5T
THE SUNDAY 0REG0!NIA2, PORTLAND, JANUARY 22, 1903.
PRINCELY TRIBUTE TO AMERICAN MOTHERS
Fushimi, Japanese .Imperial Prince, Declares Greatness
Due to Educated Womanhood.
' '
KiiPsaBBB -Jk & VBfttEsHir bSBh
ires BaBKjBBBBKBfcfa-' ivjufff ihbbKb
PRINCE FUSXEMX.
THE MIKADO OF JAP AM.
THE EMPRESS OF JAPAN".
IT was Japanese day at the St- Regis.
The Mikado's colors were on the
jmi, at tho Fifth-avenue portal,
v 4Sternally the hotel was in a
VfIWecause. of the presence of the
flvj?ft?f the Japanese dynasty. His
apiiMrial Highness. Prince Sad ana rl
'JEusnlml. For 15 long, nervous minutes
I await the going up of my card, -which
I immediately hope to follow.
Then the hall-boy returns, and with
' bare-faced mendacity tells me, "The
Prince ia out."
I put a letter in his unwilling hand,
which proves the open sesame to my
Interview, and five minutes later I fol
low my boy (who is grumbling aud
ibly) und make my way willy nilly.
through the surveillance of American
officers and Japanese sleuths to the
third floor that, because of its lux
ury, is set aside for the entertainment
of Princes.
Truly Regal Splendor.
Herroom yawns Into room in the
t -Approved Occidental style: the
f nrHtra of shining gilt; the dustleds
CAjfchlJtrtd the speckless hangings;
altk-e wHft their traditions. Soft
l08tftWtendants whisper in half-au-dible
tones and leave me to wait, not
the pleasure of the Imperial Prince,
but the solace of the Imperial "Go
between." for His Highness does not
speak English.
Count Terashima pattered agilely
over the velvet floor and pausing be
fore mo made me a, grave low court
esy. "His, Highness regrets," he began in
precise and emphatic English. "But "
"I know. I know," I urge feebly, but
it Is the Prince I really want
Count Terashima turned a doubtful
eye upon my visit and narrowed his
slanting lashes. I can hear the drum
of my fingers as they twitched one
against the other.
Tho Count is a little 'above medium
"height, has a wiry frame, and is about
35 years Of age: hia complexion is
olie; he wears the conventional mus
tache, stubby and of ebony black, and
dresses in American fashion. He Is
widely versed in diplomatic affairs and
speaks English as one to the manor
born: he is both vivacious and direct
in his expression, and was serious at
once.
"You might ask me some questions.
THE IMPERIAL PARTY OF PRINCE FCSHLMT. COUNT TERASHIMA STANDS OK THE I.EFT OF THE PRINCE.
you know." he suggested, smiling
suavely.
"Of all that the Prince has found in
civilization, what has impressed His
Highness most?"
It was an unforgivable blunder; I
said it innocently, but the Count gavo
me one withering glance, and I made
a note of the hostile word "Civiliza
tion," and straightway turned the con
versation. "Civilization," echoed the Count, and
his persistence dragged forth my apol
ogy, the hated expression that I had
tucked so carefully away. His eyes
mirthfully twinkled, but his Hps were
firm.
"Has he studied our educational in
stitutions?" I tried again. He was
now ever so serious, but the face light
ened up suddenly and ho said:
"While His Highness lias been as
tonished at your commercial energy,
which 1 the most tremendous the
world bas ever seen, that which has
Impressed him most, because of Its
vital influence upon the homo as well
as the nation. Is the universal educa
tion of your women.
"Nowhere do you find the ignorant
in this country: everyone deems to bj
educated, and In trying to find the so
lution of this astonishing condition, we
have come to the conclusion that it' ia
to the mothers of your race that you
owe your prowess as a Nation.
"We have lived too much in the tra
ditional atmosphere, and have been so
absorbed in our legendary lore that we
have shut our eyes to the truth. Our
women must mentally and physically
be the companions of our men. and
then we can nope for great strides in
science and invention.
"Heretofore we have preached sup
pression, instead of expression of
thought among our women. Resigna
tion to duty whs the Japanese woman's
law, and while I do not believe that
the higher education always makes for
happiness, yet it Is imperatlvo that
prejudice must give way to progress.
"America opened the door to tho com
merce of the Occident, and the whole
world has acknowledged that Japan is
waking up. Wc have been sleeping for
centuries, but recently a great change
has come over the face of things in the
Orient."
Count Terashima spoke with conviction,
and it was clearly to be seen that he now
enjoyed tho subject.
"We were waiting to be introduced by
Uncle Sam. Now the Japanese' have to
face new conditions which havo been
thrust upon them by the enlightenment
of the Western world. The same convic
tion which made America is now stirring
the pulse of Japan, for she realizes that
to live she must fight, and has applied
Western methods to benefit herself.
"Every soldier who fights for Japan is !
imbued with this spirit. He feels that he
must preserve his country, and his life
Is nothing as a forfeit- We want knowl
edge of Western ways.-and being the pro
tege of the United States, we feel that
your ways are best, your ingeniuty Is
marvelous, and we want to. be converted
by your educational system.
"We are sending our sons and daugh
ters to your institutions of learning, and
they arc roturnlng to us to found schools
in our empire.
"Wc have schools for nurses and acade
mies for Instruction in music, painting
and for the accomplishments of the
Western courts, and in the same schools
they teach the traditional Japanese court
ceremonies which, in juxtaposition, seem
to say the least. Just a little Incongruous,
but it all comes with our hunger for im
provement, which will lift up the indi
vidual as well as the nation.
"Tho provisional central government
has chosen Tokfo for the, center of edu
cation, .and the best Institution, tho.
Peeress "Academy, has her Imperial High
ness, the Empress for patroness. These
academies are'nbt qualified, however, for
the technical training of women In the
law- or medicine, and thosa .who are am
bitious for these, professions, avail them
selves of the menus' school.
"As yet co-edueatlon is not popular in
Japan, but we are conservative and must
outgrow the prejudices "of a thousand
generations, and this must be done
through tjie practical channels of educa
tional advancement.
"We- do" not consider a religious train
ing necessary In our "schools unless one
wishes to prepare for the ministry, and
then we have religious seminaries for
that purpose: but we have mado educa
tion compulsory, and while it is a hard
method, it is, nevertheless, effective.
"But over all and above all we believe
the higher the education the better the
motherhood, and since the mother is the
first teacher through our most Impres
sionable years, the better she is qualified
to instruct, the stronger will be her in
fluence upon the nation. Most of the
schools are supported by private funds,
and one of the most promising is that
founded by Count OkUma; however, there
are a number of free schools, and these
will be Increased as soon as possible. We
also have a normal school, preparing
tcachera for our needs, and in all of these
institutions we have American and for
eign teachers.
"On the whole, I would say that there
never has been a time in our history
when the awakening demands of our gov
ernment seem to favor the education or
our women in the lines of progress as
they do at present.
"Hl3 Highness believes that the norae
is a secondary consideration. Country
first, last and always with the Japanese.
and that is why we so readily adopt your
customs, which to us are extremely radi
cal." The Count thought earnestly, and
after some moments of silence ho said in
a changed voice:
"It is a matter or preservation witn us.
we must fight to exist. As to' the in-
fluenco upon th? home where conserva
tism Is so deeply seated.- the effect of
Occidental training will be nothing less
than revolutionary."
Still smiling sauvely. before he knew
what I was thinking about of before I
knew what he was talking .about, he
naively said:
"Silence is the first lesson and the most
imperative perquisite In a Japanese wom
an's deportment." He looked at' me with
narrowing eyelids.
"Silence?" I asked, brilliantly.
"Silence he nodded 'knowingly, "your
women are-not trained thus -in America."
Resigned to Advanced Women.
"No. and has it never occurred to you.
Count Terashima. that your country 13
being rescued from a state of peace that
you can never by any chance' regain'?"
"That." said he. resignedly, ''we have
not proven, we shall know in time, how
ever, but Just now it appears to U3 that
the American system of education, is best
for our women because it appeals to us
as being broad and yet distinctly femi
nine; and we can get thfe knowledge
uninfluenced by the religious sentiment."
He rose to my Ieavetaking. and said
thoughtfully:
"We have the prejudices of thousands
of years of continuous nationality, and
we are conservative- beyond tho belief, of
your people, therefore It will be no easy
task to uproot our traditions; but Japan
has been prompt to utilize the benefits of
modern nations, and if the education of
our women is a necessary step fo'r our ad
vancement then prejudice must give way
to progress. We must fight for our coun
try at the sacrifice of all else, for Japan
must live." (Copyright 1905. by Central
News and Press Exchange.)
ANNABEL LEE.
7MRS. DILLINGHAM SMITH PRO TEM By Richard Barker SKelton '40
L
IT fefrl long been agreed at Surreygato j
-frrc that there was something mys- I
terious about the Dillingham Smiths.
Where they came from or who they were
110 one seemed to know. A week after the
Herringtons had vacated number 18. three
big furniture vans had backed up to the
door and unloaded the usual assortment of
household goods. A nickel doorplace,
bearing the name "Smith." had been fast
ened In place, and thoso who took the
palnB to inquire at the terrace office
learned that number IS had been leased
for two years by Mr. and Mrs. Dillingham
Smith; that Mr. Dillingham Smltli was
night editor on ono of tho papers which
one It was not known and there the in
formation ceased.
Surreygate Terrace, to its last tenant,
disliked this, sudden cessation of informa
tion. It savored of exoluslvoness or
worse. As a general tiling, tho people
who came to tho terrace to take up their
abode were intimate friends of tho for
tunate coterie already domiciled there,
and all their little ins and outs were free
ly discussed. It was known in advance
whether they kept a cook and a second
girl, or only the cook; It was known ia
advance how many children there were
in the family, and whether or not they
were troublesome: the probable amount
of the family income was passed from
mouth to mouth, and their skill at whist
and euchre was a source of rejoicing or
rrgret This was all as it should be. in
t,jy-.l .ipe terrace- " crone ino ico
p4-Hrrivils a standing even before
Oity.C ae.'The paucity of dcflnito ln
fimiUw .regarding the Dillingham
Smiths was looked upon with decided dis
favor. The new occupants of number 18 took
up their residence in the terrace very qui
etly. They made no efforts to become ac
quainted with their neighbors, and, as
they kept no servant, the kjtchea tete-a-tctes
of the. terrace were favored by no
authentic gossip concerning them.
Surreygato Terrace, whose cosy little
aparentments were leased only to married
people, looked on the newcomers with de
cided disapproval. Is a general way,
everybody knew everybody else. They in
terchanged sugar and coffee and molas
ses; they exenangea receipts anq direc
tions for jancyworjc; tney ran into ono
mothers houses informally; tney were
Oictea to jauy J Hue dinners ana auncn-
s snq wnist parties. iae .uuunfrnam
Smiths bade fair to be the death's head'at
this feast of goodfcllowship.
Of course, one and all, the other resi
dents of the terrace called on the new ar
rivals, and In comparing notes afterwards
it was remarked that no one had been re
ceived by both Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Some
had found Mr. Smith, at home, and were
Impressed by his quiet, gentlemanly bear
ing and his evident regret that Mrs. Smith
was not there to welcome them: while oth
ers had been greeted by a tall, reserved
woman, who Insisted that they must come
again and meet Mr. Smith. Tct the
Smiths returned none of these calls, and
the terrace fairlr bristled with resent
ment. The exduslvcness of the Smiths was. in
Itself bad enough: but it was as nothing
in light' of the other strango qualities that
began to disclose themselves. Dillingham
Smith and bis wife were never seen to
gether. She never came to the door to
bid him good-bye in that homely, affec
tioaato manner the terraeoloved; she was
never with him when he clipped the dimin
utive lawn or trained the ivy which was
creeping up the bricks of number 18; and
when either of them left the house It was
Invariably alone. Then. too. It was noted
that after Mr. Dillingham Smith left for
the city at precisely 6:39 each evening,
not a light was to bo seen In number IS,
and hot a sign of Mrs. Smith was dls
cernablc What she did with herself dur
ing the long evenings was a mystery.
The Dillingham Smiths were the little
leaven which leavened the whole lump.
The humdrum life of the terrace was shak
en to its very foundations by this gorgon
of mystery n its midst. At the neighbor
ly calls, at the little dinners, at the sol
emn whist parties. Dillingham Smith, and
his wife wero the absorbing topics of con
versation. They had their defenders. It is
true: hut these were In the minority, and,
moreover, based their defense on the
single obtrusive assertion that the Dilling
ham Smiths minded their own business.
This defense was woefully inadequate.
Surreygate Terrace never demanded that
people mind their own business. It would
have utterly spoiled the Ideal existence
there. Indeed. Surreygate Terrace rather
favored people who didn't mind their own
business too strenuously- That savored
too much of prlglshaess.
Various theories were advanced regard
ing the residents of number 1S and sun
dry rumors, which, like all such rumors,
could never be traced to their beginnings,
somehow got afloat. But the Dillingham
Smiths contlnued the even (or perhaps un
even) tenor of their ways, apparently un
disturbed by criticism, friendly or hostile. 1
Surreygate Terrace shook its head om- J
lnously. It disliked anything outside the
ordinary narrow routine. Its own domes
tic life was open to Inspection. It demand
ed that other people's domestic life should
be similarly free from mystery. That
there was some sort of trouble between
Dillingham Smith and his wife was glar
ingly apparent, and domestic infelicity was
tho one thing that Surreygate Torraco
could not countenance.
Tho probable cause of this domestic in
felicity was suggested by Mrs. Jack Saun
ders, who lived In number 11. to Mrs. Sam
Hart, who resided In number 21. ono af
ternoon as they embroidered doylies in
Mrs. Hart's tiny parlor.
"Three times in town this month," said
Mrs. Saunders in a tone confidentially
lowered, "I've run across Mr. Dillingham
Smith twice on the street, and once at
a matinee, and each time Mr. Dillingham
Smith has been in tho company of a de
cidedly stunning young woman."
Mrs. Hart nodded comprehensively as
she threaded a needle.
"Ah," she said with a meaning glance
at her companion. "I've wondered If,
perhaps" She paused.
"I knew, of course, there was some
thing," said Mrs. Saunders with an air
of finality.
"And we always pride ourselves on
having such eminently respectable neigh
bors here at the terrace!" Mrs. Hart lamented.
Thereupon they launched into a verbal
flailing of Mr. Dillingham Smith that
lasted until Mrs. Saunders went homo to
supervise dinner. As she passed number
IS, Mr. Dillingham Smith came down the
steps. He lifted bis hat and smiled pleas
antly, but Mrs. Saunders hurried past
with the barest nod.
As ho n eared the corner Mrs. Saunders
turned and looked at the retreating figure
long and thoughtfully. He was certainly
' very pleasant-faced and very gentlemanly
I in bearing. He was eminent!' the type
j of man who could enjoy a cosy little dln
i ncr with the right people. She would
I have wagered at odds that he played an
1 excellent hand at whist- He seemed.
judged externally, the very sort of person
' to add to the jollity of the terrace. Per
j haps, after all. everything was all right.
I Perhaps she had judged him somewhat
hastily. Still, it must be admitted that
matters looked very black. And. anyway,
why all this aloofness, this elaborate se
clusion? That was something Mrs." Jack
Saunders could neither understand nor
countenance.
She (ooked up at number IS. There was
no light no sign of life. Where was
Mrs. Dillingham Smith? Where, indeed?
She wondered vaguely if her husband
locked her in her room each night beforo
he left for town?
At heart Mrs. Saunders was disposed
to be charitable. In her own homely
phrasing she was wont to "give tho devil
his duo." But somehow tho more she
thought of Dillingham Smith, as she
walked homeward, the more she realized
that ho was beyond tho pale of her char
itable sensibilities. In fact, by the time
sho had reached her own door, Mrs. Jack
Saunders was thoroughly convinced that
Mr. Dillingham Smith was a monster.
It was something like a week later
that she again went over to Mrs. Hart's
with her doylies.
"Como in. dear," said Mrs. Hart, lead
ing the way toward tho parlor. "You'ro
Just In time to meet my cousin, Virginia."
Mrs. Saunders glanced through tho open
door and beheld a slight, graceful girl
standing by the window. She gasped and
clutched her hostess by the arm.
"Come Into the dining-room," she man
aged to whisper covertly.
They went Into the dining-room, Mrs.
Hart's eyes fixed in wonder on her
friend's excited face.
"That," said Mrs. Saunders dramatical
ly, as tho door closed behind them, "Is
the woman I've seen with Mr. Dillingham
Smith."
"Impossible!" cried Mrs. Hart.
"It is," said Mrs. Saunders flatly.
"Are you sureT' asked Mrs- Hart in.
credulously.
For a moment Mrs. Hart leaned against
. "Absolutely." said the other. "Ask her
If she knows him."
the table, striving to grasp the meaning
of it alL Then she led the way back to
the parlor, where the girl was drawing on
her gloves, and Mrs. Saunders was pre
sented. After a few commonplace re
marks, the girl turned to Mrs. HarL
"I must run alqng. Cousin Evelyn," she
said. "Don't forget us entirely."
Mrs. Hart took a step forward. Her
fingers were working nervously.
"Virginia, dear, do you know a Mr. Dil
lingham Smith?" she asked with a voice
that was ominously steady.
"Why, . yes," said the girl flushing
"Have you heard about it?"
"About what?" said her cousin.
"About out our engagement," said the
girl "It isn't announced yet. "Oh, I see
now! Mamma has written you. Aren't
5-ou going to congratulate me?.'
Mrs. Hart went white to her Hps; Mrs.
Saunders was breathing In quick little
gasps.
"I shall congratulate you a little later,
dear," said Mrs- Hart nervously.
The girl gave the older woman a curious
glance. Her big gray eyes were full of
puzzled anxiety.
"Do you know Mr. Smith?" she asked.
"I've been greatly interested In in cr
soma of his editorials." Mrs. Hart lied
regally.
"Oh!" said the girl. Her eyes looked a
trifl frightened.
"The way you asked about him rather
startled me." she went on laughingly.
"Well, good-bye. Cousin Evelyn and
good-bye. Mrs. Saunders."
The front door closed behind her and
the two amazed women faced each other.
"What on earth are we going to do?"
Mrs. Saunders asked helplessly.
"Do!" echoed Mrs. Hart, viciously.
"Well, the first thing we'll do. we'll lay
this whole wretched matter beforo Mrs.
Dillingham Smith?"
"Now?" said Mrs. Saunders:
"Tes, now." said Mrs. Hart- "Come on.
I'm going over to number IS and let Mrs.
Dillingham Smith know just what sort of
husband sho has. TJgh-h-h! It makes my
blood boll!"
The two women went out Into the soft
afternoon sunshine, and without a word
walked down the terrace. In grim silence
they mounted the steps of number IS and
rang the bell. Mr. Dillingham Smith
himself answered the summons.
'Wc'd like to see Mrs. Smith," said Mrs.
Hart In tones that would have chilled an
Iceberg.
"I'm sorry she's not in," said Mr. Dil
lingham Smith. "Won't you coma in for
a moment, anyway?"
Mrs. Hart hesitated, and then suffered
herself and Mrs, -Saunders to be led Into
a tiny parlor, the counterpart of her own.
"Wlwn will Mrs. Smith return?" asked
Mrs. Hart stiffly.
Mr. Smith shook his head and smiled
deprecatlngly. "When a woman goes
shopping t" he began.
Mrs. Hart's face became yet more stony.
No gladiator facing the beasts in the
Roman arena looked more desperately
courageous than did Mrs. Sam Hart at
that moment.
"Mr. Smith," she said very slowly, and
with an Icy distinctness of enunciation,
"I have a cousin named -Virginia Morris-."
The4o was dead silence in the room.
Mrs. Hart sat rigidly erect, her accusing
eyes on the quel, clean-phayen faca of
the young rnan before her, Mrs. Saun
ders leaned forward In her chair, the bet
ter to read In Mr. Dillingham Smith'
face the effect of Mrs. Hart's words.
The smilo vanished from his lips. A lit
tle frown puckered his brow.
"Yes?" was his politely non-committal
query.
"She has told me all." said Mrs. Hart
in a manner not unlike that of a heroine
in melodrama.
Mr. Dillingham Smith rose from his
chair. "Thla." said ho gravely, "is evi
dently a matter for Mrs. Smith's atten
tion. I will call her."
"Then she is here?" Mrs. Saunders could
not help exclaiming exultantly.
"Yes, she Is here," he returned. "I'll
send her down to you presently."
Before cither woman could remonstrate
he had slipped from the room, and they
heard the stairs creaking beneath his as
cending tread.
For several minutes the two women sat
silently In tho little parlor. Now and then
Mrs. Saunders looked at Mrs. Hart and
raised her eyebrows meaningly. Mrs.
Hart responded with a slow shake of her
head and an eloquent shrug of her
shapely shoulders. Presently there was
a little annunciator cough from the
door. Both women turned and beheld Mrs.
Dillingham Smith standing on the thresh
old. They rose to their feet, but before
either could utter a word a deep, even
voice said:
"Mrs. Dillingham Smith, having been
discovered, begs to explain."
At the same moment a hand was raised
swiftly, the luxurious brown wig wa3 in
continently whisked off, and Dillingham
Smith, in faultless feminine attire, stood,
before them.
"What! what!" gurgled Mrs. Hart and
sank into her chair.
"I0rdy!" gasped the startled. MrA Saun
ders, and sat down with quite as much
precipitancy.
They stared with incredulous eyes at the
strange figure before them, and as In a
dream they heard Dillingham Smith's
proffered explanation:
"You see. when the Harringtons moved
out, I looked at this place and knew it
would be the very thing for Virginia and
ma when wo married In the Spring. So
I rented it; then It was so quiet and, 90
cosy and so generally attractive hero,
that I wanted to quit my dreary life in a
modern bachelor apartment house and
come here to live at once. But the agent
told mc that only married people could
live within these hallowed precinctsc
Well, I'd had considerable training In
playing feminine roles in the athletic club
theatricals, and so Mrs. Diliinghani Smith
pro tem came Into being. I certainly owe
you and all the terrace, for that matter,
every apology."
"Oh, not at all." murmured the dazed
Mrs. Hart vaguely. .
"I think we owe you an apology," said
Mrs. Saunders.
"Oh, no, indeed," said he cheerfully.
"But, I say, you won't give me away,
will you? It's only a few months until
May, and then there'll be a real Mrs.
Dillingham Smith."
"Rest assured we'll be very discreet."
said Mrs. Hart. Sho turned to Mrs. Saun
ders. "I think we'd better go straight to
Virginia and explain our rather peculiar
behavior of this afternoon."
"So do I," Mrs. Saunders agreed
heartily.
"Oh, I say, will you let me go with
you?" asked Mrs. Dillingham Smith pro
tem. (Copyrighted, 1305.)
Pantaloon's Choice. .
Florence Wilkinson in Smart- Set.
Ulysses and Kins Solomon. Prince Paris.
Buy Cid
Wer mighty persons, I have heard, and
famous deeds .they did.
Aye, some were Christian gentlemen; soma
rrent to sea in ships:
Some traveled far, like Prcster John; soma
died for ladles' lips.
Lord Caesar bled with nineteen wounds I
think that was the number .
And many a tall and clanking kins ?asf
dono to death in slumber.
Duke Agamemnon he was stabbed. "Gra-
mercy!" he did cry.
Count Hugo' had his head chopped oft i
chilling way to die!
Saint Louis was a holy man. and Attilat
was bold;
But, Ilko the twelve apostles, both went
hungry and a-cold.
Thu3, on the whole. I think I have no rea
son for complaint
That I was born poor Pantaloon and not a
king or saint.
S-3th, they were callant gentlemen, Pha
raoh and Saladln;
Tet. by my strip's, not one of them woula
I choose to have been.
I'd rather be poor Pantaloon, to get me a
good wife.
To lire at home and die in bed and lead
an honest life.
Mr. Trucklove Tou have a. beautiful voice,
Miss Piper; I wish I could hear you sing
very day. illss Piper Well really you'll
have to speak to mama sr thl Is h aud
cn. WahIngton Life.