Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1907 — A JAPANESE STORY. [ARTICLE]

A JAPANESE STORY.

The favorite tale of Japan, the tale which every Japanese child knows as inevitably as an English boy knows his “Robinson Crusoe,” is the story of “The Faithful Ronins.” “Robinson Crusoe” is a tale of wandering and adventure, and that is bemuse the English are a Wandering race. Until a short time ago the Japanese never traveled. They were even forbidden to build Junks above a certain size lest they might be tempted to go too far in them. Nowadays there are tine Japanese steamers, but at the time when the good stories grew their theme in Japan was almost always courage and devotion. _ !n the year 1701 the head of the Ronin family, or clan—for this tale, like “Robinson Crusoe.” is founded on fact —was insulted by a superior officer and attacked him with a sword. For this crime the chief Ronin was condemned to slay himself, that being the usual punishment in Japan; also it was decided that his cattle and property should l>e taken away and his people driven off. Accordingly the chief Ronin killed himself. The new head of the Ronins was named Kurarosuke. He Is the national popular hero of Japan, much like Ethan Allen or Francis Marlon In this country. It was Kurarosuke’s duty to avenge Ills master’s death lu some way. So he called the clan together to defend the castle against the soldiers who were to take it. This was quite proper, according to Japanese Ideas. When they were all gathered together Kurarosuke said: “We have not met to defend the castle, for that would be useless. We should only lu the end be taken and slain. , Let us all slay ourselves after the old Japanese manner and thus die with our beloved master.” To this sixty-three of the Ronins agreed, but the rest went away shaktng their heads. The cunning Kurarosuke, however, had no notion of killing himself. When the sixty-three were all together he was sure they at least would not reveal his secret, and he said to them: “We shall neither defend the castle, yttiich would be useless, nor kill ourselves, which would be no better. But we shall be patient and wait, wait, wait, until we can kill the man whose insult caused our master’s death.” Then he explained his plan, and forty-seven of the sixty-three agreed to It According to Japanese ideas, what they endured was worse even than suicide, for they did nothing. Instead of trying to avenge the Insult they wandered about and became mere vagabonds. It looked as If they were going to make no effort to avenge their master, and this made every one despise them. Even the children would call out after one of them as he staggered past: “Hey! There goes a Ronin. Drunkard! Coward! ’Fraid eat! ’Frald cat!” or something Japanese to the same effect. The Japanese children are usually very polite—because they eat no meat, some say—but nobody thought It worth while to be polite to a coward. Of course all this was terribly hard for the Ronins to bear. They knew they were not cowards, but they could only wait—some day, though, and some day came at last. When everybody had come to the conclusion that the Ronins had no pluck at all, these fortyseven vagabonds came together one night and carried the castle of their enemy by assault. Then they put him to death and quietly awaited their own fate. They were taken, of course, and condemned to kill themselves, as their master had done. As they were led away in three parties a servant of the house called “First Companion,” a man of too little consequence to take part in the fighting, stood to see them pass that he might carry home the news. One of the Ronins was a real drunkard, vagabond and without need of making believe. His name was “Red Hedge.” and he was a pretty low down fellow. bo that “First Companion” feared that “Red Hedge” might have been drunk the night before and have been left out of the attack. But no. At the head of the third flvision of the captured Ronins marched “Red Hedge,” very proud in his armor. Seeing the servant kneeling In the snow. "Red Hedge” gave him messages and threw him the pennon of his lance for a memento. Then “First Companion” turned to the lookers on and cried: “Look at him! Gentlemen, that Is Sir Red Hedge, the brother of my master. He Is a Ronin by adoption only. But see him today among the avengers!” And in his delight the faithful old servant hurried home and kept as relics not only the lance pennon, but “Red Hedge's” hat and bottle. Of course all the forty-seven had to kill thejnselves, but they have become national heroes, especially Kurarosuke, the brave and crafty leader, and “Red Hedge,” the poor drunkard, who succeeded in keeping for one night sober enough to go’to his death with the others. Not only Is their memory kept green In this story, which every one in Japan knows by heart, but the grave of Kurarosuke is one of the numerous national shrines to which pilgrimages are made. Even the emperor himself about twenty ago caused distinguished official honors to be paid to .the grave of Kurarosuke, to stamp his patient fidelity with the mark of government approval.—New York Journal. For His Health. Mrs. Hamhash—Mr. Boothby, I believe you were about to leave this house without paying what you owe me. Boothby (the actor) Madam, you wrong me. I was merely Intending to take a little stroll of 500 miles or so.— Puck. ...__