunate.
In the meantime Leader BaiSen
= Basaragawa ordered that every mem
her be called out. A hundred youths
responded to the call at the mountain,
and secret meetings were held at night.
BaiSen BaSaragawa advised them to eS-
cape from the Province OF ChoShiu be-
fore daybreak. and he told them that he
himself would be responsible for the
outcome.
Nevertheless. the men did not all give |
heed, particularly at the mention Of the
word escape" as this was q cowardly |
thing in the name Of Bushido. There |
upon they proposed TO die fighting, and |
demanded of their leader that they |
should share responsibility.
Put your swords down and talk |
sense was Baisen's reply TO the men |
whose youthful blood was afiame. do
not be carried away with enthusiasm. |
Wait your time. II we keep our aim /
sufficiently high, We need not despair.
Listen 10 me, my men, although the |
ShOgunate. know, Is unsurmountable.
Let us not waste our youth, but be wise
IN this emergency. There is only one
way to meet It, and that is by adopting |
emergency measures Remember, We
belong TO the nation"
Baisen Basaragawa had q magic |
power Of putting his oN i spirit into the |
men under him, which was the secret |
Of his leadership. In the mountain at
daybreak they separated to bide their |
time after taking sad farewell Of their |
leader. On that day Baisen appeared |
IN court on charge Of revolt against
the Ehogunate government. and the |
court sentenced him TO be Strangled 70 |
death.
one night before the execution he |
broke prison, and fleeing to his home |
took with him his 2-year-old daughter,
Masa. The government sent a party |
after the traitors everywhere, but 1t was
all In vain, for they had disappeared |
and there were no clues 70 be had.
FOURTEEN years have now elapsed
since that time, and during those |
years the Ehogunate continued to gain
in power Baisen and his party awaited
their opportunity 10 rise. but there could
be no hope for them until the power Of
the Ehogunate government was broken.
The clan OF Lord Keikawa was long
way from the castle town 70 the south.
There was a small village. almost for
gotten by civilization, named EilTer-eye.
The village was sheltered from Winter
winds by the mountains. and IN the
Summertime IL was covered with trees
which grew thickly all around. so that
fl was possible 10 live cool even through
the Midsummer.
Under the blue sky, God had blessed
this small paradise. and IL had beauti-
5ui, EpTtnglike days throughout the year,
81 kpxg HaEF
The birds sang as they scared into the
blue sky or few among the branches OF
the trees, and many beautiful Mowers
bloo:neo. spreading their fragrance the
whole season From early Spring until
the latter part Of May, the Whole VIE
lage was completely covered with white
cherry blossoms, and as far as the eye
could reach every object Was mantled
In ioYellest white.
There was maiden IN this EIiVer-eye
sdlIaQe Ehe was charmingIy pretty, IN
n cferry-olossoralik way, 70 that the
Villagers called her the Princess OF
Cherry Blossoms, She was the daughter
of distinguished old gentleman who
lived ON the outskirts of the village.
The villagers we're much sttaehed 10
this angloeerlt girl, but there y aS mystery
about those people. ho one knew Wnefe
the father came from nor who he was.
Ef3G ne spent niSS1 Os IsiS ttA1s f1doatia
and writing IA his home.
Occasionally one might 6ee the oid
gentleman coming down the village and
calling his daughters name, Hasa,
1ASast" but ae never showed any incli~
nation 70 speak with the villagers. His
bearing was admirable, some What grave
in manner He had a gray Dustaclle,
white his features seemed W be gloomy
II WsE strange that he should live IN
such sn Out~ef~ti1e~way place,
This distinguished old gentleman
WaE Esisen Eas&ragaWa, who broke
prison sFld escaped from Morris clan ~