Japanese Memories | Page 3

s escort regarded the presence of the English as an insult to their lord, and drew their swords, with the result that Mr. Richardson was murdered.
The Foreign Powers naturally resented this unfortunate encounter, and a big indemnity of 25,000 was demanded by the British Government from the Duke of Satsuma. The Daimyo at first refused to pay this sum, and ships were sent to bombard his capital. The Satsuma clan soon realized their inferiority in modern warfare and sued for peace, but in consequence of this incident a very sore feeling against foreigners rankled for several years. After prolonged negotiations a Treaty was signed between the Shogun and the Foreign Powers. No permission, however, had been obtained for this by the Shogun from the Emperor or the country, and in consequence great wrath was excited, particularly among the Daimyos. The clans of Satsuma, Choshu, and subsequently two others, rose against the Shogun, determined to displace him by force, and to give the Emperor full powers. The Shogun at this point tendered his resignation from a sense of duty, and his office was relinquished for ever.
In the following year the Daimyo of Satsuma gave up his fiefs, and the other Daimyos soon followed his example. Finally, in 1871, the clans were all abolished, and the late Emperor became absolute in authority. He recognized that it was essential that Japan should no longer isolate herself from foreigners, and that she must become equipped on equal terms for social intercourse, trade, and competition in the markets of the world. From this time the country began to develop.
The Emperor's residence was moved from Kyoto to Tokio, where the Shogun's castle was converted into his palace, and the city itself became the permanent capital of Japan in place of Kyoto, which had been the capital for one thousand years.
Notwithstanding the abolition of the old feudal laws, the spirit of the former system took long to break, and it was in pursuance of the new policy that the appointment was made which placed me in charge of Prince Shimadzu and his young brothers. This appointment was the more remarkable from the fact that in the whole of Japan no house had openly acknowledged the friendly relations with England by introducing a foreigner as a resident into their home, until the House of Shimadzu one of the greatest among the nobility entrusted me with the care of the young Princes, and placed their education in my hands.
Their grandfather had been created Prince. He was a famous hero, who did much for his country, especially in regard to its naval develop ment. The father of Prince Tadashige (my eldest pupil) had died in Kyoshi when his son was only twelve years old, and the boy lived for a time in his own Province, among his retainers, entirely according to the ancient regime, as one who was too great to converse face to face with any of his people an attendant being always at his side.
Being thus left an orphan, and brought up in the Shinto creed of ancestor worship, the tenets of which are essentially connected with the religion of the Imperial family, this young Prince was called upon to bear heavy responsibilities, both in serving the spirits of his ancestors and in attaining such a standard of noble life as the Satsuma clan set before him. He early learned to recognize that he must live up to his great name, and that hundreds of retainers looked to him not only as their master but as a wise example. When he took his father's title he had to make a public vow before them all. Later on I was permitted in confidence to read the contents of this vow, and very beautiful it was but terribly solemn. Such words are too sacred for publication, but well might this young Prince present the grave and earnest appearance which was so noticeable to me on my first presentation.
Fortunately, he was exceptionally gifted, both physically and mentally, and was too young for the enforced seclusion and inactivity to have affected him. But he was guarded as a priceless treasure, and had not been allowed, up to the age of eleven years, even to ride alone in a jinricksha, having always used a double one with his attendant sitting by his side for protection. Two years after his father's death, however, he was taken to Tokio and placed as a daily scholar at the Nobles' School. Shortly after this a still greater change was made, as I was appointed to the care of the Prince and his brothers, and they all removed into a home arranged according to Western standards of education and comfort.
CHAPTER I
ON February 20th, 1901, the Japanese Times contained the following announcement: " One of the highest and most