Evening Star Newspaper, December 28, 1895, Page 21

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1895-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. THE FORTY-SEVEN —RONINS, A Tale Famous in Japanese History, Poetry, Art and Drama BY A. B. M-TFORD. ‘Tke recent revolution in Japan has ‘Wrought changes social as well as political; and it may be that when, in addition to the advance which has already been made, railways and telegraphs shall have con- nected the principal points of the Land of Sunrise, the old Japanese, such as he was and had been for centuries when we found him eleven short years ago, will have be- come extinct. It has appeared to me that no better means could be chosen of preserv- ing a record of a curious and fast disap- pearing civilization, than the translation of some of the most interesting national legends and histories, together with other specimens of literature bearing upon the same subject. Thus the Japanese may tell their own tale, their trauslator only adding here and there a few words of heading or tag to a chapter, where an explanation or amplification may seem necessary. I fear that the long and hard names will often make my tales tedious reading, but I be- Leve that those who will bear with the difficulty will learn more of the character of the Japanese people than by skimming over descriptions of travel and adventure, however brilliant. The lord and his re- tainer, the warrior and the priest, the humble artisan and the despised Eta or pariah, each in his turn will become a leading character in my budget of stories; and it is out of the mouths of these person- ages that I hope to show forth a tolerably complete picture of Japanese society. Having said so much by way of preface, I beg my readers to fancy themselves wafted away to the shores of the Bay of Yedo—a fair, smiling landscape: gentle slopes, crested by a dark fringe of pines and firs, lead down to the sea; the quaint eaves of many a temple and holy shrine peep out here and there from the groves; the bay itself is studded with picturesque fisher-craft, the torches of which shine by night lige glow-worms among the outlying forts; far away to the west loom the gob- lin-haunted heights of Oyama, and beyond the twin hills of the Hakone Pass—Fuji- Yama, the Peerless Mountain, solitary and grand, stands in the center of the plain, frem which it sprang vomiting flames twenty-one centuries ago. For a hundred and sixty years the huge mountain has been at peace, but the frequent earth- quakes still tell of hidden fires, and none can say when the red-hot stones and ashes may once more fal! like rain over five provinces. In the midst of a nest of venerable trees in Takanawa, a suburb of Yedo, is hidden Sengakuji, or the Spring-hill Temple, re- nowned throughout the length and breadth of the land for its cemetery, which con- tains the graves of the Forty-seven Ro- nins, famous in Japanese history, heroes of Japanese drama, the tale of whose deeds I am abcut to transcribe. On the left-hand side of the main court of the temple is a chapel, in which, sur- mounted by a gilt figure of Kwanyin, the goddess of mercy, are enshrined the images of the forty-seven men, and of the master whom they loved so well. The statues are carved in wood, the faces colored, and the dresses richly lacquered; as works of art they have great merit—the action of the heroes, each armed with his favorite weap- on, being wonderfully life-like and spirited. Some are venerable men, with thin, gray hair (one is seventy-seven years oll); others are mere boys of sixteen. Close by the chapel, at the side of a path leading up the hill, is a little well of pure water, fenced in and adorned with a tiny fernery, over which is an inscription, setting forth that “This is the well in which the head was washed; you must not wash your hands or your feet here.” A little further ‘on is a stall, at which a poor old man earns a pittance by selling books, pictures and medals, commemorating the loyalty of the Forty-seven; and higher up yet, shaded by a grove of stately trees, is a neat in- closure, kept up, as a signboard announces, by voluntary contributions, round which are ranged forty-eight little tombstones, each decked with evergreens, each with its tribute of water and incense for the com- fort of the departed spirit. There were forty-seven Ronins; there are forty-elght tombstones, and the story of the forty- eighth is truly characteristic of Japanese ideas of honor. Almost touching the rail of the graveyard is a more imposing monu- ment under which lies buried the lord, whose death his followers piously avenged. And now for the story. At the beginning of the eighteenth cen- tury there lived a daimio, called Asano ‘Takumi no Kami, the lord of the castle of ‘Ako, in the province of Harima. Now it happened that an imperial ambassador from the court of the Mikado, having been sent to the Shogun at Yedo, Takumi no Kami and another noble called Kamei Sama were appointed to receive and feast the envoy; and a high official, named Kira Kotsuke no Suke, was named to teach them the proper ceremonies to be observed upon the occasion. The two nobles were accordingly forced to go daily to the castle to listen to the instructions of Kotsuke no Suke. But this Kotsuke no Suke was @ man preedy of money; and as he deemed that the presents which the two daimios, according to time-honored custom, had brought him in return for his instruction were mean and unworthy, he conceived a great hatred against them, and took no pains in teaching them, but on the con- trary rather sought to make laughing stocks of them. Takumi no Kami, re- strained by a stern sense of duty, bore his insults with patience; but Kamei Sama, who had less control over his temper, was violently incensed, and determined to kill Kotsuke no Suke. One night when his duties at the castle were ended, Kamei Sama returned to his ewn palace, and having summoned his councillors to a secret conference, said to them: ‘“‘Kotsuke no Suke has _ insulted Takumi no Kami and myself during our eervice in attendance on the imperial en- yoy. This 1s against all decency, and I was minded to kill him on the spot; but I be- thought me that if I did such a deed within the precincts of the castle, not only would my own life be forfeit, but my family and vassels would be ruined; so I stayed my hand. Still the life of such a wretch is a sorrow to the people, and tomorrow when I go to court I will slay him; my mind ts made up, and I will listen to no remon- strance.” And as he spoke his face be- came livid with rage. Now one of Kamei Sama’s councillors was a man of great judgment, and when he saw from his lord’s manner that re- monstrance would be useless, he said: “Your lordship's words are law; your ser- yant will make all preparations according- ly; and tomorrow, when your lordship goes to court, if this Kotsuke no Suke should again be insolent, let him die the death.” And his lord was pleased at this spe: and waited with impatience for the day 10 break, that he might return to court and Kill his enem But the councillor went home, and was eorely troubled, and thought anxiously about ‘what his prince had said. And as he reflected, it oceurred to him that since Kotsuke no Suke had the reputation of be- ing a miser he would certainly be open to bribe, and that it was better to pay any sum, no matter how great, than that his lord and his house should be ruined. So he collected all the money he could, and, giv- ing it to his servants to carry, rode off in the night to Kotsuke no Suke’s palace, and said to his retainers: “‘My master, who is now in attendance upon the imperial en- voy, owes much thanks to my Lord Kot- suke no ike, who has been at so great pains to teach him the proper ceremonies to be observed during the reception of the imperial envoy. This is but a shabby pri ent which he has sent by me, but he hopes that his lordship will condescend to ac- cept it, and commends himself to his lord- ship's favor.” And, with these words, he produced a thousand ounces of silver for Kotsuke no Suke, and a hundred ounces to be distributed among his retainers. When the latter saw the money, their es sparkled with pleasure, and they were profuse in their thanks; and begging the councillor to wait a little, they went and told their master of the lordly present which kad arrived with a polite message from Kamei Sama. Kotsuke no Suke in eager delight sent for the councillor into an inner chamber, and, after thanking him, promised on the morrow to instruct his master carefully In all the different points ‘of etiquette. So the councillor, seeing the tniser’s glee, rejoiced at the success of his pian and having taken his leave returned ome in high spirits. But Kamei Sama, Uttle thinking how his vassal had pro- Pitiated his enemy, lay brooding over his vengeance, and on the following morning at daybreak went to court in solemn pro- cession. When Kotsuke no Suke met him, his manner had completely changed, and noth- ing could exceed his courtesy. “You have come early to court this morning, my Lord Kamei,” said he. “I cannot sufficiently ad- mire your zeal. I shall have the honor to call your attention to several points of eti- quette today. I must beg your lordship to excuse my previous conduct, which must have seemed very rude; but I am naturally of a ercse-grained disposition, so I pray you to forgive me.” And as he kept on humbling himself and making fair speeches, the heart of Kamei Sama was gradually softened, and he renounced his intention of killing him. Thus, by the cleverness of his councillor, was Kamei Sama, with all his house, saved from ruin, é Shortly after this, Takum! no Kami, who had sent no present, arrived at the castle, and Kotsuke no Suke turned him into r' cule even more than before, provoking him with sneers and covert insults; but Takumi no Kami affected to ignore all this, and submitted himself patiently to Kotsuke no Suke's orders. This conduct, so far from producing a good effect, only made Kotsuke no Suke despise him the more, until at last he said haughtily: “Here, my Lord of Takumi, the ribbon of my sock has come untied; be so gocd as to tie it up for me.” Takumi no Kami, although burning with Tage at the affront, still thought that as he was on duty he was bound to obey, and tied up the ribbon of the sock. Then Kot- suke no Suke, turning from him, petulant- ly exclaimed: “Why, how clumsy you are! You cannot so much as tie up the ribbon 0! a sock properly! Any one can see that you are a boor from the country, and xnow nothing of the manners of Yedo.” And with a scornful laugh he moved to- ward an inner room. But the patience of Takumi no Kami was exhausted; this last insult was more than he could bear. “Stop a moment, my lord,” cried he. “Well, what is it?’ replied the other. Ard, as he turned round, Takumi no Kami drew his dirk, and aimed a blow at his head; but Kotsuke no Suke, being protect- ed by the court cap which he wore, the wound was but a scratch, so he ran away; and Takum! no Kami, pursuing him, tried a second time to cut him down, but miss- ing his aim, struck his dirk into a pillar. At this moment an officer, named Kajikawa Yosobei, seeing the affray, rushed up and holding back the infuriated noble, gave Kotsuke no Suke time to make good his escape. Then there arose a great uproar and con- fusion, and Takumi no Kami was arrest- ed and disarmed, and confined in one of the apartments of the palace under the care of the censors. A council was held, and the prisoner was given over to the safeguard of a daimio, called Tamura Ukiyo no Daibu, who kept him in close custody in his own house, to the great grief of his wife and of his retainers; and when the deliberations of the council were completed, it was decided that, as he had committed an outrage and attacked another man within the precincts of the palace, he must perform hara kiri—that is, commit sulcide by disemboweling; his goods must be confiscated, and his family ruined. Such was the law. So Takumi no Kami perform- ed hara kirl, his castle of Ako was con- fiscated, and his retainers havigg become Ronins, some of them took service with other daimios, and others became mer- chants. Now amongst these retainers was_ his principal councillor, a man called Oishi Kuranosuke, who, with forty-six other faithful dependents, formed a league to avenge their master's death by killing Kot- suke no Suke. This Oishi Kuranosuke was absent at the castle of Ako at the time of the affray, which, had he been with his prince, would never have occurred; for, be- ing a wise man, he would not have failed to propitiate Kotsuke no Suke by sending him suitable presents; while the councillor who was in attendance on the prince at Yedo was a dullard, who neglected this precaution, and so caused the death of his master and the ruin of his house. So Oishi Kuranosuke and his forty-six companions began to lay their pians of vengeance against Kotsuke no Suke; but the latter was so well guarded by a body of men lent to him by a daimio called Uyesugi Sama, whose daughter he had married, that they saw that the only way of attaining their end would be to throw their enemy off his guard. With this ob- ject they separated and disguised them- selves, some as carpenters or craftsmen, others as merchants; and their chief, K' ranosuke, went to Kioto, and built a house in the quarter called Yamashina, where he took to freqifenting houses of the worst repute, and gave himself up to drunken- ness and debauchery, as if nothing were further from his mind than revenge. k tsuke no Suke, in the meanwhile suspectin that Takumi no Kami's former retainers would be scheming against his life, secretly sent spies to Kioto, and caused a faithful account to be kept of all that Kuranosuke did. The latter, however, determined thor- oughly to delude the enemy into a false security, went on leading a dissolute life with harlots and winebibbers. One day, as he was returning home drunk from some low haunt, he fell down in the street and went to sleep, and all the passers-by laughed him to scorn. It happened that a Satsuma man saw this, and said: “Is not this Oishi Kuranosuke, who was a coun- cillor of Asa no Takumi no Kami and who, not having the heart to avenge his lord, gives himself up to women and wine? See how he lies drunk in the public sir Faithless beast! Fool and craven! worthy the name of a Samurai!" And he trod on Kuranosuke’s face as he lept, and spat upon him; but when Ko- ike no Suke’s spies reported all this at Yedo, he was greatly relieved at the news, and felt secure from danger. One day Kuranosuke’s wife, who was bitterly grieved to see her husband lead this abandoned life, went to him and said: “My lord, you told me at first that your debauchery was but a trick to make your enemy relax in watchfulness. But indeed, indeed this has gone too far. I pray and beseech you to put some restraint upon yourself."" “Trouble me not,” replied Kuranosuke, “for I will not listen to your whinin: Since my way of life is displeasing to you, I will divorce you, and you may go about your business; and I will buy some pretty young girl from one of the public house: and marry her for my pleasure. I am sic! of the sight of an old woman like you about the house, so get you gone—the sooner the better.” So saying, he flew into a violent rage, and his wife, terror stricken, pleaded pite- ously for mercy. “Oh, my lord, unsay those terrible words! I have been your faithful wife for twenty years, and have borne you three childre: in sickness and in sorrow I have been with you; you cannot be so cruel as to turn me out of doors now. Have pity! have pity “Cease this useless wailing. My mind made up, and you must go; and as the children are in my way also. you are wel- come to take them with you.” When she heard her husband speak thus, in her grief she sought her eldest son, Oishi Chikara, and begged him to plead for her, and pray that she might be pardoned. 3ut nothing would turn Kuranosuke from his purpose, so his wife was sent away, with the two younger children, and went back to her native place. But Oishi Chi- Kara remained with his father. The spies communicated all this without fail to Kotsuke no Suke, and he, when he heard how Kuranosuke, having turned his wife and children out of doors and bought a concubine, was groveling in a life of drunkenness and lust, began to think that he had no longer anything to fear from che retainers of Takumi no Kami, who must be cowards, without the courage to avenge their lord. So by degrees he began to keep a less strict watch, and sent back half of the guard which had been lent to him by his father-in-law, Uyesugi Sama. Little did he think how he was falling into the trap laid for him by Kuranosuke, who, in his zeal to slay his lord's enemy, thought nothing of divcreing his wife and sending away his children! Admirable and faithful man! In this way Kuranosuke continued to throw dust in the eyes of his foe, by per- sisting in his apparently shameless con- duct; but his associates all went to Yedo, and, having in their several capacities as workmen and peddlers contrived to gain ac- cess to Kotsuke no Suke’s house, made themselves familiar with the plan of the building and the arrangement of the dif- ferent rooms, and ascertained the character of the inmates, who were brave and loyal men, and who were cowards; upon all of which matters they sent regular reports to Kuranosuke, And when at last it became evident from the letters which arrived from Yedo that Kotsuke no Suke was thor- oughly off his guard, Kuranosuke rejoiced that the day of vengeance was at hand; and, having appointed a trysting place at Yedo, he fied secretly from Kioto, eluding the vigilance cf his enemy's spies. Then the forty-seven men, having laid all their plans, bided their time patiently. It was now mid-winter,the twelfth month of the year, and the cold was bitter. One night, during a heavy fall of snow, when the whole world was hushed, and peaceful men were stretched in sleep upon the mats, the Ronins determined that no more favor- Un- able opportunity could occur for carrying | ed his name, but he gave no answer, so out their purpose. So they took counsel together, and, having divided their band into two parties, assigned to each man his post. One band, led by Oishi Kuranosuke, was to attack the front gate, and the other, under his son, Oishi Chikara, was to attack the postern of Kotsuke no Suke’s house; but as Chikara was only sixteen years of age, Yoshida Chiuzayemon was appointed to act as his guardian. Further it was ar- ranged that aedrum, beaten at the order of Kuranosuke, should be the signal for the simultaneous attack; and that if any one slew Kotsuke no Suke and cut off his head he should blow a shrill whistle, as a signal to his comrades, who would hurry to the spot, and, having identified the head, carry it off to the temple called Sengakuji, and Jay it as an offering before the tomb of their dead lord. Then they must re- port their deed to the government, and await the sentence of death which would surely be passed upon them. To this the Ronins one and all pledged themselves. Midnight was fixed upon as the hour, and the forty-seven comrades, having made all ready for the attack, partook of a last farewell feast together, for on the morrow they must die. Then Oishi Kuranosuke ad- dressed the band, and said: “Tonight we shall attack our enemy in his palace; his retainers will certainly re- sist us, and we shall be obliged to kill them. But to slay old men and women and children is a pitiful thing; therefore, I -Pray you each one to take great heed lest you: kill a single helpless person.” His comrades all applauded this speech, and so they remained, waiting for the hour of midnight to arrive. When the appointed hour came, the Ron- ins set forth. The wind howled furiously, and the driving snow beat in their faces; but little cared they for wind or snow as they hurried on their road, eager for re- venge. At last they reached Kotsuke no Suke’s house, and divided themselves into two bands; and Chikara, with twenty-three men, went round to the back gate. Then four men, by means of a ladder of ropes which they hung on to the roof of the porch, effected an entry into the court- Yard; and, as they saw signs that all the inmates of the house were asleep, they went into the porter’s lodge where the guard slept, and, before the latter had time to recover from their astonishment, bound them. The terrified guard prayed hard for mercy, that their lives might be spared; and to this the Ronins agreed on condition that the keys of the gate should be given up; but the others tremblingly said that the keys were kept in the house of one of their officers, and that they had no means of obtaining them. Then the Ronins lost pa- tlence, ard with a hammer dashed in pieces the big wooden bolt which secured the gate, and the doors flew open to the right and to the left. At the same time Chikara and his party broke in by the back gate. Then Oishi Kuranosuke sent a-messenger to-the neighboring houses, bearing the fol- lowing message: “We, the Ronins who were formerly in the service of Asano Takumi no Kami, are this night about to break into the palace of Kotsuke no Suke, to avenge our lord. As we are neither night robbers nor ruffians, no hurt will be done to the neighboring houses. We pray you to set your minds at rest." And as Kotsuke no Suke was hated by his neigh- bors for his covetousness, they did not unite their forces to assist him. Another precaution was yet taken. Lest any of the people inside should run out to cali the re- lations of the family to the rescue and these coming in force should interfere with the plans of the Ronins, Kuranosuke sta- tioned ten of his men armed with bows on the roof of the four sides of the courtyard, with orders to shoot any retainers wh might attempt to leave the place. Having thus laid all his plans and posted his men, KKuranosuke with his own hand beat the drum and gave the signal for attack. Ten of Kotsuke no Suke's retainers, hear- ing the noise, woke up; and, drawing thcir swords, rushed into the front room to de- fend their master. At this moment the Ronins, who had burst open the door of th front hall, entered the same room. Th arose a furious fight between the two parties, in the midst of which Chikara, leading his men through the garden, broke into the back of the house; and Kotsuke no Suke, in terror of his life, took refuge, with his wife aud female servants, in a closet in the verandah; while the rest of his retainers, who slept in the barrack cut- side the house, made ready to go to the rescue. But the Ronins who had come in by the front door, and were fighting with the ten retainers, ended by overpowering and siaying the latter without losing one of their own number; after which, forcing their way bravely toward the back rooms, they were joined by Chikara and his men, and the two bands were united in one. By this time the remainder of Kotsuke no Suke’s men had come in, and the fight became general; and Kuranosuke, sitting on a camp stool, gave his orders and di- rected the Ronins. Soon the inmates of the house perceived that they were no match for their enemy, so they tried to send out intelligence of their plight to Uyesugi Sama, their lord’s father-in-law, begging him to come to the rescue with all the fore at his command. But the messengers were shot down by the archers whom Kurano- suke had posted on the roof. So no help coming, they feught on in despair. Then Keranosuke cried out with a loud voice: “ISotsuke no Suke alone is our enemy; let some one go inside and bring him forth dead or alive.”” Now in front of Kotsuke no Suke's pri- vate room stood three brave retainers with drawn swords. The first was Kobayashi Hehachi, the second was Waku Handaiyu, and the third was Shimidzu Ikkaku, all good men and true, and expert swordsmen. So stoutly did these men lay about them that for a while they kept the whole of the Ronins at bay, and at one moment even forced them back. When Oishi Kurano- suke saw this, he ground his teeth with rage, and .shouted to his men: “What! did not eyery man of you swear to lay down his life in avenging his lord, and now are you driven back by three men? Cow- ards, not fit to be spoken to! to die fighting in a master’s cause should be the noblest ambition of a retainer!’ Then turning to his own son Chikara, he said, “Here, boy! engage those men, and if they are too strong for you, die!’ Spurred by these words, Chikara seized a spear and gave battle to Waku Handauyu, but could not hold his ground, and back- ing by degrees, was driven out into the garden, where he missed his footing and slipped into a pond; but as Handaiyu, thinking to kill him, looked down into tne pond, Chikara cut his enemy in the leg and caused him to fall, and then crawling out of the water despatched him. In the meanwhile Kobayashi Hehachi and Shimi- zu Ikkaku had been killed by the other Ronins, and of all Kotsuke no Suke’s re- tainers not one fighting man remained. Chikara, seeing this, went with his bloody sword in his hand into a back room to search for Kotsuke no Suke, but he only found the son of the latter, a young lord named Kira Sahioye, who, carrying a hal- berd, attacked him, but was soon wounded and fled. Thus the whole of Kotsuke no Suke’s men having been killed, there was an end of the fighting; but as yet there was no trace of Kotsuke no Suke to be found. Then Kuranosuke divided his men into several parties and searched the whole house, but all in vain; women and children weeping were alone to be seen. At this the forty-seven men began to lose heart in re- gret that after all their toil they had al- lowed their enemy to escape them, and there was a moment when in their despair they agreed to commit suicide together upoa the spot; but they determined to make one more effort. So Kuranosuke went into Kot- suke no Suke’s sleeping room and touching the quilt with his hands, exclaimed, “I have just felt the bed clothes and they are yet warm, and so methinks that our enemy is not far off. He must certainly be hidden somewhere in the house.” Greatly excited by this, the Ronins renewed their search. Now in the raised part of the room, near the place of honor, there was a picture hanging; taking down this picture, they saw that there was a large hole in the plastered wall, and on thrusting a spear in they could feel nothing beyond it. So one of the Ronins, called Yazama Jiuiaro, got into the hole, and found that on the other side there was a little courtyard, in which there stood an outhouse for holding charcoal and firewood. Looking into the outhouse, he spied something white at the further end, at which he struck with his spear, when two armed men sprang out upon him and tried to cut him down, but he kept them back until one of his com- rades came up and killed one of the two men and engaged the other, while Jiutaro entered the outhouse and felt about with his spear. Again seeing something white, he struck it with his lance, when a cry of pain betrayed that it was a man; so he rushed up, and the man in white clothes, who had been wounded in the thigh, drew a dirk and aimed a blow at him. But Jiu taro wrested the dirk from him,and clutch- ing him by the collar, dragged him out of the outhouse. Then the other Ronin came up, and they examined the prisoner at- tentively, and saw that he was a noble- looking man, some sixty years of age, dressed in a white satin sleeping rob2, which was stained by the blood from the thigh wound which Jiutaro had inflicted. The two men felt convinced that this was no other than Kotsuke no Suke; they ask- they gave the signal whistle, and all their comrades collected” together at the call; then Oishi Kuranosuke, bringing a lantern, scanned the old mays features, and it was indeed Kotsuke no’ Suke; and if further proof were wan e still bore a scar on his forehead were their master, Asano Takumi no Kami, had wounded -him dur- ing the affray in the castle. There being no possibility of mistake, therefore, Oishi Kuranosuke wes} dbwn on his knees, and addressing the ‘man very respectfully, said: “My lord, we are the retainers of Asano Takumi no Kami, Last year your lordsh and our master |qufrreled in the palac and our master was sentenced to hara kirf, and his family were ruined. We have come tonight to avenge him, as is the duty. of faithful and loyal men. I pray your lord- ship to acknowledge the justice of our Rurpose. And now, my lord, we beseech you to performphar kirl. I myself shall have the honor to act as your second, and when, with all humility, I shall have re- ceived your lordship's head, it is my inten- tion to lay it as an offering upon the grave of Asano Takumi no Kami.” Thus, in consideration of the high rank of Kotsuke no Suke, the Ronins treated him. with the greatest courtesy, and over and over again entreated him to perform hara kiri. But he crouched speechléss and trembling. At last Kuranosuke, seeing that it was vain to urge him to die the death of a nobleman, forced him down, and cut off his head with the same dirk with which Asano Takumi no Kami had killed himself. Then the forty-seven comrades, elated ai having accomplished their design, placed the head in a bucket, and prepared to de- part, but before leaving the house they carefully extinguished all the lights and fires in the place, lest by any accident a fire should break out and the neighbors suffer. a As they were on their way to Takanawa, the suburb in which the temple called Sengakuji stands, the day broke; and the people flocked out to see the forty-seven men, who, with their clothes and arms all blood-stained, presented a terrible appear- ance; and every one praised them, wonder- ing at their valor and faithfulness. But they expected every moment that Kotsuke no Suke's father-in-law would attack them and carry off the head, and made ready to die bravely sword in hand. However, they reached Takanawa in safety, for Matsu- daira Aki no Kami, one of ‘the eighteen chief daimios of Japan, of whose house Asano Takumi no Kami had been a cadet, had been highly pleased when he heard of the last night's work, and he had made ready to assist the Ronins in case they were attacked. So Kotsuke no Suke's father-in-law dared not pursue them. At about seven .in the morning they came opposite to the palace of Matsidaira Mutsu no Kami, the Prince of Sendai, and the prince hearing of it, sent for one of his councillors and: said: “The retainers of Takumi no Kami have slain their lord's enemy, and are passing this way; I cannot sufficiently admire their devotion, so, as they must be tired and hungry after their night's work, do you go and invite them to come in here, and set some gruel and a cup of wine before them. So the councillor went out and said to Oishi Kuranosuke: “Sir, Iam a councillor of the Prince of Sendai, and my master bids me beg you, as you must be worn out after all you have undergone, to come in and partake of such poor refreshment as we can offer you. This is my message to you from my lord. “I thank you, sir,” replied Kuranosuke. “It is very good of ‘his lordship to trouble himself to think of us. We shall accept his kindness gratefully.” é So the forty-seven Ronins went into the palace, and were feasted with gruel and wine, and all the ‘retainers of the Prince of Sendai came and’praised them. Then Kuranosuke turned to the council- lor and said, “Si] we are truly indebted to you for this ki hospitality; but as we have still to hurry to Sengakuji, we must needs hymbly takgjour leave.” And, after returning many thanks to their hosts, they left the palace of the Prince of Sendai and hastened to Sengakuji, where they were met by the abbot. .of the monastery, who went to the front gate to receive them, and led them to the tomb of Takumi no Kami. And when they came to their lord's grave, they took fhe head of Kotsuke no Suke, and having washed jt clean In a well hard by, laid it as an offering before the tomb. When they had done this, they en- gaged the priests of the temple to come and read prayers while they burnt incense: first Oishi Kuranosuke burnt incense, and then his son Oishi Chikara, and after them the other forty-five men’ performed the game jceremony. Then Kuranosuke having given all the money that be had by him to the abbot, said: “When we forty-seven men shall have performed hara kiri, 1 beg you to bury us decently. I rely upon your kindness. This is but a trifle that I have to offer; such as it is, let it be spent in masses’ for our souls!” And the abbot, marveling at the faith- ful courage of the men, with tears in his eyes pledged himself to fulfill their wishes So the forty-seven Ronins, with their mind: at rest, Waited patiently until they should receive the orders of the government. At last they were summoned to the su- preme court, where the governors of Yedo and the public censors had assembled; and the sentence passed upon them was as fol- lows: “Whereas, neither respecting the dignity of the city nor fearing the govern- ment, having leagued yourselves together to slay your enemy, you violently broke into the house ef Kira Kotsuke no Suke by night and murdered him, the sentence of the court that, for this audacious conduct, you perform hara_ kiri.” the sentence had been read, the fort: Ronins were divided into four partie: handed over to the safe keeping of four different daimios; and sheriffs were sent to the palaces of ‘those daimios in whose presence the Ronins were made to perform hara kiri. But as from the very beginning they had all made up their minds that to this end they must come, they met their death nobly; and their corpses were car- ried to Sengakuji, and buried in front of the tomb of their master, Asano Takumi no Kami. And when the fame of this be- came noised abroad, the people flocked to pray at the graves of these faithful men. Among those who came to pray was a Satsuma man, who, prostrating himself be- fore the grave of Oishi Kuranosuke, said: “When I saw you lying drunk by the road- side at Yamashina, in Kioto, I knew not that you were plotting to avenge your lord; and, thinking you to be a faithless man, I trampled on you and spat in your face as I passed. And now I have come to ask pardon and offer atonement for the insult of last year.” With those words he prostrated himself again before the grave, and, drawing a dirk from his girdle,stabbed himself in the belly and died. And the chief priest of the temple, taking pity upon him, buried him by the side of the Ronins; and his tomb still remains to be seen with those of the forty-seven comrades. This is the end of the story of the forty- seven Ronins. A terrible picture of fierce heroism which it is impossible not to admire. In the J is unmixed, and hence it is that the forty- seven Ronins receive almost divine honors. ious hands stil deck their graves with green boughs and burn incense upon them; the clothes and arms which they wore are preserved carefully in a fire-proof store- house attached to the temple, and exhibited yearly to admiring crowds, who behold them probably with little less veneration than is accorded, tothe relics of Aix-la- Chapelle or Treves3’ and once in sixty years the monks of Sengakuji reap quite a harvest for the, good of their temple by holding a commimorgtive fair or festival, to which the people flock during nearly two months. 4, . og A silver key oficé admitted me to a pri- vate inspection jof the relics. We were ushered, my friend ad myself, into a back apartment of the .syacious temple, over- looking one of Hose marvelous miniature gardens, cunningly adorned with rockeries and dwarf trees,;in which the Japanese de- light. gaeaaes One by one, carefully labeled and indexed boxes containing, the precious articles were brought out and opened by the chief priest. Such a curious..medjey of old rags and scraps of metal and wood! Home-made chain armor, composed of wads of leather secured together by pieces of iron, bear witness to the secrecy with which the Ro- nins made ready for the fight. To have bought armor would have attracted at- tention, so they made it with their own hands. Old moth-eaten surcoats, bits of helmets, three flutes, a writing box that must have been any age at the time of the tragedy, and is now tumbling to pieces; tattered trousers of what once was rich silk brocade, now all unraveled and be- fringed; scraps of leather, part of an old gaunilet, crests and badges, bits of sword handles, spear heads and dirks, the latter all red with rust, but with certain patches more deeply stained as if the fatal clots of blood were never to be blotted out: all these were reverently shown to us. Among the confusion and litter were a number of documents, yellow with age and much worn at the folds. One was a plan of Kotsuke no Suke’s house, which one of the Ronins obtained by marrying the daughter of the builder who designed it. Three of the Manuscripts appeared to me so curious apanese mind this feeling of admiration | Below we Academy, French. Accidents and Emergencies, Agricultural Statistica, Alaska, Statistics of. Altitude. Greatest in Each State. Ambassadors of the U. 8. Aterican Cup, Record of. American Indian, Anniversaries of Important Events, Antidotes for Poisons. Approp-lations hy Congress. Areas of Countries Astronomical! Atlantic Steamship Lines, Attorneys Geue al, Australian Ballot. Bunks. Bar Associations. Base Ball Records. Battles of the Civil War. Bible Statisties. Bleyele Records, Billiard Records Bishops-of Itellg- Denominations. Boat Races. Bridges, Largect in the World. British Govérnment. British Customs Tariff. Building and Loan Associations, Cabinet Officers. Calendar. Chinese Empire. | Christianity, Statisties of. Churches and Sunday Schools. Cities, Population and Statistics, Civil Service Procedmie, Rules. Coins, Value of Forel nac does NOT contain. complete reflex of local affairs. Colleges, Statistics of. Commerce, Foreign, Domestic. Congress, Members of. Consuls General and Consuls, Cycles of Time. District Government. Earth, Interesting Facts About. Eclipses for 1895 and 1896, Faster Sundays, Educational Statisticg. Ele-tion Returvs, Electoral Vote. Epochs and Eras, Executiv® Department. Expenditures oi the Government. Exports and Imports. Farm Mortgages. Fastest Atlantic Steamships. Federal Courts Federal Government. Federation of Labor. Fire Insurance Statistics. French Republic. Germany, Government of. Governors of States. Grand Army of the Republic. Great Britain; Her Dependencies. Historical Societies, Homes for Soldiers. Interest Laws and Tables, Interior Department. Internal Revenve. Interstate Commer:e. Iron and Steel, Production of. Judiclary. Tabor Statistics, Languages. Legal Holidays, Memorable Dates. Mexico, Republic of. Minerals, Production of. Military Academy. Monetary Statistics, Nations of the World. Naturalization Laws. Navy Department. Negro Population. Newspaper Statistics. OMficlal Directory. Parks of Washington. Patent Office Procedure Pauperism and Crime. Persion Departme st. Places of Interest. Population Tabl 6, Capitals of Principal Countries, Horse R. cing. Postal Information. Catholic Hierarchy. -_ Post Office Department. Caveats and Trademarks, Temigreti.. Public Debt of tthe U, 8. Pugilistic Records. Qualifications for Voting. Racing Records. Railroads, Statistics of. STAR’S ALMANAC FOR “’96” IS NOW READY. - + It would be-easier to say what The Evening Star’s Alma- It is brim full of just such statistical information as is under daily discussion throughout the entire year. There is probably not a question regarding statistics or records touching upon religivus, scientific, political, sociological, industrial, financial, educational, sporting, speculation, agricul- ture, mineral or marine which may not be instantly answered by reference to its 416 solidiy printed pages. What makes it of unusual value’ to Washingtonians is its It states fully the relationship existing between the District of Columbia and the National Government, the duties of the District Commissioners, the Dis- trict sources of revenue and other necessary information and statistics regarding the District’s educational, financial, com- mercial, charitable and religious institutions; the city’s points of interest, and just such other local information as every man, woman and child in the District--and we might add Repre- sentatives and Senators--should know. give a partial list of contents: Latitude and Longitude Tables, Life Insurance Statistics. Mails, Domestic and Foreign. Manufactures, Statistics of. Marriage and Divorce Laws, Mortality in the United States. Popular Vote for President, Only 25¢. a Copy. To be had at The Star Office, Cor. 11th & Pa. Ave., at News Stands, or sent by mail upon receipt of price. THE. EVENING STAR NEWSPAPER COMPANY. Rainfall and Temperature. Religions Statistics. Revolutionary War. Rivers, Longest in the World. Rowing Events. * Rulers of the Chief Natiors, Ruuning Records. . Salvation Army, Savings Benks. Sclentifle Associations. Single Tax Statement. Societies, Secret and Fraternal. Sclar System, Elements of. Sporting Events, State and Territo tal Statistics, Statutes of Lin itation. Storm and Cautionary Signals, State Department. Tariffs, History of. Trade of the District. ‘Treasury Department. Trrf Records United States Senate. Universities and Colleges, Vice Presidents. Vital Statistics, Walking Recorda, War Department. Washington, History of. Weather Bureau. Weights and Measures. , | Whist avd Duplicate Whist, World's Fairs Yachting Events. Yale and Harvard Boat Racing. ‘Young Men's Christian Association, Mt i Te ee that I obtained leave to have copies taken of them. : The first is the receipt given by the re- tainers of Kotsuke no Suke’s son in re- turn for the head of their lord’s father, which the priests restored to the family, and runs as follows: “Memorandum: “Item. One head. “Item. One paper parcel. “The above articles are acknowledged to have been received. (Signed) ‘SAYADA MAGOBEI, (Loc. sigill.) ‘SAITO KUNAI, (Loc. sigill.) “To the priests deputed from the Temple Sengakuji, “His Reverence SEKISHI, “His Reverence ICHIDON. The second paper is a document explana- tory of their conduct, a copy of which was found on the person of each of the forty- seven men. Last year, in the third month, Asano Takumi no Kami, upon the occasion of the entertainment of the imperial ambassador, was driven, by the force of circumstances, 'to attack amd wound my Lord Kotsuke no Suke in the castle, in order to avenge dn insult offered to him. Having done this without considering the dignity of the place, and having thus disregarded all rules of propriety, he was ‘condemned to hara kiri, and his property and castle of Ako were forfeited to the state, and were de- livered up by his retainers to the officers deputed by the Shogun to receive them. After this his followers were all dispersed. At the time of the quarrel the high otfi- cials present prevented Asano Takumi no Kami from carrying out his intention of killing his enemy, my Lord Kotsuke no Suke. So Asano Takumi no Kami died without having avenged himself, and this was more than his retainers could endure. It is impossible to remain under the same heaven with the enemy of lord or fathe for this reason we have dared to declare enmity against a personage of so exalted rank. “This day we shall attack Kira Kotsuke no Suke, in order to finish the deed of vengeance which was begun by our dead lord. If any honorable person should find our bodies after death, he is respectfully requested to open and read this document. “ith year of Genroku. 12th month. (Signed) OISHI KURANOSUKE “Retainer of Asano Takumi no Kami, and forty-seven others.” The third manuscript Is a paper which the forty-seven Ronins laid upon the tomb of their master, together with the head of Kira Kotsuke no Suke: “The 15th year of Genroku, the 12th month, and 15th day. We have come this day to do homage here, forty-seven men in all, from Oishi Kuranosuke down to the foot ‘soldier, Terasaka Kichiyemon, all cheerfully about to lay down our lives on your behalf. We reverently announce this to the honored spirit of our dead master. On the 1th day of the third month of last year our honored master was pleased to at- tack Kira Kotsuke no Suke, for what rea- son we know not. Our honored master put an end to his own life, but Kira Kotsuke no Suke lived. “Although we fear that after the decree issued by the government this plot of ours will be displeasing to our honored master, still we, who have eaten of your food, could not without blushing repeat the verse. “Thou shalt not live under the same heaven nor tread the same earth with the enemy of the father or lord,’ nor could we have @ared to leave hell and present our- selves before you in paradise, unless we had carried out the vengeance which you began. Every day that we waited seerfied as three autumns to us. Verily, we have trodden the snow for one day, nay, for two days, and have tasted food but once. The old and decrepit, the sick and ailing, have come forth gladly to lay down their lives. “Men might laugh at us, as at grass- hoppers trusting in the strength of their arms, and thus shame our honored lord; but we could not halt in our deed of ven- sSeance. Having taken counsel together last night, we have escorted my Lord Kot- suke no Suke hither to your tomb. This dirk, by which our honored lord set great store last year, and intrusted to our care, we now bring back. If your noble spirit be now present before this tomb, we pray you, as a sign, to take the dirk, and, striking the head of your enemy with it a second time, to dispel your hatred forever. This is the respectful statement of forty-seven men.” The text, “Thou shalt not live under the same heaven with the enemy of thy fa- ther,” is based upon the Confucian books. Dr. Legge, in his “Life Teachings of Con- fuciu: page 113, has an interesting para- graph summing up the doctrine of the sage upon the subject of revenge. “In the second book of the ‘Le Ke’ there is the following passage: ‘With the slayer of his father a man may not live under the same heaven; against the slayer of his brother a man must never have to go home to fetch a weapon; with the slayer of his friend a man may not live in the same state.’ The lex talionis is here laid down in its fullest extent. The ‘Chow Le’ tells us of a provision made against the evil consequences of the principle by the ap- pointment of a minister called ‘The Recon- ciler.’ The provision is very inferior to the cities of refuge which were set apart by Mcses for the manslayer to flee to from the fury of the avenger. Such as it was, how- ever, it existed, and it is remarkable that Confucius, when consulted on the subject, took no notice of it, but affirmed the duty of. blood-revenge in the strongest and most unrestricted terms. His disciple, Tsze Hea, asked him, ‘What course is to be pursued in the murder of a father or mother?’ He replied, ‘The son must sleep upon a mat- ting of grass with his shield for his pillow he must decline to take office; he must not live under the same heaven with the slayer. When he meets him in the market place or the court he must have his weapon ready to strike him.” ‘And what is the course in the murder of a brother?” ‘The surviving brother must not take office in the same state with the slayer; yet, if he go on his prince's service to the state where the slayer is, though he meet him, he must not fight with him.’ ‘And what is the course in the murder of an uncle or cousin?’ ‘In this case the nephew or cousin is not the principal.’ ‘If the principal, on whom tie revenge devolves; can take it, he has only to stand behind with his weapon in his hand, and support him.” I will add one anecdote to show the sanc- tity which is attached to the graves of the forty-seven. In the month of September, 1868, a certain man came to pray before the grave of Oishi Chikara. Having fin- ished his prayers, he deliberately perform- ed hara kiri, and, the belly wound not be- ing mortal, despatched himself by cutting his throat. Upon his person were found papers setting forth that, being a Ronin and without means of earning a living, he had petitioned to be allowed to enter the clan of the Prince of Choshiu, which he looked upon as the noblest clan in the realm; his petition having been refused, nothing remained for him but 4o die, for to be a Ronin was hateful to him and he would serve no other master than the Prince of Choshiu; what more fitting place could he find in which to put an end to his life than the graveyard of these braves? This happened at about two hundred yards’ distance from my house, and when | saw the spot dn hour or two later, the ground was all bespattered with blood, and dis- turbed by the death struggles of the man. When the hair begins to fall out or turn gray, the scalp needs doctoring, and we know of no better specific than Hull's Vegetable Sicilisn Hair Renewer. —— LAST MEETING WITH BLAINE. Murat Halstend Speaks of the Great Statesman When He Last Saw Him. From McClare’s Magazine. When Mr. Blaine was for the last time in New York on his way to Washington, stop- ping as was his habit at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, he asked me to walk with him to his room, fronting on 23d street, on the parlor floor; and he slowly, as if it were a task, unlocked the door. There was a sparkle of autumnal crispness in the air, and he had a fire, that glittered and. threw shadows about fitfully. There was not much to say. It was plain at last that Mr. Blaine wa: fading, that he had within a few weeks failed fast. His great, bright eyes were greater than ever, but not so bright. His face was awfully white; not that brainy pallor that was familiar—something else. He seated himself in the light of the fire, on an easy chair. There was a knock at his door, and a servant handed him a card, and he said “‘No,”’ and we were alone. I could not think of a word of consolation, and in a moment he appeared to have forgot- ten me, and stared in a fixed, rapt dream at the flickering flame in the grate. It oc- curred to me to get up and go away quiet- ly, as conversation was impassible—for there was too much to say. It came to me that I ought not to leave him alune. Some- thing in him reminded me of the mystical phrases of the transcendent paragraph of his oration on Garfield, picturing the death of the second martyred President, by the ocean, whil: far off white ships touched the sea and sky, and the fevered face of the dying man felt “the breath of the eternal morning.” Some weeks earlier Mr. Blaine and I had had a deep talk about men and things, and he wss very kind, and h:s boundless gen- erosity of nature never revealed itself with a greater or sudder charm. He now remem- bered that conversation—as a word disclos. ed—and said: “I could have «endured ail things if my boys had not died.” The door opened, end his secretary walked in—and I took Mr. Blaine’s hand for the last time, saying, “Good night,” and he said, with a look that meant farewell—“Good-bye.” ig Proved. From Puck. Husband—“T don’t see why it was neces- sary to call the doctor when the baby had only a trifling cough.” Wife—Well, dear, I asked the doctor, and he said I did right.” ——_+e-+ Boy—"Say, mom, I busted my ball.” Mother—“You shouldn't say bust, John; you should say burst.” Boy—“That's what teacher said, but when the principal asked me who that was, I said it was a burst of Gen, Washington and he licked me, so 1 thought I would stick to bust.”—Truth,