Hawaii Holomua, Volume II, Number 45, 9 Nowemapa 1894 — He Talks. [ARTICLE]
He Talks.
Among tbe arrivals on tbe steamer Cbina from Japau yesterday were Mr. und Mrs. George 1). Mumford, wbo bave been spending tbe past six montbs in seeing tbe sigbts and at(ractions of tbe Mikado’skingdom. Mr. Mnmford is a son of the lute George > D. MumM. at one time vicepresident of tbe M estorn Umon Telegrapb Company- He was married sevoral montbs ago, and ’ with bis wile went to the Orient on a boneymoon trip. He is now returuing home to Is T ew York to eommenee tbe practice of tbe E law. Mr. and Mrs Mumtord bad the pleasure of seeing many of the warlike preparations made by tbe Japanese autborities at tbe commencement of tbe bostilities and also enjoyed tbe pleusure of seeiug tbe Mikado while on bis way to Hiroshima. wbere he went to take cbarge of the military affairs of tbe nution. They were at Nagoya Iast montb wheu tbe Eraperor's party arrived. “Tbe town put ou a gala appt-ar-anee in bonor of tbe arrival of tbe distinguishod visitor, and the people went almost wild witb deligbt, said Mr. Mumford. Japanese lunterns were displayed in ’ front of all tbe houses, arches were erected over the streets and grand displajs of fire-works were given to properly celebrate the event. But the enthusiasm of tbe people got the best of them. In their great excitement they set off the fireworks whieh were intended for the nigbt in the daytime. “The Emperor remained in Xagoya two days, occupying a , priest's house within the walls of . the temple. He appeared, before . the people for about five minutes . ouly, and ‘received a tremendoos , ovation. There ean be no question as to L the loyaity and pa;riotism of ihe l Japanese. According to the Japauese papers, whieh, cnder , the strict censorship now in i vogue, print noihing that is not official, the Japanese have eon- • tribnted bandsomely to' the war , fund. The proprietors of the rich Aahio copper mines gave , 1,000,000 yen, while the mer- . chants, business men, priests and efen little children gave liberally, many contrībnting more than they could really afford.” Many conflicting statements have been pnblished eonceming tbe amoanl ol treasure captuxed , by tbe Japanese army at the bat-1 tle of the Ping Yang. Mr. Mumford says that some ol ihe Japaneee papers iecently published
■an offictal staiercents in whieh j the valne of the booty w«s esti- | mated at 4.000,000 ye n. an r , amoant safficieot to p«y the ex- j penses of tbe Japanese araoy for a month. ( Tbe treasnre C’>nsisted of rongb : 5 1 gold freah from the minea a large . amonnt of aeeieni eoin. a larger amoant of eoin of a later date and many bars of gold. all of whieh , had beeo taken along by the Chis | nese ccmmander to pay his sol- ; diers. The pablication of that I statement in the Japanese papers j | created great joy throughout . Japan.
' I Mr. Mamford tells an interest- , iog story of a trick piayed by a [ Chinese clothing Manufactorer at i'okohama on a namt ber of his coantiymen at the commencement of tbe hosti!itiea. r His name is Ah Shing and he is one of the largest mannfacturers . of clothing in Japan. TVhen the , war broke ont he agreed with all of his countrymen who were in , in the same line of business to , j paek np their wares and go back to China. They bad tbeir goods sbipped down to tbe steamer iunding and piaced abroad tHe vessel, but tbe last minuie the wily Ah Shing gave tbe other Chinese tbe slip and remained on the wbarf with bis stock in trade. When tbe steamer sailed down the harbor Ab Shing was left alone in Yokohama,with a monopoly in the bnsiness i f making clothiug. The story is beiug told iu Yokohama as one of the funniest things of the war.
“Most of the Chinese who have heen doing lftsiness in Japan have retnrned to Chiua,” said Mr. Mumford, “but there are still a nuraber in the treaty ports. They are not being molested by the Japanese, thongh an occasional street row or knifing bout without serious results is heard of. The Japanese manifest alraost as rauch feeling against Europeans as they do against the few Chinese now reraaining in Jap an. The feeling against Europeans, andjparticularly against the English, is mueh greater than it was ten years ago, and it is stili ° rrU/ ' Tonanft«e seem to be growing raore haughty as tbey become impressed with their military iraportance, and eaeh of the victories in their present war with China makes them swell with haughty pride. lf they win the war they will not care mueh for the friendship of the European nations. Treaty r«gulations have had a great deal do with this change iu theh dispositions. They believe th»y are equal of any European natbn and want to be so considered. Then, again, the missionaries iave helped to strain the relati*ns of tbe Japauese and foreigtsrs. [T!ie missiouaries are coitinuallj trying to get lilile cbldren n tbeir schools despite he objedions of their parents, anl when it is remembered that in tb Shinto re!igion disobedeuce isconsidered tbe worst ot tll siu? it is uot snprising tbat Ihe Japanese , should feel aggrieved.’ : ]