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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/8868-0.txt b/8868-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..36a2484 --- /dev/null +++ b/8868-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5215 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Botchan (Master Darling), +by Kin-nosuke Natsume + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Botchan (Master Darling) + +Author: Kin-nosuke Natsume + +Translator: Yasotaro Morri + +Release Date: August 17, 2003 [eBook #8868] +[Most recently updated: March 21, 2022] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 with BOM + +Produced by: David Starner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) *** + + + + +BOTCHAN +(MASTER DARLING) + +by The Late Mr. Kin-nosuke Natsume + +TRANSLATED By Yasotaro Morri + +Revised by J. R. KENNEDY + +1919 + + +Contents + + A NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR + CHAPTER I + CHAPTER II + CHAPTER III + CHAPTER IV + CHAPTER V + CHAPTER VI + CHAPTER VII + CHAPTER VIII + CHAPTER IX + CHAPTER X + CHAPTER XI + + + + +A NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR + + +No translation can expect to equal, much less to excel, the original. +The excellence of a translation can only be judged by noting how far it +has succeeded in reproducing the original tone, colors, style, the +delicacy of sentiment, the force of inert strength, the peculiar +expressions native to the language with which the original is written, +or whatever is its marked characteristic. The ablest can do no more, +and to want more than this will be demanding something impossible. +Strictly speaking, the only way one can derive full benefit or +enjoyment from a foreign work is to read the original, for any +intelligence at second-hand never gives the kind of satisfaction which +is possible only through the direct touch with the original. Even in +the best translated work is probably wanted the subtle vitality natural +to the original language, for it defies an attempt, however elaborate, +to transmit all there is in the original. Correctness of diction may be +there, but spontaneity is gone; it cannot be helped. + +The task of the translator becomes doubly hazardous in case of +translating a European language into Japanese, or vice versa. Between +any of the European languages and Japanese there is no visible kinship +in word-form, significance, grammatical system, rhetorical +arrangements. It may be said that the inspiration of the two languages +is totally different. A want of similarity of customs, habits, +traditions, national sentiments and traits makes the work of +translation all the more difficult. A novel written in Japanese which +had attained national popularity might, when rendered into English, +lose its captivating vividness, alluring interest and lasting appeal to +the reader. + +These remarks are made not in way of excuse for any faulty dictions +that may be found in the following pages. Neither are they made out of +personal modesty nor of a desire to add undue weight to the present +work. They are made in the hope that whoever is good enough to go +through the present translation will remember, before he may venture to +make criticisms, the kind and extent of difficulties besetting him in +his attempts so as not to judge the merit of the original by this +translation. Nothing would afford the translator a greater pain than +any unfavorable comment on the original based upon this translation. If +there be any deserving merits in the following pages the credit is due +to the original. Any fault found in its interpretation or in the +English version, the whole responsibility is on the translator. + +For the benefit of those who may not know the original, it must be +stated that “Botchan” by the late Mr. K. Natsume was an epoch-making +piece of work. On its first appearance, Mr. Natsume’s place and name as +the foremost in the new literary school were firmly established. He had +written many other novels of more serious intent, of heavier thoughts +and of more enduring merits, but it was this “Botchan” that secured him +the lasting fame. Its quaint style, dash and vigor in its narration +appealed to the public who had become somewhat tired of the stereotyped +sort of manner with which all stories had come to be handled. + +In its simplest understanding, “Botchan” may be taken as an episode in +the life of a son born in Tokyo, hot-blooded, simple-hearted, pure as +crystal and sturdy as a towering rock, honest and straight to a fault, +intolerant of the least injustice and a volunteer ever ready to +champion what he considers right and good. Children may read it as a +“story of man who tried to be honest.” It is a light, amusing and, at +the name time, instructive story, with no tangle of love affairs, no +scheme of blood-curdling scenes or nothing startling or sensational in +the plot or characters. The story, however, may be regarded as a biting +sarcasm on a hypocritical society in which a gang of instructors of +dark character at a middle school in a backwoods town plays a prominent +part. The hero of the story is made a victim of their annoying +intrigues, but finally comes out triumphant by smashing the petty red +tapism, knocking down the sham pretentions and by actual use of the +fist on the Head Instructor and his henchman. + +The story will be found equally entertaining as a means of studying the +peculiar traits of the native of Tokyo which are characterised by their +quick temper, dashing spirit, generosity and by their readiness to +resist even the lordly personage if convinced of their own justness, or +to kneel down even to a child if they acknowledge their own wrong. +Incidently the touching devotion of the old maid servant Kiyo to the +hero will prove a standing reproach to the inconstant, unfaithful +servants of which the number is ever increasing these days in Tokyo. +The story becomes doubly interesting by the fact that Mr. K. Natsume, +when quite young, held a position of teacher of English at a middle +school somewhere about the same part of the country described in the +story, while he himself was born and brought up in Tokyo. + +It may be added that the original is written in an autobiographical +style. It is profusely interladed with spicy, catchy colloquials patent +to the people of Tokyo for the equals of which we may look to the +rattling speeches of notorious Chuck Conners of the Bowery of New York. +It should be frankly stated that much difficulty was experienced in +getting the corresponding terms in English for those catchy +expressions. Strictly speaking, some of them have no English +equivalents. Care has been exercised to select what has been thought +most appropriate in the judgment or the translator in converting those +expressions into English but some of them might provoke disapproval +from those of the “cultured” class with “refined” ears. The slangs in +English in this translation were taken from an American magazine of +world-wide reputation editor of which was not afraid to print of “damn” +when necessary, by scorning the timid, conventional way of putting it +as “d—n.” If the propriety of printing such short ugly words be +questioned, the translator is sorry to say that no means now exists of +directly bringing him to account for he met untimely death on board the +Lusitania when it was sunk by the German submarine. + +Thanks are due to Mr. J. R. Kennedy, General Manager, and Mr. Henry +Satoh, Editor-in-Chief, both of the Kokusai Tsushin-sha (the +International News Agency) of Tokyo and a host of personal friends of +the translator whose untiring assistance and kind suggestions have made +the present translation possible. Without their sympathetic interests, +this translation may not have seen the daylight. + +Tokyo, September, 1918. + + + + +BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Because of an hereditary recklessness, I have been playing always a +losing game since my childhood. During my grammar school days, I was +once laid up for about a week by jumping from the second story of the +school building. Some may ask why I committed such a rash act. There +was no particular reason for doing such a thing except I happened to be +looking out into the yard from the second floor of the newly-built +school house, when one of my classmates, joking, shouted at me; “Say, +you big bluff, I’ll bet you can’t jump down from there! O, you +chicken-heart, ha, ha!” So I jumped down. The janitor of the school had +to carry me home on his back, and when my father saw me, he yelled +derisively, “What a fellow you are to go and get your bones dislocated +by jumping only from a second story!” + +“I’ll see I don’t get dislocated next time,” I answered. + +One of my relatives once presented me with a pen-knife. I was showing +it to my friends, reflecting its pretty blades against the rays of the +sun, when one of them chimed in that the blades gleamed all right, but +seemed rather dull for cutting with. + +“Rather dull? See if they don’t cut!” I retorted. + +“Cut your finger, then,” he challenged. And with “Finger nothing! Here +goes!” I cut my thumb slant-wise. Fortunately the knife was small and +the bone of the thumb hard enough, so the thumb is still there, but the +scar will be there until my death. + +About twenty steps to the east edge of our garden, there was a +moderate-sized vegetable yard, rising toward the south, and in the +centre of which stood a chestnut tree which was dearer to me than life. +In the season when the chestnuts were ripe, I used to slip out of the +house from the back door early in the morning to pick up the chestnuts +which had fallen during the night, and eat them at the school. On the +west side of the vegetable yard was the adjoining garden of a pawn shop +called Yamashiro-ya. This shopkeeper’s son was a boy about 13 or 14 +years old named Kantaro. Kantaro was, it happens, a mollycoddle. +Nevertheless he had the temerity to come over the fence to our yard and +steal my chestnuts. + +One certain evening I hid myself behind a folding-gate of the fence and +caught him in the act. Having his retreat cut off he grappled with me +in desperation. He was about two years older than I, and, though +weak-kneed, was physically the stronger. While I wallopped him, he +pushed his head against my breast and by chance it slipped inside my +sleeve. As this hindered the free action of my arm, I tried to shake +him loose, though, his head dangled the further inside, and being no +longer able to stand the stifling combat, he bit my bare arm. It was +painful. I held him fast against the fence, and by a dexterous foot +twist sent him down flat on his back. Kantaro broke the fence and as +the ground belonging to Yamashiro-ya was about six feet lower than the +vegetable yard, he fell headlong to his own territory with a thud. As +he rolled off he tore away the sleeve in which his head had been +enwrapped, and my arm recovered a sudden freedom of movement. That +night when my mother went to Yamashiro-ya to apologize, she brought +back that sleeve. + +Besides the above, I did many other mischiefs. With Kaneko of a +carpenter shop and Kaku of a fishmarket, I once ruined a carrot patch +of one Mosaku. The sprouts were just shooting out and the patch was +covered with straws to ensure their even healthy growth. Upon this +straw-covered patch, we three wrestled for fully half a day, and +consequently thoroughly smashed all the sprouts. Also I once filled up +a well which watered some rice fields owned by one Furukawa, and he +followed me with kicks. The well was so devised that from a large +bamboo pole, sunk deep into the ground, the water issued and irrigated +the rice fields. Ignorant of the mechanical side of this irrigating +method at that time, I stuffed the bamboo pole with stones and sticks, +and satisfied that no more water came up, I returned home and was +eating supper when Furukawa, fiery red with anger, burst into our house +with howling protests. I believe the affair was settled on our paying +for the damage. + +Father did not like me in the least, and mother always sided with my +big brother. This brother’s face was palish white, and he had a +fondness for taking the part of an actress at the theatre. + +“This fellow will never amount to much,” father used to remark when he +saw me. + +“He’s so reckless that I worry about his future,” I often heard mother +say of me. Exactly; I have never amounted to much. I am just as you see +me; no wonder my future used to cause anxiety to my mother. I am living +without becoming but a jailbird. + +Two or three days previous to my mother’s death, I took it into my head +to turn a somersault in the kitchen, and painfully hit my ribs against +the corner of the stove. Mother was very angry at this and told me not +to show my face again, so I went to a relative to stay with. While +there, I received the news that my mother’s illness had become very +serious, and that after all efforts for her recovery, she was dead. I +came home thinking that I should have behaved better if I had known the +conditions were so serious as that. Then that big brother of mine +denounced me as wanting in filial piety, and that I had caused her +untimely death. Mortified at this, I slapped his face, and thereupon +received a sound scolding from father. + +After the death of mother, I lived with father and brother. Father did +nothing, and always said “You’re no good” to my face. What he meant by +“no good” I am yet to understand. A funny dad he was. My brother was to +be seen studying English hard, saying that he was going to be a +businessman. He was like a girl by nature, and so “sassy” that we two +were never on good terms, and had to fight it out about once every ten +days. When we played a chess game one day, he placed a chessman as a +“waiter,”—a cowardly tactic this,—and had hearty laugh on me by seeing +me in a fix. His manner was so trying that time that I banged a +chessman on his forehead which was injured a little bit and bled. He +told all about this to father, who said he would disinherit me. + +Then I gave up myself for lost, and expected to be really disinherited. +But our maid Kiyo, who had been with us for ten years or so, interceded +on my behalf, and tearfully apologized for me, and by her appeal my +father’s wrath was softened. I did not regard him, however, as one to +be afraid of in any way, but rather felt sorry for our Kiyo. I had +heard that Kiyo was of a decent, well-to-do family, but being driven to +poverty at the time of the Restoration, had to work as a servant. So +she was an old woman by this time. This old woman,—by what affinity, as +the Buddhists say, I don’t know,—loved me a great deal. Strange, +indeed! She was almost blindly fond of me,—me, whom mother, became +thoroughly disgusted with three days before her death; whom father +considered a most aggravating proposition all the year round, and whom +the neighbors cordially hated as the local bully among the youngsters. +I had long reconciled myself to the fact that my nature was far from +being attractive to others, and so didn’t mind if I were treated as a +piece of wood; so I thought it uncommon that Kiyo should pet me like +that. Sometimes in the kitchen, when there was nobody around, she would +praise me saying that I was straightforward and of a good disposition. +What she meant by that exactly, was not clear to me, however. If I were +of so good a nature as she said, I imagined those other than Kiyo +should accord me a better treatment. So whenever Kiyo said to me +anything of the kind, I used to answer that I did not like passing +compliments. Then she would remark; “That’s the very reason I say you +are of a good disposition,” and would gaze at me with absorbing +tenderness. She seemed to recreate me by her own imagination, and was +proud of the fact. I felt even chilled through my marrow at her +constant attention to me. + +After my mother was dead, Kiyo loved me still more. In my simple +reasoning, I wondered why she had taken such a fancy to me. Sometimes +I thought it quite futile on her part, that she had better quit that +sort of thing, which was bad for her. But she loved me just the same. +Once in a while she would buy, out of her own pocket, some cakes or +sweetmeats for me. When the night was cold, she would secretly buy +some noodle powder, and bring all unawares hot noodle gruel to my bed; +or sometimes she would even buy a bowl of steaming noodles from the +peddler. Not only with edibles, but she was generous alike with socks, +pencils, note books, etc. And she even furnished me,—this happened +some time later,—with about three yen, I did not ask her for the +money; she offered it from her own good will by bringing it to my +room, saying that I might be in need of some cash. This, of course, +embarrassed me, but as she was so insistent I consented to borrow it. +I confess I was really glad of the money. I put it in a bag, and +carried it in my pocket. While about the house, I happened to drop the +bag into a cesspool. Helpless, I told Kiyo how I had lost the money, +and at once she fetched a bamboo stick, and said she will get it for +me. After a while I heard a splashing sound of water about our family +well, and going there, saw Kiyo washing the bag strung on the end of +the stick. I opened the bag and found the color of the three one-yen +bills turned to faint yellow and designs fading. Kiyo dried them at an +open fire and handed them over to me, asking if they were all right. I +smelled them and said; “They stink yet.” + +“Give them to me; I’ll get them changed.” She took those three bills, +and,—I do not know how she went about it,—brought three yen in silver. +I forget now upon what I spent the three yen. “I’ll pay you back soon,” +I said at the time, but didn’t. I could not now pay it back even if I +wished to do so with ten times the amount. + +When Kiyo gave me anything she did so always when both father and +brother were out. Many things I do not like, but what I most detest is +the monopolizing of favors behind some one else’s back. Bad as my +relations were with my brother, still I did not feel justified in +accepting candies or color-pencils from Kiyo without my brother’s +knowledge. “Why do you give those things only to me and not to my +brother also?” I asked her once, and she answered quite unconcernedly +that my brother may be left to himself as his father bought him +everything. That was partiality; father was obstinate, but I am sure he +was not a man who would indulge in favoritism. To Kiyo, however, he +might have looked that way. There is no doubt that Kiyo was blind to +the extent of her undue indulgence with me. She was said to have come +from a well-to-do family, but the poor soul was uneducated, and it +could not be helped. All the same, you cannot tell how prejudice will +drive one to the extremes. Kiyo seemed quite sure that some day I would +achieve high position in society and become famous. Equally she was +sure that my brother, who was spending his hours studiously, was only +good for his white skin, and would stand no show in the future. Nothing +can beat an old woman for this sort of thing, I tell you. She firmly +believed that whoever she liked would become famous, while whoever she +hated would not. I did not have at that time any particular object in +my life. But the persistency with which Kiyo declared that I would be a +great man some day, made me speculate myself that after all I might +become one. How absurd it seems to me now when I recall those days. I +asked her once what kind of a man I should be, but she seemed to have +formed no concrete idea as to that; only she said that I was sure to +live in a house with grand entrance hall, and ride in a private +rikisha. + +And Kiyo seemed to have decided for herself to live with me when I +became independent and occupy my own house. “Please let me live with +you,”—she repeatedly asked of me. Feeling somewhat that I should +eventually be able to own a house, I answered her “Yes,” as far as such +an answer went. This woman, by the way, was strongly imaginative. She +questioned me what place I liked,—Kojimachi-ku or Azabu-ku?—and +suggested that I should have a swing in our garden, that one room be +enough for European style, etc., planning everything to suit her own +fancy. I did not then care a straw for anything like a house; so +neither Japanese nor European style was much of use to me, and I told +her to that effect. Then she would praise me as uncovetous and clean of +heart. Whatever I said, she had praise for me. + +I lived, after the death of mother, in this fashion for five or six +years. I had kicks from father, had rows with brother, and had candies +and praise from Kiyo. I cared for nothing more; I thought this was +enough. I imagined all other boys were leading about the same kind of +life. As Kiyo frequently told me, however, that I was to be pitied, and +was unfortunate, I imagined that that might be so. There was nothing +that particularly worried me except that father was too tight with my +pocket money, and this was rather hard on me. + +In January of the 6th year after mother’s death, father died of +apoplexy. In April of the same year, I graduated from a middle school, +and two months later, my brother graduated from a business college. +Soon he obtained a job in the Kyushu branch of a certain firm and had +to go there, while I had to remain in Tokyo and continue my study. He +proposed the sale of our house and the realization of our property, to +which I answered “Just as you like it.” I had no intention of depending +upon him anyway. Even were he to look after me, I was sure of his +starting something which would eventually end in a smash-up as we were +prone to quarrel on the least pretext. It was because in order to +receive his protection that I should have to bow before such a fellow, +that I resolved that I would live by myself even if I had to do milk +delivery. Shortly afterwards he sent for a second-hand dealer and sold +for a song all the bric-a-bric which had been handed down from ages ago +in our family. Our house and lot were sold, through the efforts of a +middleman to a wealthy person. This transaction seemed to have netted a +goodly sum to him, but I know nothing as to the detail. + +For one month previous to this, I had been rooming in a boarding house +in Kanda-ku, pending a decision as to my future course. Kiyo was +greatly grieved to see the house in which she had lived so many years +change ownership, but she was helpless in the matter. + +“If you were a little older, you might have inherited this house,” she +once remarked in earnest. + +If I could have inherited the house through being a little older, I +ought to have been able to inherit the house right then. She knew +nothing, and believed the lack of age only prevented my coming into the +possession of the house. + +Thus I parted from my brother, but the disposal of Kiyo was a difficult +proposition. My brother was, of course, unable to take her along, nor +was there any danger of her following him so far away as Kyushu, while +I was in a small room of a boarding house, and might have to clear out +anytime at that. There was no way out, so I asked her if she intended +to work somewhere else. Finally she answered me definitely that she +would go to her nephew’s and wait until I started my own house and get +married. This nephew was a clerk in the Court of Justice, and being +fairly well off, had invited Kiyo before more than once to come and +live with him, but Kiyo preferred to stay with us, even as a servant, +since she had become well used to our family. But now I think she +thought it better to go over to her nephew than to start a new life as +servant in a strange house. Be that as it may, she advised me to have +my own household soon, or get married, so she would come and help me in +housekeeping. I believe she liked me more than she did her own kin. + +My brother came to me, two days previous to his departure for Kyushu, +and giving me 600 yen, said that I might begin a business with it, or +go ahead with my study, or spend it in any way I liked, but that that +would be the last he could spare. It was a commendable act for my +brother. What! about only 600 yen! I could get along without it, I +thought, but as this unusually simple manner appealed to me, I accepted +the offer with thanks. Then he produced 50 yen, requesting me to give +it to Kiyo next time I saw her, which I readily complied with. Two days +after, I saw him off at the Shimbashi Station, and have not set my eyes +on him ever since. + +Lying in my bed, I meditated on the best way to spend that 600 yen. A +business is fraught with too much trouble, and besides it was not my +calling. Moreover with only 600 yen no one could open a business worth +the name. Were I even able to do it, I was far from being educated, and +after all, would lose it. Better let investments alone, but study more +with the money. Dividing the 600 yen into three, and by spending 200 +yen a year, I could study for three years. If I kept at one study with +bull-dog tenacity for three years, I should be able to learn something. +Then the selection of a school was the next problem. By nature, there +is no branch of study whatever which appeals to my taste. Nix on +languages or literature! The new poetry was all Greek to me; I could +not make out one single line of twenty. Since I detested every kind of +study, any kind of study should have been the same to me. Thinking +thus, I happened to pass front of a school of physics, and seeing a +sign posted for the admittance of more students, I thought this might +be a kind of “affinity,” and having asked for the prospectus, at once +filed my application for entrance. When I think of it now, it was a +blunder due to my hereditary recklessness. + +For three years I studied about as diligently as ordinary fellows, but +not being of a particularly brilliant quality, my standing in the class +was easier to find by looking up from the bottom. Strange, isn’t it, +that when three years were over, I graduated? I had to laugh at myself, +but there being no reason for complaint, I passed out. + +Eight days after my graduation, the principal of the school asked me to +come over and see him. I wondered what he wanted, and went. A middle +school in Shikoku was in need of a teacher of mathematics for forty yen +a month, and he sounded me to see if I would take it. I had studied for +three years, but to tell the truth, I had no intention of either +teaching or going to the country. Having nothing in sight, however, +except teaching, I readily accepted the offer. This too was a blunder +due to hereditary recklessness. + +I accepted the position, and so must go there. The three years of my +school life I had seen confined in a small room, but with no kick +coming or having no rough house. It was a comparatively easy going +period in my life. But now I had to pack up. Once I went to Kamakura on +a picnic with my classmates while I was in the grammar school, and that +was the first and last, so far, that I stepped outside of Tokyo since I +could remember. This time I must go darn far away, that it beats +Kamakura by a mile. The prospective town is situated on the coast, and +looked the size of a needle-point on the map. It would not be much to +look at anyway. I knew nothing about the place or the people there. It +did not worry me or cause any anxiety. I had simply to travel there and +that was the annoying part. + +Once in a while, since our house was no more, I went to Kiyo’s nephew’s +to see her. Her nephew was unusually good-natured, and whenever I +called upon her, he treated me well if he happened to be at home. Kiyo +would boost me sky-high to her nephew right to my face. She went so far +once as to say that when I had graduated from school, I would purchase +a house somewhere in Kojimachi-ku and get a position in a government +office. She decided everything in her own way, and talked of it aloud, +and I was made an unwilling and bashful listener. I do not know how her +nephew weighed her tales of self-indulgence on me. Kiyo was a woman of +the old type, and seemed, as if it was still the days of Feudal Lords, +to regard her nephew equally under obligation to me even as she was +herself. + +After settling about my new position, I called upon her three days +previous to my departure. She was sick abed in a small room, but, on +seeing me she got up and immediately inquired; + +“Master Darling, when do you begin housekeeping?” + +She evidently thought as soon as a fellow finishes school, money comes +to his pocket by itself. But then how absurd to call such a “great man” +“Darling.” I told her simply that I should let the house proposition go +for some time, as I had to go to the country. She looked greatly +disappointed, and blankly smoothed her gray-haired sidelocks. I felt +sorry for her, and said comfortingly; “I am going away but will come +back soon. I’ll return in the vacation next summer, sure.” Still as she +appeared not fully satisfied, I added; + +“Will bring you back a surprise. What do you like?” + +She wished to eat “sasa-ame”[1] of Echigo province. I had never heard +of “sasa-ame” of Echigo. To begin with, the location is entirely +different. + +[Footnote 1: Sasa-ame is a kind of rice-jelly wrapped with sasa, or the +bamboo leaves, well-known as a product of Echigo province.] + + +“There seems to be no ‘sasa-ame’ in the country where I’m going,” I +explained, and she rejoined; “Then, in what direction?” I answered +“westward” and she came back with “Is it on the other side of Hakone?” +This give-and-take conversation proved too much for me. + +On the day of my departure, she came to my room early in the morning +and helped me to pack up. She put into my carpet-bag tooth powder, +tooth-brush and towels which she said she had bought at a dry goods +store on her way. I protested that I did not want them, but she was +insistent.[A] We rode in rikishas to the station. Coming up the +platform, she gazed at me from outside the car, and said in a low +voice; + +“This may be our last good-by. Take care of yourself.” + +Her eyes were full of tears. I did not cry, but was almost going to. +After the train had run some distance, thinking it would be all right +now, I poked my head out of the window and looked back. She was still +there. She looked very small. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +With a long, sonorous whistle the steamer which I was aboard came to a +standstill, and a boat was seen making toward us from the shore. The +man rowing the boat was stark naked, except for a piece of red cloth +girt round his loins. A barbarous place, this! though he may have been +excused for it in such hot weather as it was. The sun’s rays were +strong and the water glimmered in such strange colors as to dazzle +one’s sight if gazed at it for long. I had been told by a clerk of the +ship that I was to get off here. The place looked like a fishing +village about the size of Omori. Great Scott! I wouldn’t stay in such a +hole, I thought, but I had to get out. So, down I jumped first into the +boat, and I think five or six others followed me. After loading about +four large boxes besides, the red-cloth rowed us ashore. When the boat +struck the sand, I was again the first to jump out, and right away I +accosted a skinny urchin standing nearby, asking him where the middle +school was. The kid answered blankly that he did not know. Confound the +dull-head! Not to know where the middle school was, living in such a +tiny bit of a town. Then a man wearing a rig with short, queer shaped +sleeves approached me and bade me follow. I walked after him and was +taken to an inn called Minato-ya. The maids of the inn, who gave me a +disagreeable impression, chorused at sight of me; “Please step inside.” +This discouraged me in proceeding further, and I asked them, standing +at the door-way, to show me the middle school. On being told that the +middle school was about four miles away by rail, I became still more +discouraged at putting up there. I snatched my two valises from the man +with queer-shaped [B] sleeves who had guided me so far, and strode +away. The people of the inn looked after me with a dazed expression. + +The station was easily found, and a ticket bought without any fuss. The +coach I got in was about as dignified as a match-box. The train rambled +on for about five minutes, and then I had to get off. No wonder the +fare was cheap; it cost only three sen. I then hired a rikisha and +arrived at the middle school, but school was already over and nobody +was there. The teacher on night-duty was out just for a while, said the +janitor,—the night-watch was taking life easy, sure. I thought of +visiting the principal, but being tired, ordered the rikishaman to take +me to a hotel. He did this with much alacrity and led me to a hotel +called Yamashiro-ya. I felt it rather amusing to find the name +Yamashiro-ya the same as that of Kantaro’s house. + +They ushered me to a dark room below the stairway. No one could stay in +such a hot place! I said I did not like such a warm room, but the maid +dumped my valises on the floor and left me, mumbling that all the other +rooms were occupied. So I took the room though it took some resolution +to stand the weltering heat. After a while the maid said the bath was +ready, and I took one. On my way back from the bathroom, I peeped +about, and found many rooms, which looked much cooler than mine, +vacant. Sunnovgun! They had lied. By’m-by, she fetched my supper. +Although the room was hot, the meal was a deal better than the kind I +used to have in my boarding house. While waiting on me, she questioned +me where I was from, and I said, “from Tokyo.” Then she asked; “Isn’t +Tokyo a nice place?” and I shot back, “Bet ’tis.” About the time the +maid had reached the kitchen, loud laughs were heard. There was nothing +doing, so I went to bed, but could not sleep. Not only was it hot, but +noisy,—about five times noisier than my boarding house. While snoozing, +I dreamed of Kiyo. She was eating “sasa-ame” of Echigo province without +taking off the wrapper of bamboo leaves. I tried to stop her, saying +bamboo leaves may do her harm, but she replied, “O, no, these leaves +are very helpful for the health,” and ate them with much relish. +Astounded, I laughed “Ha, ha, ha!”—and so awoke. The maid was opening +the outside shutters. The weather was just as clear as the previous +day. + +I had heard once before that when travelling, one should give “tea +money” to the hotel or inn where he stops; that unless this “tea money” +is given, the hostelry would accord him rather rough treatment. It must +have been on account of my being slow in the fork over of this “tea +money” that they had huddled me into such a narrow, dark room. Likewise +my shabby clothes and the carpet bags and satin umbrella must have been +accountable for it. Took me for a piker, eh? those hayseeds! I would +give them a knocker with “tea money.” I left Tokyo with about 30 yen in +my pocket, which remained from my school expenses. Taking off the +railway and steamship fare, and other incidental expenses, I had still +about 14 yen in my pocket. I could give them all I had;—what did I +care, I was going to get a salary now. All country folk are tight-wads, +and one 5-yen bill would hit them square. Now watch and see. Having +washed myself, I returned to my room and waited, and the maid of the +night before brought in my breakfast. Waiting on me with a tray, she +looked at me with a sort of sulphuric smile. Rude! Is any parade +marching on my face? I should say. Even my face is far better than that +of the maid. I intended of giving “tea money” after breakfast, but I +became disgusted, and taking out one 5-yen bill told her to take it to +the office later. The face of the maid became then shy and awkward. +After the meal, I left for the school. The maid did not have my shoes +polished. + +I had had vague idea of the direction of the school as I rode to it the +previous day, so turning two or three corners, I came to the front +gate. From the gate to the entrance the walk was paved with granite. +When I had passed to the entrance in the rikisha, this walk made so +outlandishly a loud noise that I had felt coy. On my way to the school, +I met a number of the students in uniforms of cotton drill and they all +entered this gate. Some of them were taller than I and looked much +stronger. When I thought of teaching fellows of this ilk, I was +impressed with a queer sort of uneasiness. My card was taken to the +principal, to whose room I was ushered at once. With scant mustache, +dark-skinned and big-eyed, the principal was a man who looked like a +badger. He studiously assumed an air of superiority, and saying he +would like to see me do my best, handed the note of appointment, +stamped big, in a solemn manner. This note I threw away into the sea on +my way back to Tokyo. He said he would introduce me to all my fellow +teachers, and I was to show to each one of them the note of +appointment. What a bother! It would be far better to stick this note +up in the teachers’ room for three days instead of going through such a +monkey process. + +The teachers would not be all in the room until the bugle for the first +hour was sounded. There was plenty of time. The principal took out his +watch, and saying that he would acquaint me particularly with the +school by-and-bye, he would only furnish me now with general matters, +and started a long lecture on the spirit of education. For a while I +listened to him with my mind half away somewhere else, but about half +way through his lecture, I began to realize that I should soon be in a +bad fix. I could not do, by any means, all he expected of me. He +expected that I should make myself an example to the students, should +become an object of admiration for the whole school or should exert my +moral influence, besides teaching technical knowledge in order to +become a real educator, or something ridiculously high-sounding. No man +with such admirable qualities would come so far away for only 40 yen a +month! Men are generally alike. If one gets excited, one is liable to +fight, I thought, but if things are to be kept on in the way the +principal says, I could hardly open my mouth to utter anything, nor +take a stroll around the place. If they wanted me to fill such an +onerous post, they should have told all that before. I hate to tell a +lie; I would give it up as having been cheated, and get out of this +mess like a man there and then. I had only about 9 yen left in my +pocket after tipping the hotel 5 yen. Nine yen would not take me back +to Tokyo. I had better not have tipped the hotel; what a pity! However, +I would be able to manage it somehow. I considered it better to run +short in my return expenses than to tell a lie. + +“I cannot do it the way you want me to. I return this appointment.” + +I shoved back the note. The principal winked his badger-like eyes and +gazed at me. Then he said; + +“What I have said just now is what I desire of you. I know well that +you cannot do all I want. So don’t worry.” + +And he laughed. If he knew it so well already, what on earth did he +scare me for? + +Meanwhile the bugle sounded, being followed by bustling noises in the +direction of the class rooms. All the teachers would be now ready, I +was told, and I followed the principal to the teachers’ room. In a +spacious rectangular room, they sat each before a table lined along the +walls. When I entered the room, they all glanced at me as if by +previous agreement. Did they think my face was for a show? Then, as per +instructions, I introduced myself and showed the note to each one of +them. Most of them left their chairs and made a slight bow of +acknowledgment. But some of the more painfully polite took the note and +read it and respectfully returned it to me, just like the cheap +performances at a rural show! When I came to the fifteenth, who was the +teacher of physical training, I became impatient at repeating the same +old thing so often. The other side had to do it only once, but my side +had to do it fifteen times. They ought to have had some sympathy. + +Among those I met in the room there was Mr. Blank who was head teacher. +Said he was a Bachelor of Arts. I suppose he was a great man since he +was a graduate from Imperial University and had such a title. He talked +in a strangely effeminate voice like a woman. But what surprised me +most was that he wore a flannel shirt. However thin it might be, +flannel is flannel and must have been pretty warm at that time of the +year. What painstaking dress is required which will be becoming to a +B.A.! And it was a red shirt; wouldn’t that kill you! I heard +afterwards that he wears a red shirt all the year round. What a strange +affliction! According to his own explanation, he has his shirts made to +order for the sake of his health as the red color is beneficial to the +physical condition. Unnecessary worry, this, for that being the case, +he should have had his coat and hakama also in red. And there was one +Mr. Koga, teacher of English, whose complexion was very pale. +Pale-faced people are usually thin, but this man was pale and fat. When +I was attending grammar school, there was one Tami Asai in our class, +and his father was just as pale as this Koga. Asai was a farmer, and I +asked Kiyo if one’s face would become pale if he took up farming. Kiyo +said it was not so; Asai ate always Hubbard squash of “uranari” [2] and +that was the reason. Thereafter when I saw any man pale and fat, I took +it for granted that it was the result of his having eaten too much of +squash of “uranari.” This English teacher was surely subsisting upon +squash. However, what the meaning of “uranari” is, I do not know. I +asked Kiyo once, but she only laughed. Probably she did not know. Among +the teachers of mathematics, there was one named Hotta. This was a +fellow of massive body, with hair closely cropped. He looked like one +of the old-time devilish priests who made the Eizan temple famous. I +showed him the note politely, but he did not even look at it, and +blurted out; + +[Footnote 2: Means the last crop.] + + +“You’re the man newly appointed, eh? Come and see me sometime, ha, ha, +ha!” + +Devil take his “Ha, ha, ha!” Who would go to see a fellow so void of +the sense of common decency! I gave this priest from this time the +nickname of Porcupine. + +The Confucian teacher was strict in his manner as becoming to his +profession. “Arrived yesterday? You must be tired. Start teaching +already? Working hard, indeed!”—and so on. He was an old man, quite +sociable and talkative. + +The teacher of drawing was altogether like a cheap actor. He wore a +thin, flappy haori of sukiya, and, toying with a fan, he giggled; +“Where from? eh? Tokyo? Glad to hear that. You make another of our +group. I’m a Tokyo kid myself.” + +If such a fellow prided himself on being a Tokyo kid, I wished I had +never been born in Tokyo. I might go on writing about each one of them, +for there are many, but I stop here otherwise there will be no end to +it. + +When my formal introduction was over, the principal said that I might +go for the day, but I should make arrangements as to the class hours, +etc., with the head teacher of mathematics and begin teaching from the +day after the morrow. Asked who was the head teacher of mathematics, I +found that he was no other than that Porcupine. Holy smokes! was I to +serve under him? I was disappointed. + +“Say, where are you stopping? Yamashiro-ya? Well, I’ll come and talk it +over.” + +So saying, Porcupine, chalk in hand, left the room to his class. That +was rather humiliating for a head-teacher to come over and see his +subordinate, but it was better than to call me over to him. + +After leaving the school, I thought of returning straight to the hotel, +but as there was nothing to do, I decided to take in a little of the +town, and started walking about following my nose. I saw prefectural +building; it was an old structure of the last century. Also I saw the +barracks; they were less imposing than those of the Azabu Regiment, +Tokyo. I passed through the main street. The width of the street is +about one half that of Kagurazaka, and its aspect is inferior. What +about a castle-town of 250,000-koku Lord! Pity the fellows who get +swell-headed in such a place as a castle-town! + +While I walked about musing like this, I found myself in front of +Yamashiro-ya. The town was much narrower than I had been led to +believe. + +“I think I have seen nearly all. Guess I’ll return and eat.” And I +entered the gate. The mistress of the hotel who was sitting at the +counter, jumped out of her place at my appearance and with “Are you +back, Sire!” scraped the floor with her forehead. When I took my shoes +off and stepped inside, the maid took me to an upstairs room that had +became vacant. It was a front room of 15 mats (about 90 square feet). I +had never before lived in so splendid a room as this. As it was quite +uncertain when I should again be able to occupy such a room in future, +I took off my European dress, and with only a single Japanese summer +coat on, sprawled in the centre of the room in the shape of the +Japanese letter “big” (arms stretched out and legs spread wide[D]). I +found it very refreshing. + +After luncheon I at once wrote a letter to Kiyo. I hate most to write +letters because I am poor at sentence-making and also poor in my stock +of words. Neither did I have any place to which to address my letters. +However, Kiyo might be getting anxious. It would not do to let her +worry lest she think the steamer which I boarded had been wrecked and I +was drowned,—so I braced up and wrote a long one. The body of the +letter was as follows: + + “Arrived yesterday. A dull place. Am sleeping in a room of 15 mats. + Tipped the hotel five yen as tea money. The house-wife of the hotel + scraped the floor with her forehead. Couldn’t sleep last night. + Dreamed Kiyo eat sasa-ame together with the bamboo-leaf wrappers. Will + return next summer. Went to the school to-day, and nicknamed all the + fellows. ‘Badger’ for the principal, ‘Red Shirt’ for the head-teacher, + ‘Hubbard Squash’ for the teacher of English, ‘Porcupine’ the teacher + of mathematics and ‘Clown’ for that of drawing. Will write you many + other things soon. Good bye.” + + +When I finished writing the letter, I felt better and sleepy. So I +slept in the centre of the room, as I had done before, in the letter +“big” shape ([D]). No dream this time, and I had a sound sleep. + +“Is this the room?”—a loud voice was heard,—a voice which woke me up, +and Porcupine entered. + +“How do you do? What you have to do in the school——” he began talking +shop as soon as I got up and rattled me much. On learning my duties in +the school, there seemed to be no difficulty, and I decided to accept. +If only such were what was expected of me, I would not be surprised +were I told to start not only two days hence but even from the +following day. The talk on business over, Porcupine said that he did +not think it was my intention to stay in such a hotel all the time, +that he would find a room for me in a good boarding house, and that I +should move. + +“They wouldn’t take in another from anybody else but I can do it right +away. The sooner the better. Go and look at the room to-day, move +tomorrow and start teaching from the next day. That’ll be all nice and +settled.” + +He seemed satisfied by arranging all by himself. Indeed, I should not +be able to occupy such a room for long. I might have to blow in all of +my salary for the hotel bill and yet be short of squaring it. It was +pity to leave the hotel so soon after I had just shone with a 5-yen +tip. However, it being decidedly convenient to move and get settled +early if I had to move at all, I asked Porcupine to get that room for +me. He told me then to come over with him and see the house at any +rate, and I did. The house was situated mid-way up a hill at the end of +the town, and was a quiet. The boss was said to be a dealer in antique +curios, called Ikagin, and his wife was about four years his senior. I +learned the English word “witch” when I was in middle school, and this +woman looked exactly like one. But as she was another man’s wife, what +did I care if she was a witch. Finally I decided to live in the house +from the next day. On our way back Porcupine treated me to a cup of +ice-water. When I first met him in the school, I thought him a +disgustingly overbearing fellow, but judging by the way he had looked +after me so far, he appeared not so bad after all. Only he seemed, like +me, impatient by nature and of quick-temper. I heard afterward that he +was liked most by all the students in the school. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +My teaching began at last. When I entered the class-room and stepped +upon the platform for the first time, I felt somewhat strange. While +lecturing, I wondered if a fellow like me could keep up the profession +of public instructor. The students were noisy. Once in a while, they +would holler “Teacher!” “Teacher,”—it was “going some.” I had been +calling others “teacher” every day so far, in the school of physics, +but in calling others “teacher” and being called one, there is a wide +gap of difference. It made me feel as if some one was tickling my +soles. I am not a sneakish fellow, nor a coward; only—it’s a pity—I +lack audacity. If one calls me “teacher” aloud, it gives me a shock +similar to that of hearing the noon-gun in Marunouchi when I was +hungry. The first hour passed away in a dashing manner. And it passed +away without encountering any knotty questions. As I returned to the +teachers’ room, Porcupine asked me how it was. I simply answered +“well,” and he seemed satisfied. + +When I left the teachers’ room, chalk in hand, for the second hour +class, I felt as if I was invading the enemy’s territory. On entering +the room, I found the students for this hour were all big fellows. I am +a Tokyo kid, delicately built and small, and did not appear very +impressive even in my elevated position. If it comes to a scraping, I +can hold my own even with wrestlers, but I had no means of appearing +awe-inspiring[E], merely by the aid of my tongue, to so many as forty +such big chaps before me. Believing, however, that it would set a bad +precedent to show these country fellows any weakness, I lectured rather +loudly and in brusque tone. During the first part the students were +taken aback and listened literally with their mouths open. “That’s one +on you!” I thought. Elated by my success, I kept on in this tone, when +one who looked the strongest, sitting in the middle of the front row, +stood up suddenly, and called “Teacher!” There it goes!—I thought, and +asked him what it was. + +“A-ah sa-ay, you talk too quick. A-ah ca-an’t you make it a leetle +slow? A-ah?” “A-ah ca-an’t you?” “A-ah?” was altogether dull. + +“If I talk too fast, I’ll make it slow, but I’m a Tokyo fellow, and +can’t talk the way you do. If you don’t understand it, better wait +until you do.” + +So I answered him. In this way the second hour was closed better than I +had expected. Only, as I was about to leave the class, one of the +students asked me, “A-ah say, won’t you please do them for me?” and +showed me some problems in geometry which I was sure I could not solve. +This proved to be somewhat a damper on me. But, helpless, I told him I +could not make them out, and telling him that I would show him how next +time, hastily got out of the room. And all of them raised “Whee—ee!” +Some of them were heard saying “He doesn’t know much.” Don’t take a +teacher for an encyclopaedia! If I could work out such hard questions +as these easily, I would not be in such a backwoods town for forty yen +a month. I returned to the teachers’ room. + +“How was it this time?” asked Porcupine. I said “Umh.” But not +satisfied with “Umh” only, I added that all the students in this school +were boneheads. He put up a whimsical face. + +The third and the fourth hour and the first hour in the afternoon were +more or less the same. In all the classes I attended, I made some kind +of blunder. I realised that the profession of teaching not quite so +easy a calling as might have appeared. My teaching for the day was +finished but I could not get away. I had to wait alone until three +o’clock. I understood that at three o’clock the students of my classes +would finish cleaning up the rooms and report to me, whereupon I would +go over the rooms. Then I would run through the students’ roll, and +then be free to go home. Outrageous, indeed, to keep on chained to the +school, staring at the empty space when he had nothing more to do, even +though he was “bought” by a salary! Other fellow teachers, however, +meekly submitted to the regulation, and believing it not well for me,—a +new comer—to fuss about it, I stood it. On my way home, I appealed to +Porcupine as to the absurdity of keeping me there till three o’clock +regardless of my having nothing to do in the school. He said “Yes” and +laughed. But he became serious and in an advisory manner told me not to +make many complaints about the school. + +“Talk to me only, if you want to. There are some queer guys around.” + +As we parted at the next corner, I did not have time to hear more from +him. + +On reaching my room, the boss of the house came to me saying, “Let me +serve you tea.” I expected he was going to treat me to some good tea +since he said “Let me serve you,” but he simply made himself at home +and drank my own tea. Judging by this, I thought he might be practising +“Let me serve you” during my absence. The boss said that he was fond of +antique drawings and curios and finally had decided to start in that +business. + +“You look like one quite taken about art. Suppose you begin patronizing +my business just for fun as er—connoisseur of art?” + +It was the least expected kind of solicitation. Two years ago, I went +to the Imperial Hotel (Tokyo) on an errand, and I was taken for a +locksmith. When I went to see the Daibutsu at Kamakura, having wrapped +up myself from head to toe with a blanket, a rikisha man addressed me +as “Gov’ner.” I have been mistaken on many occasions for as many +things, but none so far has counted on me as a probable connoisseur of +art. One should know better by my appearance. Any one who aspires to be +a patron of art is usually pictured,—you may see in any drawing,—with +either a hood on his head, or carrying a tanzaku[3] in his hand. The +fellow who calls me a connoisseur of art and pretends to mean it, may +be surely as crooked as a dog’s hind legs. I told him I did not like +such art-stuff, which is usually favored by retired people. He laughed, +and remarking that that nobody liked it at first, but once in it, will +find it so fascinating that he will hardly get over it, served tea for +himself and drank it in a grotesque manner. I may say that I had asked +him the night before to buy some tea for me, but I did not like such a +bitter, heavy kind. One swallow seemed to act right on my stomach. I +told him to buy a kind not so bitter as that, and he answered “All +right, Sir,” and drank another cup. The fellow seemed never to know of +having enough of anything so long as it was another man’s. After he +left the room, I prepared for the morrow and went to bed. + +[Footnote 3: A tanzaku is a long, narrow strip of stiff paper on which +a Japanese poem is written.] + + +Everyday thereafter I attended at the school and worked as per +regulations. Every day on my return, the boss came to my room with the +same old “Let me serve you tea.” In about a week I understood the +school in a general way, and had my own idea as to the personality of +the boss and his wife. I heard from one of my fellow teachers that the +first week to one month after the receipt of the appointment worried +them most as to whether they had been favorably received among the +students. I never felt anything on that score. Blunders in the class +room once in a while caused me chagrin, but in about half an hour +everything would clear out of my head. I am a fellow who, by nature, +can’t be worrying long about[F] anything even if I try to. I was +absolutely indifferent as how my blunders in the class room affected +the students, or how much further they affected the principal or the +head-teacher. As I mentioned before, I am not a fellow of much audacity +to speak of, but I am quick to give up anything when I see its finish. + +I had resolved to go elsewhere at once if the school did not suit me. +In consequence, neither Badger nor Red Shirt wielded any influence over +me. And still less did I feel like coaxing or coddling the youngsters +in the class room. + +So far it was O.K. with the school, but not so easy as that at my +boarding house. I could have stood it if it had been only the boss +coming to my room after my tea. But he would fetch many things to my +room. First time he brought in seals.[4] He displayed about ten of them +before me and persuaded me to buy them for three yen, which was very +cheap, he said. Did he take me for a third rate painter making a round +of the country? I told him I did not want them. Next time he brought in +a panel picture of flowers and birds, drawn by one Kazan or somebody. +He hung it against the wall of the alcove and asked me if it was not +well done, and I echoed it looked well done. Then he started lecturing +about Kazan, that there are two Kazans, one is Kazan something and the +other is Kazan anything, and that this picture was the work of that +Kazan something. After this nonsensical lecture, he insisted that he +would make it fifteen yen for me to buy it. I declined the offer saying +that I was shy of the money. + +[Footnote 4: Artists have several seals of stone with which to stamp on +the picture they draw as a guarantee of their personal work or for +identification. The shape and kind of seals are quite a hobby among +artists, and sales or exchange are of common occurrence.] + + +“You can pay any time.” He was insistent. I settled him by telling him +of my having no intention of purchasing it even if I had the necessary +money. Again next time, he yanked in a big writing stone slab about the +size of a ridge-tile. + +“This is a tankei,”[5] he said. As he “tankeied” two or three times, I +asked for fun what was a tankei. Right away he commenced lecturing on +the subject. “There are the upper, the middle and the lower stratum in +tankei,” he said. “Most of tankei slabs to-day are made from the upper +stratum,” he continued, “but this one is surely from the middle +stratum. Look at this ‘gan.’[6] ’Tis certainly rare to have three +‘gans’ like this. The ink-cake grates smoothly on it. Try it, sir,”—and +he pushed it towards me. I asked him how much, and he answered that on +account of its owner having brought it from China and wishing to sell +it as soon as possible, he would make it very cheap, that I could have +it for thirty yen. I was sure he was a fool. I seemed to be able to get +through the school somehow, but I would soon give out if this “curio +siege” kept on long. + +[Footnote 5: Tankei is the name of a place in China where a certain +kind of stone suitable for writing purposes was produced.] + + +[Footnote 6: “Gan” may be understood as a kind of natural mark on the +stone peculiar to the stone from Tankei.] + + +Shortly afterwards, I began to get sick of the school. One certain +night, while I was strolling about a street named Omachi, I happened to +notice a sign of noodles below of which was annotated “Tokyo” in the +house next to the post office. I am very fond of noodles. While I was +in Tokyo, if I passed by a noodle house and smelled the seasoning +spices, I felt uncontrollable temptation to go inside at any cost. Up +to this time I had forgotten the noodle on account of mathematics and +antique curios, but since I had seen thus the sign of noodles, I could +hardly pass it by unnoticed. So availing myself of this opportunity, I +went in. It was not quite up to what I had judged by the sign. Since it +claimed to follow the Tokyo style, they should have tidied up a little +bit about the room. They did not either know Tokyo or have the means,—I +did not know which, but the room was miserably dirty. The floor-mats +had all seen better days and felt shaggy with sandy dust. The +sootcovered walls defied the blackest black. The ceiling was not only +smoked by the lamp black, but was so low as to force one involuntarily +bend down his neck. Only the price-list, on which was glaringly written +“Noodles” and which was pasted on the wall, was entirely new. I was +certain that they bought an old house and opened the business just two +or three days before. At the head of the price-list appeared “tempura” +(noodles served with shrimp fried in batter). + +“Say, fetch me some tempura,” I ordered in a loud voice. Then three +fellows who had been making a chewing noise together in a corner, +looked in my direction. As the room was dark I did not notice them at +first. But when we looked at each other, I found them all to be boys in +our school. They “how d’ye do’d” me and I acknowledged it. That night, +having come across the noodle after so long a time, it tasted so fine +that I ate four bowls. + +The next day as I entered the class room quite unconcernedly, I saw on +the black board written in letters so large as to take up the whole +space; “Professor Tempura.” The boys all glanced at my face and made +merry hee-haws at my cost. It was so absurd that I asked them if it was +in any way funny for me to eat tempura noodle. Thereupon one of them +said,—“But four bowls is too much.” What did they care if I ate four +bowls or five as long as I paid it with my own money,—and speedily +finishing up my class, I returned to the teachers’ room. After ten +minutes’ recess, I went to the next class, and there on the black board +was newly written quite as large as before; “Four bowls of tempura +noodles, but don’t laugh.” + +The first one did not arouse any ill-temper in me, but this time it +made me feel irritating mad. A joke carried too far becomes +mischievous. It is like the undue jealousy of some women who, like +coal, look black and suggest flames. Nobody likes it. These country +simpletons, unable to differentiate upon so delicate a boundary, would +seem to be bent on pushing everything to the limit. As they lived in +such a narrow town where one has no more to see if he goes on strolling +about for one hour, and as they were capable of doing nothing better, +they were trumpeting aloud this tempura incident in quite as serious a +manner as the Russo-Japanese war. What a bunch of miserable pups! It is +because they are raised in this fashion from their boyhood that there +are many punies who, like the dwarf maple tree in the flower pot, +mature gnarled and twisted. I have no objection to laugh myself with +others over innocent jokes. But how’s this? Boys as they are, they +showed a “poisonous temper.” Silently erasing off “tempura” from the +board, I questioned them if they thought such mischief interesting, +that this was a cowardly joke and if they knew the meaning of +“cowardice.” Some of them answered that to get angry on being laughed +at over one’s own doing, was cowardice. What made them so disgusting as +this? I pitied myself for coming from far off Tokyo to teach such a +lot. + +“Keep your mouth shut, and study hard,” I snapped, and started the +class. In the next class again there was written: “When one eats +tempura noodles it makes him drawl nonsense.” There seemed no end to +it. I was thoroughly aroused with anger, and declaring that I would not +teach such sassies, went home straight. The boys were glad of having an +unexpected holiday, so I heard. When things had come to this pass, the +antique curious seemed far more preferable to the school. + +My return home and sleep over night greatly rounded off my rugged +temper over the tempura affair. I went to the school, and they were +there also. I could not tell what was what. The three days thereafter +were pacific, and on the night of the fourth day, I went to a suburb +called Sumida and ate “dango” (small balls made of glutinous rice, +dressed with sugar-paste). Sumida is a town where there are +restaurants, hot-springs bath houses and a park, and in addition, the +“tenderloin.” The dango shop where I went was near the entrance to the +tenderloin, and as the dango served there was widely known for its nice +taste, I dropped in on my way back from my bath. As I did not meet any +students this time, I thought nobody knew of it, but when I entered the +first hour class next day, I found written on the black board; “Two +dishes of dango—7 sen.” It is true that I ate two dishes and paid seven +sen. Troublesome kids! I declare. I expected with certainty that there +would be something at the second hour, and there it was; “The dango in +the tenderloin taste fine.” Stupid wretches! + +No sooner I thought the dango incident closed than the red towel +became the topic for widespread gossip. Inquiry as to the story +revealed it to be something unusually absurd. Since my arrival here, I +had made it a part of my routine to take in the hot springs bath every +day. While there was nothing in this town which compared favorably with +Tokyo, the hot springs were worthy of praise. So long as I was in the +town, I decided that I would have a dip every day, and went there +walking, partly for physical exercise, before my supper. And whenever I +went there I used to carry a large-size European towel dangling from my +hand. Added to somewhat reddish color the towel had acquired by its +having been soaked in the hot-springs, the red color on its border, +which was not fast enough, streaked about so that the towel now looked +as if it were dyed red. This towel hung down from my hand on both ways +whether afoot or riding in the train. For this reason, the students +nicknamed me Red Towel. Honest, it is exasperating to live in a little +town. + +There is some more. The bath house I patronized was a newly built +three-story house, and for the patrons of the first class the house +provided a bath-robe, in addition to an attendant, and the cost was +only eight sen. On top of that, a maid would serve tea in a regular +polite fashion. I always paid the first class. Then those gossipy +spotters started saying that for one who made only forty yen a month to +take a first class bath every day was extravagant. Why the devil should +they care? It was none of their business. + +There is still some more. The bath-tub,—or the tank in this case,—was +built of granite, and measured about thirty square feet. Usually there +were thirteen or fourteen people in the tank, but sometimes there was +none. As the water came up clear to the breast, I enjoyed, for athletic +purposes, swimming in the tank. I delighted in swimming in this +30-square feet tank, taking chances of the total absence of other +people. Once, going downstairs from the third story with a light heart, +and peeping through the entrance of the tank to see if I should be able +to swim, I noticed a sign put up in which was boldly written: “No +swimming allowed in the tank.” As there may not have been many who swam +in the tank, this notice was probably put up particularly for my sake. +After that I gave up swimming. But although I gave up swimming, I was +surprised, when I went to the school, to see on the board, as usual, +written: “No swimming allowed in the tank.” It seemed as if all the +students united in tracking me everywhere. They made me sick. I was not +a fellow to stop doing whatever I had started upon no matter what +students might say, but I became thoroughly disgusted when I meditated +on why I had come to such a narrow, suffocating place. And, then, when +I returned home, the “antique curio siege” was still going on. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +For us teachers there was a duty of night watch in the school, and we +had to do it in turn. But Badger and Red Shirt were not in it. On +asking why these two were exempt from this duty, I was told that they +were accorded by the government treatment similar to officials of +“Sonin” rank. Oh, fudge! They were paid more, worked less, and were +then excused from this night watch. It was not fair. They made +regulations to suit their convenience and seemed to regard all this as +a matter of course. How could they be so brazen faced as this! I was +greatly dissatisfied relative to this question, but according to the +opinion of Porcupine, protests by a single person, with what insistency +they may be made, will not be heard. They ought to be heard whether +they are made by one person or by two if they are just. Porcupine +remonstrated with me by quoting “Might is right” in English. I did not +catch his point, so I asked him again, and he told me that it meant the +right of the stronger. If it was the right of the stronger I had known +it for long, and did not require Porcupine explain that to me at this +time. The right of the stronger was a question different from that of +the night watch. Who would agree that Badger and Red Shirt were the +stronger? But argument or no argument, the turn of this night watch at +last fell upon me. Being quite fastidious, I never enjoyed sound sleep +unless I slept comfortably in my own bedding. From my childhood, I +never stayed out overnight. When I did not find sleeping under the roof +of my friends inviting, night watch in the school, you may be sure, was +still worse. However repulsive, if this was a part of the forty yen a +month, there was no alternative. I had to do it. + +To remain alone in the school after the faculty and students had gone +home, was something particularly awkward. The room for the night watch +was in the rear of the school building at the west end of the +dormitory. I stepped inside to see how it was, and finding it squarely +facing the setting sun, I thought I would melt. In spite of autumn +having already set in, the hot spell still lingered, quite in keeping +with the dilly-dally atmosphere of the country. I ordered the same kind +of meal as served for the students, and finished my supper. The meal +was unspeakably poor. It was a wonder they could subsist on such +miserable stuff and keep on “roughing it” in that lively fashion. Not +only that, they were always hungry for supper, finishing it at 4.30 in +the afternoon. They must be heroes in a sense. I had thus my supper, +but the sun being still high, could not go to bed yet. I felt like +going to the hot-springs. I did not know the wrong or right of night +watch going out, but it was oppressively trying to stand a life akin to +heavy imprisonment. When I called at the school the first time and +inquired about night watch, I was told by the janitor that he had just +gone out and I thought it strange. But now by taking the turn of night +watch myself, I could fathom the situation; it was right for any night +watch to go out. I told the janitor that I was going out for a minute. +He asked me “on business?” and I answered “No,” but to take a bath at +the hot springs, and went out straight. It was too bad that I had left +my red towel at home, but I would borrow one over there for to-day. + +I took plenty of time in dipping in the bath and as it became dark at +last, I came to the Furumachi Station on a train. It was only about +four blocks to the school; I could cover it in no time. When I started +walking schoolwards, Badger was seen coming from the opposite +direction. Badger, I presumed, was going to the hot springs by this +train. He came with brisk steps, and as we passed by, I nodded my +courtesy. Then Badger, with a studiously owlish countenance, asked: + +“Am I wrong to understand that you are night watch?” + +Chuck that “Am-I-wrong-to-understand”! Two hours ago, did he not say to +me “You’re on first night watch to-night. Now, take care of yourself?” +What makes one use such a roundabout, twisted way of saying anything +when he becomes a principal? I was far from smiling. + +“Yes, Sir,” I said, “I’m night watch to-night, and as I am night watch +I will return to the school and stay there overnight, sure.” With this +parting shot, I left him where we met. Coming then to the cross-streets +of Katamachi, I met Porcupine. This is a narrow place, I tell you. +Whenever one ventures out, he is sure to come across some familiar +face. + +“Say, aren’t you night watch?” he hallooed, and I said “Yes, I am.” +“Tis wrong for night watch to leave his post at his pleasure,” he +added, and to this I blurted out with a bold front; “Nothing wrong at +all. It is wrong not to go out.” + +“Say, old man, your slap-dash is going to the limit. Wouldn’t look well +for the principal or the head teacher to see you out like this.” + +The submissive tone of his remark was contrary to Porcupine as I had +known him so far, so I cut him short by saying: + +“I have met the principal just now. Why, he approved my taking a stroll +about the town. Said it would be hard on night watch unless he took a +walk when it is hot.” Then I made a bee-line for the school. + +Soon it was night. I called the janitor to my room and had a chat for +about two hours. I grew tired of this, and thought I would get into bed +anyway, even if I could not sleep. I put on my night shirt, lifted the +mosquito-net, rolled off the red blanket and fell down flat on my back +with a bang. The making of this bumping noise when I go to bed is my +habit from my boyhood. “It is a bad habit,” once declared a student of +a law school who lived on the ground floor, and I on the second, when I +was in the boarding house at Ogawa-machi, Kanda-ku, and who brought +complaints to my room in person. Students of law schools, weaklings as +they are, have double the ability of ordinary persons when it comes to +talking. As this student of law dwelt long on absurd accusations, I +downed him by answering that the noise made when I went to bed was not +the fault of my hip, but that of the house which was not built on a +solid base, and that if he had any fuss to make, make it to the house, +not to me. This room for night watch was not on the second floor, so +nobody cared how much I banged. I do not feel well-rested unless I go +to bed with the loudest bang I can make. + +“This is bully!” and I straightened out my feet, when something jumped +and clung to them. They felt coarse, and seemed not to be fleas. I was +a bit surprised, and shook my feet inside the blanket two or three +times. Instantly the blamed thing increased,—five or six of them on my +legs, two or three on the thighs, one crushed beneath my hip and +another clear up to my belly. The shock became greater. Up I jumped, +took off the blanket, and about fifty to sixty grasshoppers flew out. I +was more or less uneasy until I found out what they were, but now I saw +they were grasshoppers, they set me on the war path. “You insignificant +grasshoppers, startling a man! See what’s coming to you!” With this I +slapped them with my pillow twice or thrice, but the objects being so +small, the effect was out of proportion to the force with which the +blows were administered. I adopted a different plan. In the manner of +beating floor-mats with rolled matting at house-cleaning, I sat up in +bed and began beating them with the pillow. Many of them flew up by the +force of the pillow; some desperately clung on or shot against my nose +or head. I could not very well hit those on my head with the pillow; I +grabbed such, and dashed them on the floor. What was more provoking was +that no matter how hard I dashed them, they landed on the mosquito-net +where they made a fluffy jerk and remained, far from being dead. At +last, in about half an hour the slaughter of the grasshoppers was +ended. I fetched a broom and swept them out. The janitor came along and +asked what was the matter. + +“Damn the matter! Where in thunder are the fools who keep grasshoppers +in bed! You pumpkinhead!” + +The janitor answered by explaining that he did not know anything about +it. “You can’t get away with Did-not-know,” and I followed this +thundering by throwing away the broom. The awe-struck janitor +shouldered the broom and faded away. + +At once I summoned three of the students to my room as the +“representatives,” and six of them reported. Six or ten made no +difference; I rolled up the sleeves of my night-shirt and fired away. + +“What do you mean by putting grasshoppers in my bed!” + +“Grasshoppers? What are they?” said one in front, in a tone +disgustingly quiet. In this school, not only the principal, but the +students as well, were addicted to using twisted-round expressions. + +“Don’t know grasshoppers! You shall see!” To my chagrin, there was +none; I had swept them all out. I called the janitor again and told him +to fetch those grasshoppers he had taken away. The janitor said he had +thrown them into the garbage box, but that he would pick them out +again. “Yes, hurry up,” I said, and he sped away. After a while he +brought back about ten grasshoppers on a white paper, remarking: + +“I’m sorry, Sir. It’s dark outside and I can’t find out more. I’ll find +some tomorrow.” All fools here, down to the janitor. I showed one +grasshopper to the students. + +“This is a grasshopper. What’s the matter for as big idiots as you not +to know a grasshopper.” Then the one with a round face sitting on the +left saucily shot back: + +“A-ah say, that’s a locust, a-ah——.” + +“Shut up. They’re the same thing. In the first place, what do you mean +by answering your teacher ‘A-ah say’? Ah-Say or Ah-Sing is a Chink’s +name!” + +For this counter-shot, he answered: + +“A-ah say and Ah-Sing is different,—A-ah say.” They never got rid of +“A-ah say.” + +“Grasshoppers or locusts, why did you put them into my bed? When I +asked you to?” + +“Nobody put them in.” + +“If not, how could they get into the bed?” + +“Locusts are fond of warm places and probably they got in there +respectfully by themselves.” + +“You fools! Grasshoppers getting into bed respectfully! I should smile +at them getting in there respectfully! Now, what’s the reason for doing +this mischief? Speak out.” + +“But there is no way to explain it because we didn’t do it.” + +Shrimps! If they were afraid of making a clean breast of their own +deed, they should not have done it at all. They looked defiant, and +appeared to insist on their innocence as long as no evidence was +brought up. I myself did some mischief while in the middle school, but +when the culprit was sought after, I was never so cowardly, not even +once, to back out. What one has done, has been done; what he has not, +has not been,—that’s the black and white of it. I, for one have been +game and square, no matter how much mischief I might have done. If I +wished to dodge the punishment, I would not start it. Mischief and +punishment are bound to go together. We can enjoy mischief-making with +some show of spirit because it is accompanied by certain consequences. +Where does one expect to see the dastardly spirit which hungers for +mischief-making without punishment, in vogue? The fellows who like to +borrow money but not pay it back, are surely such as these students +here after they are graduated. What did these fellows come to this +middle school for, anyway? They enter a school, tattle round lies, play +silly jokes behind some one by sneaking and cheating and get wrongly +swell-headed when they finish the school thinking they have received an +education. A common lot of jackasses they are. + +My hatred of talking with these scamps became intense, so I dismissed +them by saying: + +“If you fellows have nothing to say, let it go at that. You deserve +pity for not knowing the decent from the vulgar after coming to a +middle school.” + +I am not very decent in my own language or manner, but am sure that my +moral standard is far more decent than that of these gangs. Those six +boys filed out leisurely. Outwardly they appeared more dignified than I +their teacher. It was the more repulsive for their calm behavior. I +have no temerity equal to theirs. Then I went to bed again, and found +the inside of the net full of merry crowds of mosquitoes. I could not +bother myself to burn one by one with a candle flame. So I took the net +off the hooks, folded it the lengthwise, and shook it crossways, up and +down the room. One of the rings of the net, flying round, accidentally +hit the back of my hand, the effect of which I did not soon forget. +When I went to bed for the third time, I cooled off a little, but could +not sleep easily. My watch showed it was half past ten. Well, as I +thought it over, I realized myself as having come to a dirty pit. If +all teachers of middle schools everywhere have to handle fellows like +these in this school, those teachers have my sympathy. It is wonderful +that teachers never run short. I believe there are many boneheads of +extraordinary patience; but me for something else. In this respect, +Kiyo is worthy of admiration. She is an old woman, with neither +education nor social position, but as a human, she does more to command +our respect. Until now, I have been a trouble to her without +appreciating her goodness, but having come alone to such a far-off +country, I now appreciated, for the first time, her kindness. If she is +fond of sasa-ame of Echigo province, and if I go to Echigo for the +purpose of buying that sweetmeat to let her eat it, she is fully worth +that trouble. Kiyo has been praising me as unselfish and straight, but +she is a person of sterling qualities far more than I whom she praises. +I began to feel like meeting her. + +While I was thus meditating about Kiyo, all of a sudden, on the floor +above my head, about thirty to forty people, if I guess by the number, +started stamping the floor with bang, bang, bang that well threatened +to bang down the floor. This was followed by proportionately loud +whoops. The noise surprised me, and I popped up. The moment I got up I +became aware that the students were starting a rough house to get even +with me. What wrong one has committed, he has to confess, or his +offence is never atoned for. They are just to ask for themselves what +crimes they have done. It should be proper that they repent their folly +after going to bed and to come and beg me pardon the next morning. Even +if they could not go so far as to apologize they should have kept +quiet. Then what does this racket mean? Were we keeping hogs in our +dormitory? + +“This crazy thing got to stop. See what you get!” + +I ran out of the room in my night shirt, and flew upstairs in three +and half steps. Then, strange to say, the thunderous rumbling, of +which I was sure of hearing in the act, was hushed. Not only a whisper +but even footsteps were not heard. This was funny. The lamp was +already blown out and although I could not see what was what in the +dark, nevertheless could tell by instinct whether there was somebody +around or not. In the long corridor running from the east to the west, +there was not hiding even a mouse. From other end of the corridor the +moonlight flooded in and about there it was particularly light. The +scene was somewhat uncanny. I have had the habit from my boyhood of +frequently dreaming and of flying out of bed and of muttering things +which nobody understood, affording everybody a hearty laugh. One +night, when I was sixteen or seventeen, I dreamed that I picked up a +diamond, and getting up, demanded of my brother who was sleeping close +to me what he had done with that diamond. The demand was made with +such force that for about three days all in the house chaffed me about +the fatal loss of precious stone, much to my humiliation. Maybe this +noise which I heard was but a dream, although I was sure it was real. +I was wondering thus in the middle of the corridor, when at the +further end where it was moonlit, a roar was raised, coming from about +thirty or forty throats, “One, two, three,—Whee-ee!” The roar had +hardly subsided, when, as before, the stamping of the floor commenced +with furious rhythm. Ah, it was not a dream, but a real thing! + +“Quit making the noise! ’Tis midnight!” + +I shouted to beat the band, and started in their direction. My passage +was dark; the moonlight yonder was only my guide. About twelve feet +past, I stumbled squarely against some hard object; ere the “Ouch!” has +passed clear up to my head, I was thrown down. I called all kinds of +gods, but could not run. My mind urged me on to hurry up, but my leg +would not obey the command. Growing impatient, I hobbled on one foot, +and found both voice and stamping already ceased and perfectly quiet. +Men can be cowards but I never expected them capable of becoming such +dastardly cowards as this. They challenged hogs. + +Now the situation having developed to this pretty mess, I would not +give it up until I had dragged them out from hiding and forced them to +apologize. With this determination, I tried to open one of the doors +and examine inside, but it would not open. It was locked or held fast +with a pile of tables or something; to my persistent efforts the door +stood unyielding. Then I tried one across the corridor on the +northside, but it was also locked. While this irritating attempt at +door-opening was going on, again on the east end of the corridor the +whooping roar and rhythmic stamping of feet were heard. The fools at +both ends were bent on making a goose of me. I realized this, but then +I was at a loss what to do. I frankly confess that I have not quite as +much tact as dashing spirit. In such a case I am wholly at the mercy of +swaying circumstances without my own way of getting through it. +Nevertheless, I do not expect to play the part of underdog. If I +dropped the affair then and there, it would reflect upon my dignity. It +would be mortifying to have them think that they had one on the +Tokyo-kid and that Tokyo-kid was wanting in tenacity. To have it on +record that I had been guyed by these insignificant spawn when on night +watch, and had to give in to their impudence because I could not handle +them,—this would be an indelible disgrace on my life. Mark ye,—I am +descendant of a samurai of the “hatamoto” class. The blood of the +“hatamoto” samurai could be traced to Mitsunaka Tada, who in turn could +claim still a nobler ancestor. I am different from, and nobler than, +these manure-smelling louts. The only pity is that I am rather short of +tact; that I do not know what to do in such a case. That is the +trouble. But I would not throw up the sponge; not on your life! I only +do not know how because I am honest. Just think,—if the honest does not +win, what else is there in this world that will win? If I cannot beat +them to-night, I will tomorrow; if not tomorrow, then the day after +tomorrow. If not the day after tomorrow, I will sit down right here, +get my meals from my home until I beat them. + +Thus resolved, I squatted in the middle of the corridor and waited for +the dawn. Myriads of mosquitoes swarmed about me, but I did not mind +them. I felt my leg where I hit it a while ago; it seemed bespattered +with something greasy. I thought it was bleeding. Let it bleed all it +cares! Meanwhile, exhausted by these unwonted affairs, I fell asleep. +When I awoke, up I jumped with a curse. The door on my right was half +opened, and two students were standing in front of me. The moment I +recovered my senses from the drowsy lull, I grabbed a leg of one of +them nearest to me, and yanked it with all my might. He fell down +prone. Look at what you’re getting now! I flew at the other fellow, who +was much confused; gave him vigorous shaking twice or thrice, and he +only kept open his bewildering eyes. + +“Come up to my room.” Evidently they were mollycoddles, for they obeyed +my command without a murmur. The day had become already clear. + +I began questioning those two in my room, but,—you cannot pound out the +leopard’s spots no matter how you may try,—they seemed determined to +push it through by an insistent declaration of “not guilty,” that they +would not confess. While this questioning was going on, the students +upstairs came down, one by one, and began congregating in my room. I +noticed all their eyes were swollen from want of sleep. + +“Blooming nice faces you got for not sleeping only one night. And you +call yourselves men! Go, wash your face and come back to hear what I’ve +got to tell you.” + +I hurled this shot at them, but none of them went to wash his face. For +about one hour, I had been talking and back-talking with about fifty +students when suddenly Badger put in his appearance. I heard afterward +that the janitor ran to Badger for the purpose of reporting to him that +there was a trouble in the school. What a weak-knee of the janitor to +fetch the principal for so trifling an affair as this! No wonder he +cannot see better times than a janitor. + +The principal listened to my explanation, and also to brief remarks +from the students. “Attend school as usual till further notice. Hurry +up with washing your face and breakfast; there isn’t much time left.” +So the principal let go all the students. Decidedly slow way of +handling, this. If I were the principal, I would expel them right away. +It is because the school accords them such luke-warm treatment that +they get “fresh” and start “guying” the night watch. + +He said to me that it must have been trying on my nerves, and that I +might be tired, and also that I need not teach that day. To this I +replied: + +“No, Sir, no worrying at all. Such things may happen every night, but +it would not disturb me in the least as long as I breathe. I will do +the teaching. If I were not able to teach on account of lack of sleep +for only one single night, I would make a rebate of my salary to the +school.” + +I do not know how this impressed him, but he gazed at me for a while, +and called my attention to the fact that my face was rather swollen. +Indeed, I felt it heavy. Besides, it itched all over. I was sure the +mosquitoes must have stung me there to their hearts’ content. I further +added: + +“My face may be swollen, but I can talk all right; so I will teach;” +thus scratching my face with some warmth. The principal smiled and +remarked, “Well, you have the strength.” To tell the truth, he did not +intend remark to be a compliment, but, I think, a sneer. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +“Won’t you go fishing?” asked Red Shirt. He talks in a strangely +womanish voice. One would not be able to tell whether he was a man or a +woman. As a man he should talk like one. Is he not a college graduate? +I can talk man-like enough, and am a graduate from a school of physics +at that. It is a shame for a B.A. to have such a squeak. + +I answered with the smallest enthusiasm, whereupon he further asked me +an impolite question if I ever did fishing. I told him not much, that I +once caught three gibels when I was a boy, at a fishing game pond at +Koume, and that I also caught a carp about eight inches long, at a +similar game at the festival of Bishamon at Kagurazaka;—the carp, just +as I was coaxing it out of the water, splashed back into it, and when I +think of the incident I feel mortified at the loss even now. Red Shirt +stuck out his chin and laughed “ho, ho.” Why could he not laugh just +like an ordinary person? “Then you are not well acquainted with the +spirit of the game,” he cried. “I’ll show you if you like.” He seemed +highly elated. + +Not for me! I take it this way that generally those who are fond of +fishing or shooting have cruel hearts. Otherwise, there is no reason +why they could derive pleasure in murdering innocent creatures. Surely, +fish and birds would prefer living to getting killed. Except those who +make fishing or shooting their calling, it is nonsense for those who +are well off to say that they cannot sleep well unless they seek the +lives of fish or birds. This was the way I looked at the question, but +as he was a B. A. and would have a better command of language when it +came to talking, I kept mum, knowing he would beat me in argument. Red +Shirt mistook my silence for my surrender, and began to induce me to +join him right away, saying he would show me some fish and I should +come with him if I was not busy, because he and Mr. Yoshikawa were +lonesome when alone. Mr. Yoshikawa is the teacher of drawing whom I had +nicknamed Clown. I don’t know what’s in the mind of this Clown, but he +was a constant visitor at the house of Red Shirt, and wherever he went, +Clown was sure to be trailing after him. They appeared more like master +and servant than two fellow teachers. As Clown used to follow Red Shirt +like a shadow, it would be natural to see them go off together now, but +when those two alone would have been well off, why should they invite +me,—this brusque, unaesthetic fellow,—was hard to understand. Probably, +vain of his fishing ability, he desired to show his skill, but he aimed +at the wrong mark, if that was his intention, as nothing of the kind +would touch me. I would not be chagrined if he fishes out two or three +tunnies. I am a man myself and poor though I may be in the art, I would +hook something if I dropped a line. If I declined his invitation, Red +Shirt would suspect that I refused not because of my lack of interest +in the game but because of my want of skill of fishing. I weighed the +matter thus, and accepted his invitation. After the school, I returned +home and got ready, and having joined Red Shirt and Clown at the +station, we three started to the shore. There was only one boatman to +row; the boat was long and narrow, a kind we do not have in Tokyo. I +looked for fishing rods but could find none. + +“How can we fish without rods? How are we going to manage it?” I asked +Clown and he told me with the air of a professional fisherman that no +rods were needed in the deep-sea fishing, but only lines. I had better +not asked him if I was to be talked down in this way. + +The boatman was rowing very slowly, but his skill was something +wonderful. We had already come far out to sea, and on turning back, saw +the shore minimized, fading in far distance. The five-storied pagoda of +Tosho Temple appeared above the surrounding woods like a needle-point. +Yonder stood Aoshima (Blue Island). Nobody was living on this island +which a closer view showed to be covered with stones and pine trees. No +wonder no one could live there. Red Shirt was intently surveying about +and praising the general view as fine. Clown also termed it “an +absolutely fine view.” I don’t know whether it is so fine as to be +absolute, but there was no doubt as to the exhilarating air. I realized +it as the best tonic to be thus blown by the fresh sea breeze upon a +wide expanse of water. I felt hungry. + +“Look at that pine; its trunk is straight and spreads its top branches +like an umbrella. Isn’t it a Turnersque picture?” said Red Shirt. “Yes, +just like Turner’s,” responded Clown, “Isn’t the way it curves just +elegant? Exactly the touch of Turner,” he added with some show of +pride. I didn’t know what Turner was, but as I could get along without +knowing it, I kept silent. The boat turned to the left with the island +on the right. The sea was so perfectly calm as to tempt one to think he +was not on the deep sea. The pleasant occasion was a credit to Red +Shirt. As I wished, if possible, to land on the island, I asked the +boatman if our boat could not be made to it. Upon this Red Shirt +objected, saying that we could do so but it was not advisable to go too +close the shore for fishing. I kept still for a while. Then Clown made +the unlooked-for proposal that the island be named Turner Island. +“That’s good. We shall call it so hereafter,” seconded Red Shirt. If I +was included in that “We,” it was something I least cared for. Aoshima +was good enough for me. “By the way, how would it look,” said Clown, +“if we place Madonna by Raphael upon that rock? It would make a fine +picture.” + +“Let’s quit talking about Madonna, ho, ho, ho,” and Red Shirt emitted a +spooky laugh. + +“That’s all right. Nobody’s around,” remarked Clown as he glanced at +me, and turning his face to other direction significantly, smiled +devilishly. I felt sickened. + +As it was none of my business whether it was a Madonna or a kodanna +(young master), they let pose there any old way, but it was vulgar to +feign assurance that one’s subject is in no danger of being understood +so long as others did not know the subject. Clown claims himself as a +Yedo kid. I thought that the person called Madonna was no other than a +favorite geisha of Red Shirt. I should smile at the idea of his gazing +at his tootsy-wootsy standing beneath a pine tree. It would be better +if Clown would make an oil painting of the scene and exhibit it for the +public. + +“This will be about the best place.” So saying the boatman stopped +rowing the boat and dropped an anchor. + +“How deep is it?” asked Red Shirt, and was told about six fathoms. + +“Hard to fish sea-breams in six fathoms,” said Red Shirt as he dropped +a line into the water. The old sport appeared to expect to fetch some +bream. Bravo! + +“It wouldn’t be hard for you. Besides it is calm,” Clown fawningly +remarked, and he too dropped a line. The line had only a tiny bit of +lead that looked like a weight. It had no float. To fish without a +float seemed as nearly reasonable as to measure the heat without a +thermometer, which was something impossible for me. So I looked on. +They then told me to start, and asked me if I had any line. I told them +I had more than I could use, but that I had no float. + +“To say that one is unable to fish without a float shows that he is a +novice,” piped up Clown. + +“See? When the line touches the bottom, you just manage it with your +finger on the edge. If a fish bites, you could tell in a minute. There +it goes,” and Red Shirt hastily started taking out the line. I wondered +what he had got, but I saw no fish, only the bait was gone. Ha, good +for you, Gov’nur! + +“Wasn’t it too bad! I’m sure it was a big one. If you miss that way, +with your ability, we would have to keep a sharper watch to-day. But, +say, even if we miss the fish, it’s far better than staring at a float, +isn’t it? Just like saying he can’t ride a bike without a brake.” Clown +has been getting rather gay, and I was almost tempted to swat him. I’m +just as good as they are. The sea isn’t leased by Red Shirt, and there +might be one obliging bonito which might get caught by my line. I +dropped my line then, and toyed it with my finger carelessly. + +After a while something shook my line with successive jerks. I thought +it must be a fish. Unless it was something living, it would not give +that tremulous shaking. Good! I have it, and I commenced drawing in the +line, while Clown jibed me “What? Caught one already? Very remarkable, +indeed!” I had drawn in nearly all the line, leaving only about five +feet in the water. I peeped over and saw a fish that looked like a gold +fish with stripes was coming up swimming to right and left. It was +interesting. On taking it out of the water, it wriggled and jumped, and +covered my face with water. After some effort, I had it and tried to +detach the hook, but it would not come out easily. My hands became +greasy and the sense was anything but pleasing. I was irritated; I +swung the line and banged the fish against the bottom of the boat. It +speedily died. Red Shirt and Clown watched me with surprise. I washed +my hands in the water but they still smelled “fishy.” No more for me! I +don’t care what fish I might get, I don’t want to grab a fish. And I +presume the fish doesn’t want to be grabbed either. I hastily rolled up +the line. + +“Splendid for the first honor, but that’s goruki,” Clown again made a +“fresh” remark. + +“Goruki sounds like the name of a Russian literator,” said Red Shirt. +“Yes, just like a Russian literator,” Clown at once seconded Red Shirt. +Gorky for a Russian literator, Maruki a photographer of Shibaku, and +komeno-naruki (rice) a life-giver, eh? This Red Shirt has a bad hobby +of marshalling before anybody the name of foreigners. Everybody has his +specialty. How could a teacher of mathematics like me tell whether it +is a Gorky or shariki (rikishaman). Red Shirt should have been a little +more considerate. And if he wants to mention such names at all, let him +mention “Autobiography of Ben Franklin,” or “Pushing to the Front,” or +something we all know. Red Shirt has been seen once in a while bringing +a magazine with a red cover entitled Imperial Literature to the school +and poring over it with reverence. I heard it from Porcupine that Red +Shirt gets his supply of all foreign names from that magazine. Well, I +should say! + +For some time, Red Shirt and Clown fished assiduously and within about +an hour they caught about fifteen fish. The funny part of it was that +all they caught were goruki; of sea-bream there was not a sign. + +“This is a day of bumper crop of Russian literature,” Red Shirt said, +and Clown answered: + +“When one as skilled as you gets nothing but goruki, it’s natural for +me to get nothing else.” + +The boatman told me that this small-sized fish goruki has too many tiny +bones and tastes too poor to be fit for eating, but they could be used +for fertilising. So Red Shirt and Clown were fishing fertilisers with +vim and vigor. As for me, one goruki was enough and I laid down myself +on the bottom, and looked up at the sky. This was far more dandy than +fishing. + +Then the two began whispering. I could not hear well, nor did I care +to. I was looking up at the sky and thinking about Kiyo. If I had +enough of money, I thought, and came with Kiyo to such a picturesque +place, how joyous it would be. No matter how picturesque the scene +might be, it would be flat in the company of Clown or of his kind. Kiyo +is a poor wrinkled woman, but I am not ashamed to take her to any old +place. Clown or his likes, even in a Victoria or a yacht, or in a +sky-high position, would not be worthy to come within her shadow. If I +were the head teacher, and Red Shirt I, Clown would be sure to fawn on +me and jeer at Red Shirt. They say Yedo kids are flippant. Indeed, if a +fellow like Clown was to travel the country and repeatedly declare “I +am a Yedo kid,” no wonder the country folk would decide that the +flippant are Yedo kids and Yedo kids are flippant. While I was +meditating like this, I heard suppressed laughter. Between their laughs +they talked something, but I could not make out what they were talking +about. “Eh? I don’t know……” “…… That’s true …… he doesn’t know …… isn’t +it pity, though …….” “Can that be…….” “With grasshoppers …… that’s a +fact.” + +I did not listen to what they were talking, but when I heard Clown say +“grasshoppers,” I cocked my ear instinctively. Clown emphasized, for +what reason I do not know the word “grasshopers” so that it would be +sure to reach my ear plainly, and he blurred the rest on purpose. I did +not move, and kept on listening. “That same old Hotta,” “that may be +the case….” “Tempura …… ha, ha, ha ……” “…… incited ……” “…… dango also? +……” + +The words were thus choppy, but judging by their saying “grasshoppers,” +“tempura” or “dango,” I was sure they were secretly talking something +about me. If they wanted to talk, they should do it louder. If they +wanted to discuss something secret, why in thunder did they invite me? +What damnable blokes! Grasshoppers or glass-stoppers, I was not in the +wrong; I have kept quiet to save the face of Badger because the +principal asked me to leave the matter to him. Clown has been making +unnecessary criticisms; out with your old paint-brushes there! Whatever +concerns me, I will settle it myself sooner or later, and they had just +to keep off my toes. But remarks such as “the same old Hotta” or “…… +incited ……” worried me a bit. I could not make out whether they meant +that Hotta incited me to extend the circle of the trouble, or that he +incited the students to get at me. As I gazed at the blue sky, the +sunlight gradually waned and chilly winds commenced stirring. The +clouds that resembled the streaky smokes of joss sticks were slowly +extending over a clear sky, and by degrees they were absorbed, melted +and changed to a faint fog. + +“Well, let’s be going,” said Red Shirt suddenly. “Yes, this is the +time we were going. See your Madonna to-night?” responded Clown. “Cut +out nonsense …… might mean a serious trouble,” said Red Shirt who was +reclining against the edge of the boat, now raising himself. “O, +that’s all right if he hears ...,” and when Clown, so saying, turned +himself my way, I glared squarely in his face. Clown turned back as if +to keep away from a dazzling light, and with “Ha, this is going some,” +shrugged his shoulders and scratched his head. + +The boat was now being rowed shore-ward over the calm sea. “You don’t +seem much fond of fishing,” asked Red Shirt. “No, I’d rather prefer +lying and looking at the sky,” I answered, and threw the stub of +cigarette I had been smoking into the water; it sizzled and floated on +the waves parted by the oar. + +“The students are all glad because you have come. So we want you do +your best.” Red Shirt this time started something quite alien to +fishing. “I don’t think they are,” I said. “Yes; I don’t mean it as +flattery. They are, sure. Isn’t it so, Mr. Yoshikawa?” + +“I should say they are. They’re crazy over it,” said Clown with an +unctuous smile. Strange that whatever Clown says, it makes me itching +mad. “But, if you don’t look out, there is danger,” warned Red Shirt. + +“I am fully prepared for all dangers,” I replied. In fact, I had made +up my mind either to get fired or to make all the students in the +dormitory apologize to me. + +“If you talk that way, that cuts everything out. Really, as a head +teacher, I’ve been considering what is good for you, and wouldn’t like +you to mistake it.” + +“The head teacher is really your friend. And I’m doing what I can for +you, though mighty little, because you and I are Yedo kids, and I would +like to have you stay with us as long as possible and we can help each +other.” So said Clown and it sounded almost human. I would sooner hang +myself than to get helped by Clown. + +“And the students are all glad because you had come, but there are many +circumstances,” continued Red Shirt. “You may feel angry sometimes but +be patient for the present, and I will never do anything to hurt your +interests.” + +“You say ‘many circumstances’; what are they?” + +“They’re rather complicated. Well, they’ll be clear to you by and by. +You’ll understand them naturally without my talking them over. What do +you say, Mr. Yoshikawa?” + +“Yes, they’re pretty complicated; hard to get them cleared up in a +jiffy. But they’ll become clear by-the-bye. Will be understood +naturally without my explaining them,” Clown echoed Red Shirt. + +“If they’re such a bother, I don’t mind not hearing them. I only asked +you because you sprang the subject.” + +“That’s right. I may seem irresponsible in not concluding the thing I +had started. Then this much I’ll tell you. I mean no offense, but you +are fresh from school, and teaching is a new experience. And a school +is a place where somewhat complicated private circumstances are common +and one cannot do everything straight and simple.” + +“If can’t get it through straight and simple, how does it go?” + +“Well, there you are so straight as that. As I was saying, you’re short +of experience....” + +“I should be. As I wrote it down in my record-sheet, I’m 23 years and +four months.” + +“That’s it. So you’d be done by some one in unexpected quarter.” + +“I’m not afraid who might do me as long as I’m honest.” + +“Certainly not. No need be afraid, but I do say you look sharp; your +predecessor was done.” + +I noticed Clown had become quiet, and turning round, saw him at the +stern talking with the boatman. Without Clown, I found our conversation +running smoothly. + +“By whom was my predecessor done?” + +“If I point out the name, it would reflect on the honor of that person, +so I can’t mention it. Besides there is no evidence to prove it and I +may be in a bad fix if I say it. At any rate, since you’re here, my +efforts will prove nothing if you fail. Keep a sharp look-out, please.” + +“You say look-out, but I can’t be more watchful than I’m now. If I +don’t do anything wrong, after all, that’s all right isn’t it?” + +Red Shirt laughed. I did not remember having said anything provocative +of laughter. Up to this very minute, I have been firm in my conviction +that I’m right. When I come to consider the situation, it appears that +a majority of people are encouraging others to become bad. They seem to +believe that one must do wrong in order to succeed. If they happen to +see some one honest and pure, they sneer at him as “Master Darling” or +“kiddy.” What’s the use then of the instructors of ethics at grammar +schools or middle schools teaching children not to tell a lie or to be +honest. Better rather make a bold departure and teach at schools the +gentle art of lying or the trick of distrusting others, or show pupils +how to do others. That would be beneficial for the person thus taught +and for the public as well. When Red Shirt laughed, he laughed at my +simplicity. My word! what chances have the simple-hearted or the pure +in a society where they are made objects of contempt! Kiyo would never +laugh at such a time; she would listen with profound respect. Kiyo is +far superior to Red Shirt. + +“Of course, that’t all right as long as you don’t do anything wrong. +But although you may not do anything wrong, they will do you just the +same unless you can see the wrong of others. There are fellows you have +got to watch,—the fellows who may appear off-hand, simple and so kind +as to get boarding house for you…… Getting rather cold. ’Tis already +autumn, isn’t it. The beach looks beer-color in the fog. A fine view. +Say, Mr. Yoshikawa, what do you think of the scene along the beach?……” +This in a loud voice was addressed to Clown. + +“Indeed, this is a fine view. I’d get a sketch of it if I had time. +Seems a pity to leave it there,” answered Clown. + +A light was seen upstairs at Minato-ya, and just as the whistle of a +train was sounded, our boat pushed its nose deep into the sand. “Well, +so you’re back early,” courtesied the wife of the boatman as she +stepped upon the sand. I stood on the edge of the boat; and whoop! I +jumped out to the beach. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +I heartily despise Clown. It would be beneficial for Japan if such a +fellow were tied to a quernstone and dumped into the sea. As to Red +Shirt, his voice did not suit my fancy. I believe he suppresses his +natural tones to put on airs and assume genteel manner. He may put on +all kinds of airs, but nothing good will come of it with that type of +face. If anything falls in love with him, perhaps the Madonna will be +about the limit. As a head-teacher, however, he is more serious than +Clown. As he did not say definitely, I cannot get to the point, but it +appears that he warned me to look-out for Porcupine as he is crooked. +If that was the case, he should have declared it like a man. And if +Porcupine is so bad a teacher as that, it would be better to discharge +him. What a lack of backbone for a head teacher and a Bachelor of Arts! +As he is a fellow so cautious as to be unable to mention the name of +the other even in a whisper, he is surely a mollycoddle. All +mollycoddles are kind, and that Red Shirt may be as kind as a woman. +His kindness is one thing, and his voice quite another, and it would be +wrong to disregard his kindness on account of his voice. But then, +isn’t this world a funny place! The fellow I don’t like is kind to me, +and the friend whom I like is crooked,—how absurd! Probably everything +here goes in opposite directions as it is in the country, the contrary +holds in Tokyo. A dangerous place, this. By degrees, fires may get +frozen and custard pudding petrified. But it is hardly believable that +Porcupine would incite the students, although he might do most anything +he wishes as he is best liked among them. Instead of taking in so +roundabout a way, in the first place, it would have saved him a lot of +trouble if he came direct to me and got at me for a fight. If I am in +his way, he had better tell me so, and ask me to resign because I am in +his way. There is nothing that cannot be settled by talking it over. If +what he says sounds reasonable, I would resign even tomorrow. This is +not the only town where I can get bread and butter; I ought not to die +homeless wherever I go. I thought Porcupine was a better sport. + +When I came here, Porcupine was the first to treat me to ice water. To +be treated by such a fellow, even if it is so trifling a thing as ice +water, affects my honor. I had only one glass then and had him pay only +one sen and a half. But one sen or half sen, I shall not die in peace +if I accept a favor from a swindler. I will pay it back tomorrow when I +go to the school. I borrowed three yen from Kiyo. That three yen is not +paid yet to-day, though it is five years since. Not that I could not +pay, but that I did not want to. Kiyo never looks to my pocket thinking +I shall pay it back by-the-bye. Not by any means. I myself do not +expect to fulfill cold obligation like a stranger by meditating on +returning it. The more I worry about paying it back, the more I may be +doubting the honest heart of Kiyo. It would be the same as traducing +her pure mind. I have not paid her back that three yen not because I +regard her lightly, but because I regard her as part of myself. Kiyo +and Porcupine cannot be compared, of course, but whether it be ice +water or tea, the fact that I accept another’s favor without saying +anything is an act of good-will, taking the other on his par value, as +a decent fellow. Instead of chipping in my share, and settling each +account, to receive munificence with grateful mind is an acknowledgment +which no amount of money can purchase. I have neither title nor +official position but I am an independent fellow, and to have an +independent fellow kowtow to you in acknowledgment of the favor you +extend him should be considered as far more than a return +acknowledgment with a million yen. I made Porcupine blow one sen and a +half, and gave him my gratitude which is more costly than a million +yen. He ought to have been thankful for that. And then what an +outrageous fellow to plan a cowardly action behind my back! I will give +him back that one sen and a half tomorrow, and all will be square. Then +I will land him one. When I thought thus far, I felt sleepy and slept +like a log. The next day, as I had something in my mind, I went to the +school earlier than usual and waited for Porcupine, but he did not +appear for a considerable time. “Confucius” was there, so was Clown, +and finally Red Shirt, but for Porcupine there was a piece of chalk on +his desk but the owner was not there. I had been thinking of paying +that one sen and a half as soon as I entered the room, and had brought +the coppers to the school grasped in my hand. My hands get easily +sweaty, and when I opened my hand, I found them wet. Thinking that +Porcupine might say something if wet coins were given him, I placed +them upon my desk, and cooled them by blowing in them. Then Red Shirt +came to me and said he was sorry to detain me yesterday, thought I have +been annoyed. I told him I was not annoyed at all, only I was hungry. +Thereupon Red Shirt put his elbows upon the desk, brought his +sauce-pan-like face close to my nose, and said; “Say, keep dark what I +told you yesterday in the boat. You haven’t told it anybody, have you?” +He seems quite a nervous fellow as becoming one who talks in a feminish +voice. It was certain that I had not told it to anybody, but as I was +in the mood to tell it and had already one sen and a half in my hand, I +would be a little rattled if a gag was put on me. To the devil with Red +Shirt! Although he had not mentioned the name “Porcupine,” he had given +me such pointers as to put me wise as to who the objective was, and now +he requested me not to blow the gaff!—it was an irresponsibility least +to be expected from a head teacher. In the ordinary run of things, he +should step into the thick of the fight between Porcupine and me, and +side with me with all his colors flying. By so doing, he might be +worthy the position of the head teacher, and vindicate the principle of +wearing red shirts. + +I told the head teacher that I had not divulged the secret to anybody +but was going to fight it out with Porcupine. Red Shirt was greatly +perturbed, and stuttered out; “Say, don’t do anything so rash as that. +I don’t remember having stated anything plainly to you about Mr. +Hotta……. if you start a scrimmage here, I’ll be greatly embarrassed.” +And he asked the strangely outlandish question if I had come to the +school to start trouble? Of course not, I said, the school would not +stand for my making trouble and pay me salary for it. Red Shirt then, +perspiring, begged me to keep the secret as mere reference and never +mention it. “All right, then,” I assured him, “this robs me shy, but +since you’re so afraid of it, I’ll keep it all to myself.” “Are you +sure?” repeated Red Shirt. There was no limit to his womanishness. If +Red Shirt was typical of Bachelors of Arts, I did not see much in them. +He appeared composed after having requested me to do something +self-contradictory and wanting logic, and on top of that suspects my +sincerity. + +“Don’t you mistake,” I said to myself, “I’m a man to the marrow, and +haven’t the idea of breaking my own promises; mark that!” + +Meanwhile the occupants of the desks on both my sides came to the room, +and Red Shirt hastily withdrew to his own desk. Red Shirt shows some +air even in his walk. In stepping about the room, he places down his +shoes so as to make no sound. For the first time I came to know that +making no sound in one’s walk was something satisfactory to one’s +vanity. He was not training himself for a burglar, I suppose. He should +cut out such nonsense before it gets worse. Then the bugle for the +opening of classes was heard. Porcupine did not appear after all. There +was no other way but to leave the coins upon the desk and attend the +class. + +When I returned to the room a little late after the first hour class, +all the teachers were there at their desks, and Porcupine too was +there. The moment Porcupine saw my face, he said that he was late on my +account, and I should pay him a fine. I took out that one sen and a +half, and saying it was the price of the ice water, shoved it on his +desk and told him to take it. “Don’t josh me,” he said, and began +laughing, but as I appeared unusually serious, he swept the coins back +to my desk, and flung back, “Quit fooling.” So he really meant to treat +me, eh? + +“No fooling; I mean it,” I said. “I have no reason to accept your +treat, and that’s why I pay you back. Why don’t you take it?” + +“If you’re so worried about that one sen and a half, I will take it, +but why do you pay it at this time so suddenly?” + +“This time or any time, I want to pay it back. I pay it back because I +don’t like you treat me.” + +Porcupine coldly gazed at me and ejaculated “H’m.” If I had not been +requested by Red Shirt, here was the chance to show up his cowardice +and make it hot for him. But since I had promised not to reveal the +secret, I could do nothing. What the deuce did he mean by “H’m” when I +was red with anger. + +“I’ll take the price of the ice water, but I want you leave your +boarding house.” + +“Take that coin; that’s all there is to it. To leave or not,—that’s my +pleasure.” + +“But that is not your pleasure. The boss of your boarding house came to +me yesterday and wanted me to tell you leave the house, and when I +heard his explanation, what he said was reasonable. And I dropped there +on my way here this morning to hear more details and make sure of +everything.” + +What Porcupine was trying to get at was all dark to me. + +“I don’t care a snap what the boss was damn well pleased to tell you,” +I cried. “What do you mean by deciding everything by yourself! If there +is any reason, tell me first. What’s the matter with you, deciding what +the boss says is reasonable without hearing me.” + +“Then you shall hear,” he said. “You’re too tough and been regarded a +nuisance over there. Say, the wife of a boarding house is a wife, not a +maid, and you’ve been such a four-flusher as to make her wipe your +feet.” + +“When did I make her wipe my feet?” I asked. + +“I don’t know whether you did or did not, but anyway they’re pretty +sore about you. He said he can make ten or fifteen yen easily if he +sell a roll of panel-picture.” + +“Damn the chap! Why did he take me for a boarder then!” + +“I don’t know why. They took you but they want you leave because they +got tired of you. So you’d better get out.” + +“Sure, I will. Who’d stay in such a house even if they beg me on their +knees. You’re insolent to have induced me to go to such a false accuser +in the first place.” + +“Might be either I’m insolent or you’re tough.” Porcupine is no less +hot-tempered than I am, and spoke with equally loud voice. All the +other teachers in the room, surprised, wondering what has happened, +looked in our direction and craned their necks. I was not conscious of +having done anything to be ashamed of, so I stood up and looked around. +Clown alone was laughing amused. The moment he met my glaring stare as +if to say “You too want to fight?” he suddenly assumed a grave face and +became serious. He seemed to be a little cowed. Meanwhile the bugle was +heard, and Porcupine and I stopped the quarrel and went to the class +rooms. + +In the afternoon, a meeting of the teachers was going to be held to +discuss the question of punishment of those students in the dormitory +who offended me the other night. This meeting was a thing I had to +attend for the first time in my life, and I was totally ignorant about +it. Probably it was where the teachers gathered to blow about their own +opinions and the principal bring them to compromise somehow. To +compromise is a method used when no decision can be delivered as to the +right or wrong of either side. It seemed to me a waste of time to hold +a meeting over an affair in which the guilt of the other side was plain +as daylight. No matter who tried to twist it round, there was no ground +for doubting the facts. It would have been better if the principal had +decided at once on such a plain case; he is surely wanting in decision. +If all principals are like this, a principal is a synonym of a +“dilly-dally.” + +The meeting hall was a long, narrow room next to that of the principal, +and was used for dining room. About twenty chairs, with black leather +seat, were lined around a narrow table, and the whole scene looked like +a restaurant in Kanda. At one end of the table the principal took his +seat, and next to him Red Shirt. All the rest shifted for themselves, +but the gymnasium teacher is said always to take the seat farthest down +out of modesty. The situation was new to me, so I sat down between the +teachers of natural history and of Confucius. Across the table sat +Porcupine and Clown. Think how I might, the face of Clown was a +degrading type. That of Porcupine was far more charming, even if I was +now on bad terms with him. The panel picture which hung in the alcove +of the reception hall of Yogen temple where I went to the funeral of my +father, looked exactly like this Porcupine. A priest told me the +picture was the face of a strange creature called Idaten. To-day he was +pretty sore, and frequently stared at me with his fiery eyes rolling. +“You can’t bulldoze me with that,” I thought, and rolled my own in +defiance and stared back at him. My eyes are not well-shaped but their +large size is seldom beaten by others. Kiyo even once suggested that I +should make a fine actor because I had big eyes. + +“All now here?” asked the principal, and the clerk named Kawamura +counted one, two, three and one was short. “Just one more,” said the +clerk, and it ought to be; Hubbard Squash was not there. I don’t know +what affinity there is between Hubbard Squash and me, but I can never +forget his face. When I come to the teachers’ room, his face attracts +me first; while walking out in the street, his manners are recalled to +my mind. When I go to the hot springs, sometimes I meet him with a +pale-face in the bath, and if I hallooed to him, he would raise his +trembling head, making me feel sorry for him. In the school there is no +teacher so quiet as he. He seldom, if ever, laughs or talks. I knew the +word “gentleman” from books, and thought it was found only in the +dictionary, but not a thing alive. But since I met Hubbard Squash, I +was impressed for the first time that the word represented a real +substance. + +As he is a man so attached to me, I had noticed his absence as soon as +I entered the meeting hall. To tell the truth, I came to the hall with +the intention of sitting next to him. The principal said that the +absentee may appear shortly, and untied a package he had before him, +taking out some hectograph sheets and began reading them. Red Shirt +began polishing his amber pipe with a silk handkerchief. This was his +hobby, which was probably becoming to him. Others whispered with their +neighbors. Still others were writing nothings upon the table with the +erasers at the end of their pencils. Clown talked to Porcupine once in +a while, but he was not responsive. He only said “Umh” or “Ahm,” and +stared at me with wrathful eyes. I stared back with equal ferocity. + +Then the tardy Hubbard Squash apologetically entered, and politely +explained that he was unavoidably detained. “Well, then the meeting is +called to order,” said Badger. On these sheets was printed, first the +question of the punishment of the offending students, second that of +superintending the students, and two or three other matters. Badger, +putting on airs as usual, as if he was an incarnation of education, +spoke to the following effect. + +“Any misdeeds or faults among the teachers or the students in this +school are due to the lack of virtues in my person, and whenever +anything happens, I inwardly feel ashamed that a man like me could hold +his position. Unfortunately such an affair has taken place again, and I +have to apologize from my heart. But since it has happened, it cannot +be helped; we must settle it one way or other. The facts are as you +already know, and I ask you gentlemen to state frankly the best means +by which the affair may be settled.” + +When I heard the principal speak, I was impressed that indeed the +principal, or Badger, was saying something “grand.” If the principal +was willing to assume all responsibilities, saying it was his fault or +his lack of virtues, it would have been better stop punishing the +students and get himself fired first. Then there will be no need of +holding such thing as a meeting. In the first place, just consider it +by common sense. I was doing my night duty right, and the students +started trouble. The wrong doer is neither the principal nor I. If +Porcupine incited them, then it would be enough to get rid of the +students and Porcupine. Where in thunder would be a peach of damfool +who always swipes other people’s faults and says “these are mine?” It +was a stunt made possible only by Badger. Having made such an illogical +statement, he glanced at the teachers in a highly pleased manner. But +no one opened his mouth. The teacher of natural history was gazing at +the crow which had hopped on the roof of the nearby building. The +teacher of Confucius was folding and unfolding the hectograph sheet. +Porcupine was still staring at me. If a meeting was so nonsensical an +affair as this, I would have been better absent taking a nap at home. + +I became irritated, and half raised myself, intending to make a +convincing speech, but just then Red Shirt began saying something and I +stopped. I saw him say something, having put away his pipe, and wiping +his face with a striped silk handkerchief. I’m sure he copped that +handkerchief from the Madonna; men should use white linen. He said: + +“When I heard of the rough affairs in the dormitory, I was greatly +ashamed as the head teacher of my lack of discipline and influence. +When such an affair takes place there is underlying cause somewhere. +Looking at the affair itself, it may seem that the students were wrong, +but in a closer study of the facts, we may find the responsibility +resting with the School. Therefore, I’m afraid it might affect us badly +in the future if we administer too severe a punishment on the strength +of what has been shown on the surface. As they are youngsters, full of +life and vigor, they might half-consciously commit some youthful +pranks, without due regard as to their good or bad. As to the mode of +punishment itself, I have no right to suggest since it is a matter +entirely in the hand of the principal, but I should ask, considering +these points, that some leniency be shown toward the students.” + +Well, as Badger, so was Red Shirt. He declares the “Rough Necks” among +the students is not their fault but the fault of the teachers. A crazy +person beats other people because the beaten are wrong. Very grateful, +indeed. If the students were so full of life and vigor, shovel them out +into the campus and let them wrestle their heads off. Who would have +grasshoppers put into his bed unconsciously! If things go on like this, +they may stab some one asleep, and get freed as having done the deed +unconsciously. + +Having figured it out in this wise, I thought I would state my own +views on the matter, but I wanted to give them an eloquent speech and +fairly take away their breath. I have an affection of the windpipe +which clog after two or three words when I am excited. Badger and Red +Shirt are below my standing in their personality, but they were skilled +in speech-making, and it would not do to have them see my awkwardness. +I’ll make a rough note of composition first, I thought, and started +mentally making a sentence, when, to my surprise, Clown stood up +suddenly. It was unusual for Clown to state his opinion. He spoke in +his flippant tone: + +“Really the grasshopper incident and the whoop-la affair are peculiar +happenings which are enough to make us doubt our own future. We +teachers at this time must strive to clear the atmosphere of the +school. And what the principal and the head teacher have said just now +are fit and proper. I entirely agree with their opinions. I wish the +punishment be moderate.” + +In what Clown had said there were words but no meaning. It was a +juxtaposition of high-flown words making no sense. All that I +understood was the words, “I entirely agree with their opinions.” + +Clown’s meaning was not clear to me, but as I was thoroughly angered, I +rose without completing my rough note. + +“I am entirely opposed to…….” I said, but the rest did not come at +once. “…….I don’t like such a topsy-turvy settlement,” I added and the +fellows began laughing. “The students are absolutely wrong from the +beginning. It would set a bad precedent if we don’t make them apologize +……. What do we care if we kick them all out ……. darn the kids trying to +guy a new comer…….” and I sat down. Then the teacher of natural history +who sat on my right whined a weak opinion, saying “The students may be +wrong, but if we punish them too severely, they may start a reaction +and would make it rather bad. I am for the moderate side, as the head +teacher suggested.” The teacher of Confucius on my left expressed his +agreement with the moderate side, and so did the teacher of history +endorse the views of the head teacher. Dash those weak-knees! Most of +them belonged to the coterie of Red Shirt. It would make a dandy school +if such fellows run it. I had decided in my mind that it must be either +the students apologize to me or I resign, and if the opinion of Red +Shirt prevailed, I had determined to return home and pack up. I had no +ability of out-talking such fellows, or even if I had, I was in no +humor to keeping their company for long. Since I don’t expect to remain +in the school, the devil may take care of the rest. If I said anything, +they would only laugh; so I shut my mouth tight. + +Porcupine, who up to this time had been listening to the others, stood +up with some show of spirit. Ha, the fellow was going to endorse the +views of Red Shirt, eh? You and I got to fight it out anyway, I +thought, so do any way you darn please. Porcupine spoke in a thunderous +voice: + +“I entirely differ from the opinions of the head teacher and other +gentlemen. Because, viewed from whatever angle, this incident cannot be +other than an attempt by those fifty students in the dormitory to make +a fool of a new teacher. The head teacher seems to trace the cause of +the trouble to the personality of that teacher himself, but, begging +his pardon, I think he is mistaken. The night that new teacher was on +night duty was not long after his arrival, not more than twenty days +after he had come into contact with the students. During those short +twenty days, the students could have no reason to criticise his +knowledges or his person. If he was insulted for some cause which +deserved insult, there may be reasons in our considering the act of the +students, but if we show undue leniency toward the frivolous students +who would insult a new teacher without cause, it would affect the +dignity of this school. The spirit of education is not only in +imparting technical knowledges, but also in encouraging honest, +ennobling and samurai-like virtues, while eliminating the evil tendency +to vulgarity and roughness. If we are afraid of reaction or further +trouble, and satisfy ourselves with make-shifts, there is no telling +when we can ever get rid of this evil atmosphere[G]. We are here to +eradicate this very evil. If we mean to countenance it, we had better +not accepted our positions here. For these reasons, I believe it proper +to punish the students in the dormitory to the fullest extent and also +make them apologize to that teacher in the open.” + +All were quiet. Red Shirt again began polishing his pipe. I was greatly +elated. He spoke almost what I had wanted to. I’m such a simple-hearted +fellow that I forgot all about the bickerings with Porcupine, and +looked at him with a grateful face, but he appeared to take no notice +of me. + +After a while, Porcupine again stood up, and said. “I forgot to mention +just now, so I wish to add. The teacher on night duty that night seems +to have gone to the hot springs during his duty hours, and I think it a +blunder. It is a matter of serious misconduct to take the advantage of +being in sole charge of the school, to slip out to a hot springs. The +bad behavior of the students is one thing; this blunder is another, and +I wish the principal to call attention of the responsible person to +that matter.” + +A strange fellow! No sooner had he backed me up than he began talking +me down. I knew the other night watch went out during his duty hours, +and thought it was a custom, so I went as far out as to the hot springs +without considering the situation seriously. But when it was pointed +out like this, I realised that I had been wrong. Thereupon I rose again +and said; “I really went to the hot springs. It was wrong and I +apologize.” Then all again laughed. Whatever I say, they laugh. What a +lot of boobs! See if you fellows can make a clean breast of your own +fault like this! You fellows laugh because you can’t talk straight. + +After that the principal said that since it appeared that there will be +no more opinions, he will consider the matter well and administer what +he may deem a proper punishment. I may here add the result of the +meeting. The students in the dormitory were given one week’s +confinement, and in addition to that, apologized to me. If they had not +apologized, I intended to resign and go straight home, but as it was it +finally resulted in a bigger and still worse affair, of which more +later. The principal then at the meeting said something to the effect +that the manners of the students should be directed rightly by the +teachers’ influence, and as the first step, no teacher should +patronize, if possible, the shops where edibles and drinks were served, +excepting, however, in case of farewell party or such social +gatherings. He said he would like no teacher to go singly to eating +houses of lower kind—for instance, noodle-house or dango shop…. And +again all laughed. Clown looked at Porcupine, said “tempura” and winked +his eyes, but Porcupine regarded him in silence. Good! + +My “think box” is not of superior quality, so things said by Badger +were not clear to me, but I thought if a fellow can’t hold the job of +teacher in a middle school because he patronizes a noodle-house or +dango shop, the fellow with bear-like appetite like me will never be +able to hold it. If it was the case, they ought to have specified when +calling for a teacher one who does not eat noodle and dango. To give an +appointment without reference to the matter at first, and then to +proclaim that noodle or dango should not be eaten was a blow to a +fellow like me who has no other petty hobby. Then Red Shirt again +opened his mouth. + +“Teachers of the middle school belong to the upper class of society and +they should not be looking after material pleasures only, for it would +eventually have effect upon their personal character. But we are human, +and it would be intolerable in a small town like this to live without +any means of affording some pleasure to ourselves, such as fishing, +reading literary products, composing new style poems, or haiku +(17-syllable poem). We should seek mental consolation of higher order.” + +There seemed no prospect that he would quit the hot air. If it was a +mental consolation to fish fertilisers on the sea, have goruki for +Russian literature, or to pose a favorite geisha beneath pine tree, it +would be quite as much a mental consolation to eat dempura noodle and +swallow dango. Instead of dwelling on such sham consolations, he would +find his time better spent by washing his red shirts. I became so +exasperated that I asked; “Is it also a mental consolation to meet the +Madonna?” No one laughed this time and looked at each other with queer +faces, and Red Shirt himself hung his head, apparently embarrassed. +Look at that! A good shot, eh? Only I was sorry for Hubbard Squash who, +having heard the remark, became still paler. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +That very night I left the boarding house. While I was packing up, the +boss came to me and asked if there was anything wrong in the way I was +treated. He said he would be pleased to correct it and suit me if I was +sore at anything. This beats me, sure. How is it possible for so many +boneheads to be in this world! I could not tell whether they wanted me +to stay or get out. They’re crazy. It would be disgrace for a Yedo kid +to fuss about with such a fellow; so I hired a rikishaman and speedily +left the house. + +I got out of the house all right, but had no place to go. The +rikishaman asked me where I was going. I told him to follow me with his +mouth shut, then he shall see and I kept on walking. I thought of going +to Yamashiro-ya to avoid the trouble of hunting up a new boarding +house, but as I had no prospect of being able to stay there long, I +would have to renew the hunt sooner or later, so I gave up the idea. If +I continued walking this way, I thought I might strike a house with the +sign of “boarders taken” or something similar, and I would consider the +first house with the sign the one provided for me by Heaven. I kept on +going round and round through the quiet, decent part of the town when I +found myself at Kajimachi. This used to be former samurai quarters +where one had the least chance of finding any boarding house, and I was +going to retreat to a more lively part of the town when a good idea +occurred to me. Hubbard Squash whom I respected lived in this part of +the town. He is a native of the town, and has lived in the house +inherited from his great grandfather. He must be, I thought, well +informed about nearly everything in this town. If I call on him for his +help, he will perhaps find me a good boarding house. Fortunately, I +called at his house once before, and there was no trouble in finding it +out. I knocked at the door of a house, which I knew must be his, and a +woman about fifty years old with an old fashioned paper-lantern in +hand, appeared at the door. I do not despise young women, but when I +see an aged woman, I feel much more solicitous. This is probably +because I am so fond of Kiyo. This aged lady, who looked well-refined, +was certainly mother of Hubbard Squash whom she resembled. She invited +me inside, but I asked her to call him out for me. When he came I told +him all the circumstances, and asked him if he knew any who would take +me for a boarder. Hubbard Squash thought for a moment in a sympathetic +mood, then said there was an old couple called Hagino, living in the +rear of the street, who had asked him sometime ago to get some boarders +for them as there are only two in the house and they had some vacant +rooms. Hubbard Squash was kind enough to go along with me and find out +if the rooms were vacant. They were. + +From that night I boarded at the house of the Haginos. What surprised +me was that on the day after I left the house of Ikagin, Clown stepped +in and took the room I had been occupying. Well used to all sorts of +tricks and crooks as I might have been, this audacity fairly knocked me +off my feet. It was sickening. + +I saw that I would be an easy mark for such people unless I brace up +and try to come up, or down, to their level. It would be a high time +indeed for me to be alive if it were settled that I would not get three +meals a day without living on the spoils of pick pockets. Nevertheless, +to hang myself,—healthy and vigorous as I am,—would be not only +inexcusable before my ancestors but a disgrace before the public. Now I +think it over, it would have been better for me to have started +something like a milk delivery route with that six hundred yen as +capital, instead of learning such a useless stunt as mathematics at the +School of Physics. If I had done so, Kiyo could have stayed with me, +and I could have lived without worrying about her so far a distance +away. While I was with her I did not notice it, but separated thus I +appreciated Kiyo as a good-natured old woman. One could not find a +noble natured woman like Kiyo everywhere. She was suffering from a +slight cold when I left Tokyo and I wondered how she was getting on +now? Kiyo must have been pleased when she received the letter from me +the other day. By the way, I thought it was the time I was in receipt +of answer from her. I spent two or three days with things like this in +my mind. I was anxious about the answer, and asked the old lady of the +house if any letter came from Tokyo for me, and each time she would +appear sympathetic and say no. The couple here, being formerly of +samurai class, unlike the Ikagin couple, were both refined. The old +man’s recital of “utai” in a queer voice at night was somewhat telling +on my nerves, but it was much easier on me as he did not frequent my +room like Ikagin with the remark of “let me serve you tea.” + +The old lady once in a while would come to my room and chat on many +things. She questioned me why I had not brought my wife with me. I +asked her if I looked like one married, reminding her that I was only +twenty four yet. Saying “it is proper for one to get married at twenty +four” as a beginning, she recited that Mr. Blank married when he was +twenty, that Mr. So-and-So has already two children at twenty two, and +marshalled altogether about half a dozen examples,—quite a damper on my +youthful theory. I will then get married at twenty four, I said, and +requested her to find me a good wife, and she asked me if I really +meant it. + +“Really? You bet! I can’t help wanting to get married.” + +“I should suppose so. Everybody is just like that when young.” This +remark was a knocker; I could not say anything to that. + +“But I’m sure you have a Madam already. I have seen to that with my own +eyes.” + +“Well, they are sharp eyes. How have you seen it?” + +“How? Aren’t you often worried to death, asking if there’s no letter +from Tokyo?” + +“By Jupiter! This beats me!” + +“Hit the mark, haven’t I?” + +“Well, you probably have.” + +“But the girls of these days are different from what they used to be +and you need a sharp look-out on them. So you’d better be careful.” + +“Do you mean that my Madam in Tokyo is behaving badly?” + +“No, your Madam is all right.” + +“That makes me feel safe. Then about what shall I be careful?” + +“Yours is all right. Though yours is all right…….” + +“Where is one not all right?” + +“Rather many right in this town. You know the daughter of the Toyamas? + +“No, I do not.” + +“You don’t know her yet? She is the most beautiful girl about here. She +is so beautiful that the teachers in the school call her Madonna. You +haven’t heard that? + +“Ah, the Madonna! I thought it was the name of a geisha.” + +“No, Sir. Madonna is a foreign word and means a beautiful girl, doesn’t +it?” + +“That may be. I’m surprised.” + +“Probably the name was given by the teacher of drawing.” + +“Was it the work of Clown?” + +“No, it was given by Professor Yoshikawa.” + +“Is that Madonna not all right?” + +“That Madonna-san is a Madonna not all right.” + +“What a bore! We haven’t any decent woman among those with nicknames +from old days. I should suppose the Madonna is not all right.” + +“Exactly. We have had awful women such as O-Matsu the Devil or Ohyaku +the Dakki. + +“Does the Madonna belong to that ring?” + +“That Madonna-san, you know, was engaged to Professor Koga,—who brought +you here,—yes, was promised to him.” + +“Ha, how strange! I never knew our friend Hubbard Squash was a fellow +of such gallantry. We can’t judge a man by his appearance. I’ll be a +bit more careful.” + +“The father of Professor Koga died last year,—up to that time they had +money and shares in a bank and were well off,—but since then things +have grown worse, I don’t know why. Professor Koga was too +good-natured, in short, and was cheated, I presume. The wedding was +delayed by one thing or another and there appeared the head teacher who +fell in love with the Madonna head over heels and wanted to marry +her.” + +“Red Shirt? He ought be hanged. I thought that shirt was not an +ordinary kind of shirt. Well?” + +“The head teacher proposed marriage through a go-between, but the +Toyamas could not give a definite answer at once on account of their +relations with the Kogas. They replied that they would consider the +matter or something like that. Then Red Shirt-san worked up some ways +and started visiting the Toyamas and has finally won the heart of the +Miss. Red Shirt-san is bad, but so is Miss Toyama; they all talk bad of +them. She had agreed to be married to Professor Koga and changed her +mind because a Bachelor of Arts began courting her,—why, that would be +an offense to the God of To-day.” + +“Of course. Not only of To-day but also of tomorrow and the day after; +in fact, of time without end.” + +“So Hotta-san a friend of Koga-san, felt sorry for him and went to the +head teacher to remonstrate with him. But Red Shirt-san said that he +had no intention of taking away anybody who is promised to another. He +may get married if the engagement is broken, he said, but at present he +was only being acquainted with the Toyamas and he saw nothing wrong in +his visiting the Toyamas. Hotta-san couldn’t do anything and returned. +Since then they say Red Shirt-san and Hotta-san are on bad terms.” + +“You do know many things, I should say. How did you get such details? +I’m much impressed.” + +“The town is so small that I can know everything.” + +Yes, everything seems to be known more than one cares. Judging by her +way, this woman probably knows about my tempura and dango affairs. Here +was a pot that would make peas rattle! The meaning of the Madonna, the +relations between Porcupine and Red Shirt became clear and helped me a +deal. Only what puzzled me was the uncertainty as to which of the two +was wrong. A fellow simple-hearted like me could not tell which side he +should help unless the matter was presented in black and white. + +“Of Red Shirt and Porcupine, which is a better fellow?” + +“What is Porcupine, Sir?” + +“Porcupine means Hotta.” + +“Well, Hotta-san is physically strong, as strength goes, but Red +Shirt-san is a Bachelor of Arts and has more ability. And Red Shirt-san +is more gentle, as gentleness goes, but Hotta-san is more popular among +the students.” + +“After all, which is better?” + +“After all, the one who gets a bigger salary is greater, I suppose?” + +There was no use of going on further in this way, and I closed the +talk. + +Two or three days after this, when I returned from the school, the old +lady with a beaming smile, brought me a letter, saying, “Here you are +Sir, at last. Take your time and enjoy it.” I took it up and found it +was from Kiyo. On the letter were two or three retransmission slips, +and by these I saw the letter was sent from Yamashiro-ya to the +Ikagins, then to the Haginos. Besides, it stayed at Yamashiro-ya for +about one week; even letters seemed to stop in a hotel. I opened it, +and it was a very long letter. + +“When I received the letter from my Master Darling, I intended to write +an answer at once. But I caught cold and was sick abed for about one +week and the answer was delayed for which I beg your pardon. I am not +well-used to writing or reading like girls in these days, and it +required some efforts to get done even so poorly written a letter as +this. I was going to ask my nephew to write it for me, but thought it +inexcusable to my Master Darling when I should take special pains for +myself. So I made a rough copy once, and then a clean copy. I finished +the clean copy, in two days, but the rough copy took me four days. It +may be difficult for you to read, but as I have written this letter +with all my might, please read it to the end.” + +This was the introductory part of the letter in which, about four feet +long, were written a hundred and one things. Well, it was difficult to +read. Not only was it poorly written but it was a sort of juxtaposition +of simple syllables that racked one’s brain to make it clear where it +stopped or where it began. I am quick-tempered and would refuse to read +such a long, unintelligible letter for five yen, but I read this +seriously from the first to the last. It is a fact that I read it +through. My efforts were mostly spent in untangling letters and +sentences; so I started reading it over again. The room had become a +little dark, and this rendered it harder to read it; so finally I +stepped out to the porch where I sat down and went over it carefully. +The early autumn breeze wafted through the leaves of the banana trees, +bathed me with cool evening air, rustled the letter I was holding and +would have blown it clear to the hedge if I let it go. I did not mind +anything like this, but kept on reading. + +“Master Darling is simple and straight like a split bamboo by +disposition,” it says, “only too explosive. That’s what worries me. If +you brand other people with nicknames you will only make enemies of +them; so don’t use them carelessly; if you coin new ones, just tell +them only to Kiyo in your letters. The countryfolk are said to be bad, +and I wish you to be careful not have them do you. The weather must be +worse than in Tokyo, and you should take care not to catch cold. Your +letter is too short that I can’t tell how things are going on with you. +Next time write me a letter at least half the length of this one. +Tipping the hotel with five yen is all right, but were you not short of +money afterward? Money is the only thing one can depend upon when in +the country and you should economize and be prepared for rainy days. +I’m sending you ten yen by postal money order. I have that fifty yen my +Master Darling gave me deposited in the Postal Savings to help you +start housekeeping when you return to Tokyo, and taking out this ten, I +have still forty yen left,—quite safe.” + +I should say women are very particular on many things. + +When I was meditating with the letter flapping in my hand on the porch, +the old lady opened the sliding partition and brought in my supper. + +“Still poring over the letter? Must be a very long one, I imagine,” she +said. + +“Yes, this is an important letter, so I’m reading it with the wind +blowing it about,” I replied—the reply which was nonsense even for +myself,—and I sat down for supper. I looked in the dish on the tray, +and saw the same old sweet potatoes again to-night. This new boarding +house was more polite and considerate and refined than the Ikagins, but +the grub was too poor stuff and that was one drawback. It was sweet +potato yesterday, so it was the day before yesterday, and here it is +again to-night. True, I declared myself very fond of sweet potatoes, +but if I am fed with sweet potatoes with such insistency, I may soon +have to quit this dear old world. I can’t be laughing at Hubbard +Squash; I shall become Sweet Potato myself before long. If it were Kiyo +she would surely serve me with my favorite sliced tunny or fried +kamaboko, but nothing doing with a tight, poor samurai. It seems best +that I live with Kiyo. If I have to stay long in the school, I believe +I would call her from Tokyo. Don’t eat tempura, don’t eat dango, and +then get turned yellow by feeding on sweet potatoes only, in the +boarding house. That’s for an educator, and his place is really a hard +one. I think even the priests of the Zen sect are enjoying better feed. +I cleaned up the sweet potatoes, then took out two raw eggs from the +drawer of my desk, broke them on the edge of the rice bowl, to tide it +over. I have to get nourishment by eating raw eggs or something, or how +can I stand the teaching of twenty one hours a week? + +I was late for my bath to-day on account of the letter from Kiyo. But I +would not like to drop off a single day since I had been there +everyday. I thought I would take a train to-day, and coming to the +station with the same old red towel dangling out of my hand, I found +the train had just left two or three minutes ago, and had to wait for +some time. While I was smoking a cigarette on a bench, my friend +Hubbard Squash happened to come in. Since I heard the story about him +from the old lady my sympathy for him had become far greater than ever. +His reserve always appeared to me pathetic. It was no longer a case of +merely pathetic; more than that. I was wishing to get his salary +doubled, if possible, and have him marry Miss Toyama and send them to +Tokyo for about one month on a pleasure trip. Seeing him, therefore, I +motioned him to a seat beside me, addressing him cheerfully: + +“Hello[H], going to bath? Come and sit down here.” + +Hubbard Squash, appearing much awe-struck, said; “Don’t mind me, Sir,” +and whether out of polite reluctance or I don’t know what, remained +standing. + +“You have to wait for a little while before the next train starts; sit +down; you’ll be tired,” I persuaded him again. In fact, I was so +sympathetic for him that I wished to have him sit down by me somehow. +Then with a “Thank you, Sir,” he at last sat down. A fellow like Clown, +always fresh, butts in where he is not wanted; or like Porcupine +swaggers about with a face which says “Japan would be hard up without +me,” or like Red Shirt, self-satisfied in the belief of being the +wholesaler of gallantry and of cosmetics. Or like Badger who appears to +say; “If ‘Education’ were alive and put on a frockcoat, it would look +like me.” One and all in one way or other have bravado, but I have +never seen any one like this Hubbard Squash, so quiet and resigned, +like a doll taken for a ransom. His face is rather swollen but for the +Madonna to cast off such a splendid fellow and give preference to Red +Shirt, was frivolous beyond my understanding. Put how many dozens of +Red Shirt you like together, it will not make one husband of stuff to +beat Hubbard Squash. + +“Is anything wrong with you? You look quite fatigued,” I asked. + +“No, I have no particular ailments…….” + +“That’s good. Poor health is the worst thing one can get.” + +“You appear very strong.” + +“Yes, I’m thin, but never got sick. That’s something I don’t like.” + +Hubbard Squash smiled at my words. Just then I heard some young girlish +laughs at the entrance, and incidentally looking that way, I saw a +“peach.” A beautiful girl, tall, white-skinned, with her head done up +in “high-collared” style, was standing with a woman of about forty-five +or six, in front of the ticket window. I am not a fellow given to +describing a belle, but there was no need to repeat asserting that she +was beautiful. I felt as if I had warmed a crystal ball with perfume +and held it in my hand. The older woman was shorter, but as she +resembled the younger, they might be mother and daughter. The moment I +saw them, I forgot all about Hubbard Squash, and was intently gazing at +the young beauty. Then I was a bit startled to see Hubbard Squash +suddenly get up and start walking slowly toward them. I wondered if she +was not the Madonna. The three were courtesying in front of the ticket +window, some distance away from me, and I could not hear what they were +talking about. + +The clock at the station showed the next train to start in five +minutes. Having lost my partner, I became impatient and longed for the +train to start as soon as possible, when a fellow rushed into the +station excited. It was Red Shirt. He had on some fluffy clothes, +loosely tied round with a silk-crepe girdle, and wound to it the same +old gold chain. That gold chain is stuffed. Red Shirt thinks nobody +knows it and is making a big show of it, but I have been wise. Red +Shirt stopped short, stared around, and then after bowing politely to +the three still in front of the ticket window, made a remark or two, +and hastily turned toward me. He came up to me, walking in his usual +cat’s style, and hallooed. + +“You too going to bath? I was afraid of missing the train and hurried +up, but we have three or four minutes yet. Wonder if that clock is +right?” + +He took out his gold watch, and remarking it wrong about two minutes +sat down beside me. He never turned toward the belle, but with his chin +on the top of a cane, steadily looked straight before him. The older +woman would occasionally glance toward Red Shirt, but the younger kept +her profile away. Surely she was the Madonna. + +The train now arrived with a shrill whistle and the passengers hastened +to board. Red Shirt jumped into the first class coach ahead of all. One +cannot brag much about boarding the first class coach here. It cost +only five sen for the first and three sen for the second to Sumida; +even I paid for the first and a white ticket. The country fellows, +however, being all close, seemed to regard the expenditure of the extra +two sen a serious matter and mostly boarded the second class. Following +Red Shirt, the Madonna and her mother entered the first class. Hubbard +Squash regularly rides in the second class. He stood at the door of a +second class coach and appeared somewhat hesitating, but seeing me +coming, took decisive steps and jumped into the second. I felt sorry +for him—I do not know why—and followed him into the same coach. Nothing +wrong in riding on the second with a ticket for the first, I believe. + +At the hot springs, going down from the third floor to the bath room in +bathing gown, again I met Hubbard Squash. I feel my throat clogged up +and unable to speak at a formal gathering, but otherwise I am rather +talkative; so I opened conversation with him. He was so pathetic and my +compassion was aroused to such an extent that I considered it the duty +of a Yedo kid to console him to the best of my ability. But Hubbard +Squash was not responsive. Whatever I said, he would only answer “eh?” +or “umh,” and even these with evident effort. Finally I gave up my +sympathetic attempt and cut off the conversation. + +I did not meet Red Shirt at the bath. There are many bath rooms, and +one does not necessarily meet the fellows at the same bath room though +he might come on the same train. I thought it nothing strange. When I +got out of the bath, I found the night bright with the moon. On both +sides of the street stood willow trees which cast their shadows on the +road. I would take a little stroll, I thought. Coming up toward north, +to the end of the town, one sees a large gate to the left. Opposite the +gate stands a temple and both sides of the approach to the temple are +lined with houses with red curtains. A tenderloin inside a temple gate +is an unheard-of phenomenon. I wanted to go in and have a look at the +place, but for fear I might get another kick from Badger, I passed it +by. A flat house with narrow lattice windows and black curtain at the +entrance, near the gate, is the place where I ate dango and committed +the blunder. A round lantern with the signs of sweet meats hung outside +and its light fell on the trunk of a willow tree close by. I hungered +to have a bite of dango, but went away forbearing. + +To be unable to eat dango one is so fond of eating, is tragic. But to +have one’s betrothed change her love to another, would be more tragic. +When I think of Hubbard Squash, I believe that I should not complain +if I cannot eat dango or anything else for three days. Really there is +nothing so unreliable a creature as man. As far as her face goes, she +appears the least likely to commit so stony-hearted an act as this. But +the beautiful person is cold-blooded and Koga-san who is swollen like a +pumpkin soaked in water, is a gentleman to the core,—that’s where we +have to be on the look-out. Porcupine whom I had thought candid was +said to have incited the students and he whom then I regarded an +agitator, demanded of the principal a summary punishment of the +students. The disgustingly snobbish Red Shirt is unexpectedly +considerate and warns me in ways more than one, but then he won the +Madonna by crooked means. He denies, however, having schemed anything +crooked about the Madonna, and says he does not care to marry her +unless her engagement with Koga is broken. When Ikagin beat me out of +his house, Clown enters and takes my room. Viewed from any angle, man +is unreliable. If I write these things to Kiyo, it would surprise her. +She would perhaps say that because it is the west side of Hakone that +the town had all the freaks and crooks dumped in together.[7] + +[Footnote 7: An old saying goes that east of the Hakone pass, there are +no apparitions or freaks.] + + +I do not by nature worry about little things, and had come so far +without minding anything. But hardly a month had passed since I came +here, and I have begun to regard the world quite uneasily. I have not +met with any particularly serious affairs, but I feel as if I had grown +five or six years older. Better say “good by” to this old spot soon and +return to Tokyo, I thought. While strolling thus thinking on various +matters, I had passed the stone bridge and come up to the levy of the +Nozeri river. The word river sounds too big; it is a shallow stream of +about six feet wide. If one goes on along the levy for about twelve +blocks, he reaches the Aioi village where there is a temple of Kwanon. + +Looking back at the town of the hot springs, I see red lights gleaming +amid the pale moon beams. Where the sound of the drum is heard must be +the tenderloin. The stream is shallow but fast, whispering incessantly. +When I had covered about three blocks walking leisurely upon the bank, +I perceived a shadow ahead. Through the light of the moon, I found +there were two shadows. They were probably village youngsters returning +from the hot springs, though they did not sing, and were exceptionally +quiet for that. + +I kept on walking, and I was faster than they. The two shadows became +larger. One appeared like a woman. When I neared them within about +sixty feet, the man, on hearing my footsteps, turned back. The moon was +shining from behind me. I could see the manner of the man then and +something queer struck me. They resumed their walk as before. And I +chased them on a full speed. The other party, unconscious, walked +slowly. I could now hear their voice distinctly. The levy was about six +feet wide, and would allow only three abreast. I easily passed them, +and turning back gazed squarely into the face of the man. The moon +generously bathed my face with its beaming light. The fellow uttered a +low “ah,” and suddenly turning sideway, said to the woman “Let’s go +back.” They traced their way back toward the hot springs town. + +Was it the intention of Red Shirt to hush the matter up by pretending +ignorance, or was it lack of nerve? I was not the only fellow who +suffered the consequence of living in a small narrow town. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +On my way back from the fishing to which I was invited by Red Shirt, +and since then, I began to suspect Porcupine. When the latter wanted me +to get out of Ikagin’s house on sham pretexts, I regarded him a +decidedly unpleasant fellow. But as Porcupine, at the teachers’ +meeting, contrary to my expectation, stood firmly for punishing the +students to the fullest extent of the school regulations, I thought it +queer. When I heard from the old lady about Porcupine volunteering +himself for the sake of Hubbard Squash to stop Red Shirt meddling with +the Madonna, I clapped my hands and hoorayed for him. Judging by these +facts, I began to wonder if the wrong-doer might be not Porcupine, but +Red Shirt the crooked one. He instilled into my head some flimsy +hearsay plausibly and in a roundabout-way. At this juncture I saw Red +Shirt taking a walk with the Madonna on the levy of the Nozeri river, +and I decided that Red Shirt may be a scoundrel. I am not sure of his +being really scoundrel at heart, but at any rate he is not a good +fellow. He is a fellow with a double face. A man deserves no confidence +unless he is as straight as the bamboo. One may fight a straight +fellow, and feel satisfied. We cannot lose sight of the fact that Red +Shirt or his kind who is kind, gentle, refined, and takes pride in his +pipe had to be looked sharp, for I could not be too careful in getting +into a scrap with the fellow of this type. I may fight, but I would not +get square games like the wrestling matches at the Wrestling +Amphitheatre in Tokyo. Come to think of it, Porcupine who turned +against me and startled the whole teachers’ room over the amount of one +sen and a half is far more like a man. When he stared at me with owlish +eyes at the teachers’ meeting, I branded him as a spiteful guy, but as +I consider the matter now, he is better than the feline voice of Red +Shirt. To tell the truth, I tried to get reconciled with Porcupine, and +after the meeting, spoke a word or two to him, but he shut up like a +clam and kept glaring at me. So I became sore, and let it go at that. + +Porcupine has not spoken to me since. The one sen and a half which I +paid him back upon the desk, is still there, well covered with dust. I +could not touch it, nor would Porcupine take it. This one sen and a +half has become a barrier between us two. We two were cursed with this +one sen and a half. Later indeed I got sick of its sight that I hated +to see it. + +While Porcupine and I were thus estranged, Red Shirt and I continued +friendly relations and associated together. On the day following my +accidental meeting with him near the Nozeri river, for instance, Red +Shirt came to my desk as soon as he came to the school, and asked me +how I liked the new boarding house. He said we would go together for +fishing Russian literature again, and talked on many things. I felt a +bit piqued, and said, “I saw you twice last night,” and he answered, +“Yes, at the station. Do you go there at that time every day? Isn’t it +late?” I startled him with the remark; “I met you on the levy of the +Nozeri river too, didn’t I?” and he replied, “No, I didn’t go in that +direction. I returned right after my bath.” + +What is the use of trying to keep it dark. Didn’t we meet actually face +to face? He tells too many lies. If one can hold the job of a head +teacher and act in this fashion, I should be able to run the position +of Chancellor of a university. From this time on, my confidence in Red +Shirt became still less. I talk with Red Shirt whom I do not trust, and +I keep silent with Porcupine whom I respect. Funny things do happen in +this world. + +One day Red Shirt asked me to come over to his house as he had +something to tell me, and much as I missed the trip to the hot springs, +I started for his house at about 4 o’clock. Red Shirt is single, but in +keeping with the dignity of a head teacher, he gave up the boarding +house life long ago, and lives in a fine house. The house rent, I +understood, was nine yen and fifty sen. The front entrance was so +attractive that I thought if one can live in such a splendid house at +nine yen and a half in the country, it would be a good game to call +Kiyo from Tokyo and make her heart glad. The younger brother of Red +Shirt answered my bell. This brother gets his lessons on algebra and +mathematics from me at the school. He stands no show in his school +work, and being a “migratory bird” is more wicked than the native boys. + +I met Red Shirt. Smoking the same old unsavory amber pipe, he said +something to the following effect: + +“Since you’ve been with us, our work has been more satisfactory than it +was under your predecessor, and the principal is very glad to have got +the right person in the right place. I wish you to work as hard as you +can, for the school is depending upon you.” + +“Well, is that so. I don’t think I can work any harder than now…….” + +“What you’re doing now is enough. Only don’t forget what I told you the +other day.” + +“Meaning that one who helps me find a boarding house is dangerous?” + +“If you state it so baldly, there is no meaning to it……. But that’s all +right,…… I believe you understand the spirit of my advice. And if you +keep on in the way you’re going to-day …… We have not been blind …… we +might offer you a better treatment later on if we can manage it.” + +“In salary? I don’t care about the salary, though the more the better.” + +“And fortunately there is going to be one teacher transferred,…… +however, I can’t guarantee, of course, until I talk it over with the +principal …… and we might give you something out of his salary.” + +“Thank you. Who is going to be transferred?” + +“I think I may tell you now; ’tis going to be announced soon. Koga is +the man.” + +“But isn’t Koga-san a native of this town?” + +“Yes, he is. But there are some circumstances …… and it is partly by +his own preference.” + +“Where is he going?” + +“To Nobeoka in Hiuga province. As the place is so far away, he is going +there with his salary raised a grade higher.” + +“Is some one coming to take his place?” + +“His successor is almost decided upon.” + +“Well, that’s fine, though I’m not very anxious to have my salary +raised.” + +“I’m going to talk to the principal about that anyway. And, we may have +to ask you to work more some time later …… and the principal appears to +be of the same opinion……. I want you to go[I] ahead with that in your +mind.” + +“Going to increase my working hours?” + +“No. The working hours may be reduced……” + +“The working hours shortened and yet work more? Sounds funny.” + +“It does sound funny …… I can’t say definitely just yet …… it means +that we may have to ask you to assume more responsibility.” + +I could not make out what he meant. To assume more responsibility +might mean my appointment to the senior instructor of mathematics, but +Porcupine is the senior instructor and there is no danger of his +resigning. Besides, he is so very popular among the students that his +transfer or discharge would be inadvisable. Red Shirt always misses +the point. And though he did not get to the point, the object of my +visit was ended. We talked a while on sundry matters, Red Shirt +proposing a farewell dinner party for Hubbard Squash, asking me if I +drink liquor and praising Hubbard Squash as an amiable gentleman, etc. +Finally he changed the topic and asked me if I take an interest in +“haiku.”[8] Here is where I beat it, I thought, and, saying “No, I +don’t, good by,” hastily left the house. The “haiku” should be a +diversion of Baseo[9] or the boss of a barbershop. It would not do for +the teacher of mathematics to rave over the old wooden bucket and the +morning glory.[10] + +[Footnote 8: The 17-syllable poem.] + + +[Footnote 9: A famous composer of the poem.] + + +[Footnote 10: There is a well-known 17-syllable poem describing the +scene of morning glories entwining around the wooden bucket.] + + +I returned home and thought it over. Here is a man whose mental process +defies a layman’s understanding. He is going to court hardships in a +strange part of the country in preference of his home and the school +where he is working,—both of which should satisfy most anybody,—because +he is tired of them. That may be all right if the strange place happens +to be a lively metropolis where electric cars run,—but of all places, +why Nobeoka in Hiuga province? This town here has a good steamship +connection, yet I became sick of it and longed for home before one +month had passed. Nobeoka is situated in the heart of a most +mountainous country. According to Red Shirt, one has to make an all-day +ride in a wagonette to Miyazaki, after he had left the vessel, and from +Miyazaki another all-day ride in a rikisha to Nobeoka. Its name alone +does not commend itself as civilized. It sounds like a town inhabited +by men and monkeys in equal numbers. However sage-like Hubbard Squash +might be I thought he would not become a friend of monkeys of his own +choice. What a curious slant! + +Just then the old lady brought in my supper—“Sweet potatoes again?” I +asked, and she said, “No, Sir, it is tofu to-night.” They are about the +same thing. + +“Say, I understand Koga-san is going to Nobeoka.” + +“Isn’t it too bad?” + +“Too bad? But it can’t be helped if he goes there by his own +preference.” + +“Going there by his own preference? Who, Sir?” + +“Who? Why, he! Isn’t Professor Koga going there by his own choice?” + +“That’s wrong Mr. Wright, Sir.” + +“Ha, Mr. Wright, is it? But Red Shirt told me so just now. If that’s +wrong Mr. Wright, then Red Shirt is blustering Mr. Bluff.” + +“What the head-teacher says is believable, but so Koga-san does not +wish to go.” + +“Our old lady is impartial, and that is good. Well, what’s the matter?” + +“The mother of Koga-san was here this morning, and told me all the +circumstances.” + +“Told you what circumstances?” + +“Since the father of Koga-san died, they have not been quite well off +as we might have supposed, and the mother asked the principal if his +salary could not be raised a little as Koga-san has been in service for +four years. See?” + +“Well?” + +“The principal said that he would consider the matter, and she felt +satisfied and expected the announcement of the increase before long. +She hoped for its coming this month or next. Then the principal called +Koga-san to his office one day and said that he was sorry but the +school was short of money and could not raise his salary. But he said +there is an opening in Nobeoka which would give him five yen extra a +month and he thought that would suit his purpose, and the principal had +made all arrangements and told Koga-san he had better go…….” + +“That wasn’t a friendly talk but a command. Wasn’t it?” + +“Yes, Sir, Koga-san told the principal that he liked to stay here +better at the old salary than go elsewhere on an increased salary, +because he has his own house and is living with his mother. But the +matter has all been settled, and his successor already appointed and it +couldn’t be helped, said the principal.” + +“Hum, that’s a jolly good trick, I should say. Then Koga-san has no +liking to go there? No wonder I thought it strange. We would have to go +a long way to find any blockhead to do a job in such a mountain village +and get acquainted with monkeys for five yen extra.” + +“What is a blockhead, Sir?” + +“Well, let go at that. It was all the scheme of Red Shirt. Deucedly +underhand scheme, I declare. It was a stab from behind. And he means to +raise my salary by that; that’s not right. I wouldn’t take that raise. +Let’s see if he can raise it.” + +“Is your salary going to be raised, Sir?” + +“Yes, they said they would raise mine, but I’m thinking of refusing +it.” + +“Why do you refuse?” + +“Why or no why, it’s going to be refused. Say, Red Shirt is a fool; he +is a coward.” + +“He may be a coward, but if he raises your salary, it would be best for +you to make no fuss, but accept it. One is apt to get grouchy when +young, but will always repent when he is grown up and thinks that it +was pity he hadn’t been a little more patient. Take an old woman’s +advice for once, and if Red Shirt-san says he will raise your salary, +just take it with thanks.” + +“It’s none of business of you old people.” + +The old lady withdrew in silence. The old man is heard singing “utai” +in the off-key voice. “Utai,” I think, is a stunt which purposely makes +a whole show a hard nut to crack by giving to it difficult tunes, +whereas one could better understand it by reading it. I cannot fathom +what is in the mind of the old man who groans over it every night +untired. But I’m not in a position to be fooling with “utai.” Red Shirt +said he would have my salary raised, and though I did not care much +about it, I accepted it because there was no use of leaving the money +lying around. But I cannot, for the love of Mike, be so inconsiderate +as to skin the salary of a fellow teacher who is being transferred +against his will. What in thunder do they mean by sending him away so +far as Nobeoka when the fellow prefers to remain in his old position? +Even Dazai-no-Gonnosutsu did not have to go farther than about Hakata; +even Matagoro Kawai [11] stopped at Sagara. I shall not feel satisfied +unless I see Red Shirt and tell him I refuse the raise. + +[Footnote 11: The persons in exile, well-known in Japanese history.] + + +I dressed again and went to his house. The same younger brother of Red +Shirt again answered the bell, and looked at me with eyes which plainly +said, “You here again?” I will come twice or thrice or as many times as +I want to if there is business. I might rouse them out of their beds at +midnight;—it is possible, who knows. Don’t mistake me for one coming to +coax the head teacher. I was here to give back my salary. The younger +brother said that there is a visitor just now, and I told him the front +door will do; won’t take more than a minute, and he went in. Looking +about my feet, I found a pair of thin, matted wooden clogs, and I heard +some one in the house saying, “Now we’re banzai.” I noticed that the +visitor was Clown. Nobody but Clown could make such a squeaking voice +and wear such clogs as are worn by cheap actors. + +After a while Red Shirt appeared at the door with a lamp in his hand, +and said, “Come in; it’s no other than Mr. Yoshikawa.” + +“This is good enough,” I said, “it won’t take long.” I looked at his +face which was the color of a boiled lobster. He seemed to have been +drinking with Clown. + +“You told me that you would raise my salary, but I’ve changed my mind, +and have come here to decline the offer.” + +Red Shirt, thrusting out the lamp forward, and intently staring at me, +was unable to answer at the moment. He appeared blank. Did he think it +strange that here was one fellow, only one in the world, who does not +want his salary raised, or was he taken aback that I should come back +so soon even if I wished to decline it, or was it both combined, he +stood there silent with his mouth in a queer shape. + +“I accepted your offer because I understood that Mr. Koga was being +transferred by his own preference…….” + +“Mr. Koga is really going to be transferred by his own preference.” + +“No, Sir. He would like to stay here. He doesn’t mind his present +salary if he can stay.” + +“Have you heard it from Mr. Koga himself?” + +“No, not from him.” + +“Then, from who?” + +“The old lady in my boarding house told me what she heard from the +mother of Mr. Koga.” + +“Then the old woman in your boarding house told you so?” + +“Well, that’s about the size of it.” + +“Excuse me, but I think you are wrong. According to what you say, it +seems as if you believe what the old woman in the boarding house tells +you, but would not believe what your head teacher tells you. Am I right +to understand it that way?” + +I was stuck. A Bachelor of Arts is confoundedly good in oratorical +combat. He gets hold of unexpected point, and pushes the other +backward. My father used to tell me that I am too careless and no good, +and now indeed I look that way. I ran out of the house on the moment’s +impulse when I heard the story from the old lady, and in fact I had not +heard the story from either Hubbard Squash or his mother. In +consequence, when I was challenged in this Bachelor-of-Arts fashion, it +was a bit difficult to defend myself. + +I could not defend his frontal attack, but I had already declared in my +mind a lack of confidence on Red Shirt. The old lady in the boarding +house may be tight and a grabber, I do not doubt it, but she is a woman +who tells no lie. She is not double faced like Red Shirt. I was +helpless, so I answered. + +“What you say might be right,—anyway, I decline the raise.” + +“That’s still funnier. I thought your coming here now was because you +had found a certain reason for which you could not accept the raise. +Then it is hard to understand to see you still insisting on declining +the raise in spite of the reason having been eradicated by my +explanation.” + +“It may be hard to understand, but anyway I don’t want it.” + +“If you don’t like it so much, I wouldn’t force it on you. But if you +change your mind within two or three hours with no particular reason, +it would affect your credit in future.” + +“I don’t care if it does affect it.” + +“That can’t be. Nothing is more important than credit for us. +Supposing, the boss of the boarding house…….” + +“Not the boss, but the old lady.” + +“Makes no difference,—suppose what the old woman in the boarding house +told you was true, the raise of your salary is not to be had by +reducing the income of Mr. Koga, is it? Mr. Koga is going to Nobeoka; +his successor is coming. He comes on a salary a little less than that +of Mr. Koga, and we propose to add the surplus money to your salary, +and you need not be shy. Mr. Koga will be promoted; the successor is to +start on less pay, and if you could be raised, I think everything be +satisfactory to all concerned. If you don’t like it, that’s all right, +but suppose you think it over once more at home?” + +My brain is not of the best stuff, and if another fellow flourishes his +eloquence like this, I usually think, “Well, perhaps I was wrong,” and +consider myself defeated, but not so to-night. From the time I came to +this town I felt prejudiced against Red Shirt. Once I had thought of +him in a different light, taking him for a fellow kind-hearted and +feminished. His kindness, however, began to look like anything but +kindness, and as a result, I have been getting sick of him. So no +matter how he might glory himself in logical grandiloquence, or how he +might attempt to out-talk me in a head-teacher-style, I don’t care a +snap. One who shines in argument is not necessarily a good fellow, +while the other who is out-talked is not necessarily a bad fellow, +either. Red Shirt is very, very reasonable as far as his reasoning +goes, but however graceful he may appear, he cannot win my respect. If +money, authority or reasoning can command admiration, loansharks, +police officers or college professors should be liked best by all. I +cannot be moved in the least by the logic by so insignificant a fellow +as the head teacher of a middle school. Man works by preference, not by +logic. + +“What you say is right, but I have begun to dislike the raise, so I +decline. It will be the same if I think it over. Good by.” And I left +the house of Red Shirt. The solitary milky way hung high in the sky. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +When I went to the school, in the morning of the day the farewell +dinner party was to be held, Porcupine suddenly spoke to me; + +“The other day I asked you to quit the Ikagins because Ikagin begged of +me to have you leave there as you were too tough, and I believed him. +But I heard afterward that Ikagin is a crook and often passes imitation +of famous drawings for originals. I think what he told me about you +must be a lie. He tried to sell pictures and curios to you, but as you +shook him off, he told some false stories on you. I did very wrong by +you because I did not know his character, and wish you would forgive +me.” And he offered me a lengthy apology. + +Without saying a word, I took up the one sen and a half which was lying +on the desk of Porcupine, and put it into my purse. He asked me in a +wondering tone, if I meant to take it back. I explained, “Yes. I didn’t +like to have you treat me and expected to pay this back at all hazard, +but as I think about it, I would rather have you treated me after all; +so I’m going to take it back.” + +Porcupine laughed heartily and asked me why I had not taken it back +sooner. I told him that I wanted to more than once, in fact, but +somehow felt shy and left it there. I was sick of that one sen and a +half these days that I shunned the sight of it when I came to the +school, I said. He said “You’re a deucedly unyielding sport,” and I +answered “You’re obstinate.” Then ensued the following give-and-take +between us two; + +“Where were you born anyway?” + +“I’m a Yedo kid.” + +“Ah, a Yedo kid, eh? No wonder I thought you a pretty stiff neck.” + +“And you?” + +“I’m from Aizu.” + +“Ha, Aizu guy, eh? You’ve got reason to be obstinate. Going to the +farewell dinner to-day?” + +“Sure. You?” + +“Of course I am. I intend to go down to the beach to see Koga-san off +when he leaves.” + +“The farewell dinner should be a big blow-out. You come and see. I’m +going to get soused to the neck.” + +“You get loaded all you want. I quit the place right after I finish my +plates. Only fools fight booze.” + +“You’re a fellow who picks up a fight too easy. It shows up the +characteristic of the Yedo kid well.” + +“I don’t care. Say, before you go to the farewell dinner, come to see +me. I want to tell you something.” + +Porcupine came to my room as promised. I had been in full sympathy with +Hubbard Squash these days, and when it came to his farewell dinner, my +pity for him welled up so much that I wished I could go to Nobeoka for +him myself. I thought of making a parting address of burning eloquence +at the dinner to grace the occasion, but my speech which rattles off +like that of the excited spieler of New York would not become the +place. I planned to take the breath out of Red Shirt by employing +Porcupine who has a thunderous voice. Hence my invitation to him before +we started for the party. + +I commenced by explaining the Madonna affair, but Porcupine, needless +to say, knew more about it than I. Telling about my meeting Red Shirt +on the Nozeri river, I called him a fool. Porcupine then said; “You +call everybody a fool. You called me a fool to-day at the school. If +I’m a fool, Red Shirt isn’t,” and insisted that he was not in the same +group with Red Shirt. “Then Red Shirt may be a four-flusher,” I said +and he approved this new alias with enthusiasm. Porcupine is physically +strong, but when it comes to such terms, he knows less than I do. I +guess all Aizu guys are about the same. + +Then, when I disclosed to him about the raise of my salary and the +advance hint on my promotion by Red Shirt, Porcupine pished, and said, +“Then he means to discharge me.” “Means to discharge you? But you mean +to get discharged?” I asked. “Bet you, no. If I get fired, Red Shirt +will have to go with me,” he remarked with a lordly air. I insisted on +knowing how he was going to get Red Shirt kicked out with him, and he +answered that he had not thought so far yet. Yes, Porcupine looks +strong, but seems to be possessed of no abundance of brain power. I +told him about my refusal of the raise of my salary, and the Gov’nur +was much pleased, praising me with the remark, “That’s the stuff for +Yedo kids.” + +“If Hubbard Squash does not like to go down to Nobeoka, why didn’t you +do something to enable him remain here,” I asked, and Porcupine said +that when he heard the story from Hubbard Squash, everything had been +settled already, but he had asked the principal twice and Red Shirt +once to have the transfer order cancelled, but to no purpose. Porcupine +bitterly condemned Hubbard Squash for being too good-natured. If +Hubbard Squash, he said, had either flatly refused or delayed the +answer on the pretext of considering it, when Red Shirt raised the +question of transfer, it would have been better for him. But he was +fooled by the oily tongue of Red Shirt, had accepted the transfer +outright, and all efforts by Porcupine who was moved by the tearful +appeal of the mother, proved unavailing. + +I said; “The transfer of Koga is nothing but a trick of Red Shirt to +cop the Madonna by sending Hubbard Squash away.” + +“Yes,” said Porcupine. “That must be. Red Shirt looks gentle, but +plays nasty tricks. He is a sonovagun for when some one finds fault +with him, he has excuses prepared already. Nothing but a sound +thumping will be effective for fellows like him.” + +He rolled up his sleeves over his plump arms as he spoke. I asked him, +by the way, if he knew jiujitsu, because his arms looked powerful. Then +he put force in his forearm, and told me to touch it. I felt its +swelled muscle which was hard as the pumic stone in the public +bathhouse. + +I was deeply impressed by his massive strength, and asked him if he +could not knock five or six of Red Shirt in a bunch. “Of course,” he +said, and as he extended and bent back the arm, the lumpy muscle rolled +round and round, which was very amusing. According to the statement of +Porcupine himself, this muscle, if he bends the arm back with force, +would snap a paper-string wound around it twice. I said I might do the +same thing if it were a paper-string, and he challenged me. “No, you +can’t,” he said. “See if you can.” As it would not look well if I +failed, I did not try. + +“Say, after you have drunk all you want to-night at the dinner, take a +fall out of Red Shirt and Clown, eh?” I suggested to him for fun. +Porcupine thought for a moment and said, “Not to-night, I guess.” I +wanted to know why, and he pointed out that it would be bad for Koga. + +“Besides, if I’m going to give it to them at all, I’ve to get them red +handed in their dirty scheme, or all the blame will be on me,” he added +discretely. Even Porcupine seems to have wiser judgment than I. + +“Then make a speech and praise Mr. Koga sky-high. My speech becomes +sort of jumpy, wanting dignity. And at any formal gathering, I get +lumpy in my throat, and can’t speak. So I leave it to you,” I said. + +“That’s a strange disease. Then you can’t speak in the presence of +other people? It would be awkward, I suppose,” he said, and I told him +not quite as much awkward as he might think. + +About then, the time for the farewell dinner party arrived, and I went +to the hall with Porcupine. The dinner party was to be held at +Kashin-tei which is said to be the leading restaurant in the town, but +I had never been in the house before. This restaurant, I understood, +was formerly the private residence of the chief retainer of the daimyo +of the province, and its condition seemed to confirm the story. The +residence of a chief retainer transformed into a restaurant was like +making a saucepan out of warrior’s armor. + +When we two came there, about all of the guests were present. They +formed two or three groups in the spacious room of fifty mats. The +alcove in this room, in harmony with its magnificence, was very large. +The alcove in the fifteen-mat room which I occupied at Yamashiro-ya +made a small showing beside it. I measured it and found it was twelve +feet wide. On the right, in the alcove, there was a seto-ware flower +vase, painted with red designs, in which was a large branch of pine +tree. Why the pine twigs, I did not know, except that they are in no +danger of withering for many a month to come, and are economical. I +asked the teacher of natural history where that seto-ware flower vase +is made. He told me it was not a seto-ware but an imari. Isn’t imari +seto-ware? I wondered audibly, and the natural history man laughed. I +heard afterward that we call it a seto-ware because it is made in Seto. +I’m a Yedo kid, and thought all china was seto-wares. In the center of +the alcove was hung a panel on which were written twenty eight letters, +each letter as large as my face. It was poorly written; so poorly +indeed that I enquired of the teacher of Confucius why such a poor work +be hung in apparent show of pride. He explained that it was written by +Kaioku a famous artist in the writing, but Kaioku or anyone else, I +still declare the work poorly done. + +By and by, Kawamura, the clerk, requested all to be seated. I chose one +in front of a pillar so I could lean against it. Badger sat in front of +the panel of Kaioku in Japanese full dress. On his left sat Red Shirt +similarly dressed, and on his right Hubbard Squash, as the guest of +honor, in the same kind of dress. I was dressed in a European suit, and +being unable to sit down, squatted on my legs at once. The teacher of +physical culture next to me, though in the same kind of rags as mine, +sat squarely in Japanese fashion. As a teacher of his line he appeared +to have well trained himself. Then the dinner trays were served and the +bottles placed beside them. The manager of the day stood up and made a +brief opening address. He was followed by Badger and Red Shirt. These +two made farewell addresses, and dwelt at length on Hubbard Squash +being an ideal teacher and gentleman, expressing their regret, saying +his departure was a great loss not only to the school but to them in +person. They concluded that it could not be helped, however, since the +transfer was due to his own earnest desire and for his own convenience. +They appeared to be ashamed not in the least by telling such a lie at a +farewell dinner. Particularly, Red Shirt, of these three, praised +Hubbard Squash in lavish terms. He went so far as to declare that to +lose this true friend was a great personal loss to him. Moreover, his +tone was so impressive in its same old gentle tone that one who listens +to him for the first time would be sure to be misled. Probably he won +the Madonna by this same trick. While Red Shirt was uttering his +farewell buncomb, Porcupine who sat on the other side across me, winked +at me. As an answer of this, I “snooked” at him. + +No sooner had Red Shirt sat down than Porcupine stood up, and highly +rejoiced, I clapped hands. At this Badger and others glanced at me, and +I felt that I blushed a little. + +“Our principal and other gentlemen,” he said, “particularly the head +teacher, expressed their sincere regret at Mr. Koga’s transfer. I am of +a different opinion, and hope to see him leave the town at the earliest +possible moment. Nobeoka is an out-of-the-way, backwoods town, and +compared with this town, it may have more material inconveniences, but +according to what I have heard, Nobeoka is said to be a town where the +customs are simple and untainted, and the teachers and students still +strong in the straightforward characteristics of old days. I am +convinced that in Nobeoka there is not a single high-collared guy who +passes round threadbare remarks, or who with smooth face, entraps +innocent people. I am sure that a man like Mr. Koga, gentle and honest, +will surely be received with an enthusiastic welcome there. I heartily +welcome this transfer for the sake of Mr. Koga. In concluding, I hope +that when he is settled down at Nobeoka, he will find a lady qualified +to become his wife, and form a sweet home at an early date and +incidentally let the inconstant, unchaste sassy old wench die ashamed +…… a’hum, a’hum!” + +He coughed twice significantly and sat down. I thought of clapping my +hands again, but as it would draw attention, I refrained. When +Porcupine finished his speech, Hubbard Squash arose politely, slipped +out of his seat, went to the furthest end of the room, and having bowed +to all in a most respectful manner, acknowledged the compliments in the +following way; + +“On the occasion of my going to Kyushu for my personal convenience, I +am deeply impressed and appreciate the way my friends have honored me +with this magnificent dinner……. The farewell addresses by our principal +and other gentlemen will be long held in my fondest recollection……. I +am going far away now, but I hope my name be included in the future as +in the past in the list of friends of the gentlemen here to-night.” + +Then again bowing, he returned to his seat. There was no telling how +far the “good-naturedness” of Hubbard Squash might go. He had +respectfully thanked the principal and the head teacher who had been +fooling him. And it was not a formal, cut-and-dried reply he made, +either; by his manner, tone and face, he appeared to have been really +grateful from his heart. Badger and Red Shirt should have blushed when +they were addressed so seriously by so good a man as Hubbard Squash, +but they only listened with long faces. + +After the exchange of addresses, a sizzling sound was heard here and +there, and I too tried the soup which tasted like anything but soup. +There was kamaboko in the kuchitori dish, but instead of being snow +white as it should be, it looked grayish, and was more like a poorly +cooked chikuwa. The sliced tunny was there, but not having been sliced +fine, passed the throat like so many pieces of chopped raw tunny. Those +around me, however, ate with ravenous appetite. They have not tasted, I +guess, the real Yedo dinner. + +Meanwhile the bottles began passing round, and all became more or less +“jacked up.” Clown proceeded to the front of the principal and +submissively drank to his health. A beastly fellow, this! Hubbard +Squash made a round of all the guests, drinking to their health. A very +onerous job, indeed. When he came to me and proposed my health, I +abandoned the squatting posture and sat up straight. + +“Too bad to see you go away so soon. When are you going? I want to see +you off at the beach,” I said. + +“Thank you, Sir. But never mind that. You’re busy,” he declined. He +might decline, but I was determined to get excused for the day and give +him a rousing send-off. + +Within about an hour from this, the room became pretty lively. + +“Hey, have another, hic; ain’t goin’, hic, have one on me?” One or two +already in a pickled state appeared on the scene. I was little tired, +and going out to the porch, was looking at the old fashioned garden by +the dim star light, when Porcupine came. + +“How did you like my speech? Wasn’t it grand, though!” he remarked in a +highly elated tone. I protested that while I approved 99 per cent. of +his speech, there was one per cent. that I did not. “What’s that one +per cent?” he asked. + +“Well, you said,…… there is not a single high-collared guy who with +smooth face entraps innocent people…….” + +“Yes.” + +“A ‘high-collared guy’ isn’t enough.” + +“Then what should I say?” + +“Better say,—‘a high-collared guy; swindler, bastard, super-swanker, +doubleface, bluffer, totempole, spotter, who looks like a dog as he +yelps.’” + +“I can’t get my tongue to move so fast. You’re eloquent. In the first +place, you know a great many simple words. Strange that you can’t make +a speech.” + +“I reserve these words for use when I chew the rag. If it comes to +speech-making, they don’t come out so smoothly.” + +“Is that so? But they simply come a-running. Repeat that again for me.” + +“As many times as you like. Listen,—a high-collared guy, swindler, +bastard, super-swanker …” + +While I was repeating this, two shaky fellows came out of the room +hammering the floor. + +“Hey, you two gents, if won’t do to run away. Won’t let you off while +I’m here. Come and have a drink. Bastard? That’s fine. Bastardly fine. +Now, come on.” + +And they pulled Porcupine and me away. These two fellows really had +come to the lavatory, but soaked as they were, in booze bubbles, they +apparently forgot to proceed to their original destination, and were +pulling us hard. All booze fighters seem to be attracted by whatever +comes directly under their eyes for the moment and forget what they had +been proposing to do. + +“Say, fellows, we’ve got bastards. Make them drink. Get them loaded. +You gents got to stay here.” + +And they pushed me who never attempted to escape against the wall. +Surveying the scene, I found there was no dish in which any edibles +were left. Some one had eaten all his share, and gone on a foraging +expedition. The principal was not there,—I did not know when he left. + +At that time, preceded by a coquetish voice, three or four geishas +entered the room. I was a bit surprised, but having been pushed against +the wall, I had to look on quietly. At the instant, Red Shirt who had +been leaning against a pillar with the same old amber pipe stuck into +his mouth with some pride, suddenly got up and started to leave the +room. One of the geishas who was advancing toward him smiled and +courtesied at him as she passed by him. The geisha was the youngest and +prettiest of the bunch. They were some distance away from me and I +could not see very well, but it seemed that she might have said “Good +evening.” Red Shirt brushed past as if unconscious, and never showed +again. Probably he followed the principal. + +The sight of the geishas set the room immediately in a buzz and it +became noisy as they all raised howls of welcome. Some started the game +of “nanko” with a force that beat the sword-drawing practice. Others +began playing morra, and the way they shook their hands, intently +absorbed in the game, was a better spectacle than a puppet show. + +One in the corner was calling “Hey, serve me here,” but shaking the +bottle, corrected it to “Hey, fetch me more sake.” The whole room +became so infernally noisy that I could scarcely stand it. Amid this +orgy, one, like a fish out of water, sat down with his head bowed. It +was Hubbard Squash. The reason they have held this farewell dinner +party was not in order to bid him a farewell, but because they wanted +to have a jolly good time for themselves with John Barleycorn. He had +come to suffer only. Such a dinner party would have been better had it +not been started at all. + +After a while, they began singing ditties in outlandish voices. One of +the geishas came in front of me, and taking up a samisen, asked me to +sing something. I told her I didn’t sing, but I’d like to hear, and she +droned out: + +“If one can go round and meet the one he wants, banging gongs and drums +…… bang, bang, bang, bang, bing, shouting after wandering Santaro, +there is some one I’d like to meet by banging round gongs and drums …… +bang, bang, bang, bang, b-i-n-g.” + +She dashed this off in two breaths, and sighed, “O, dear!” She should +have sung something easier. + +Clown who had come near us meanwhile, remarked in his flippant tone: + +“Hello, dear Miss Su-chan, too bad to see your beau go away so soon.” +The geisha pouted, “I don’t know.” Clown, regardless, began imitating +“gidayu” with a dismal voice,—“What a luck, when she met her sweet +heart by a rare chance….” + +The geisha slapped the lap of Clown with a “Cut that out,” and Clown +gleefully laughed. This geisha is the one who made goo-goo eyes[J] at +Red Shirt. What a simpleton, to be pleased by the slap of a geisha, +this Clown. He said: + +“Say, Su-chan, strike up the string. I’m going to dance the +Kiino-kuni.” He seemed yet to dance. + +On other side of the room, the old man of Confucius, twisting round his +toothless mouth, had finished as far as “…… dear Dembei-san” and is +asking a geisha who sat in front of him to couch him for the rest. Old +people seem to need polishing up their memorizing system. One geisha is +talking to the teacher of natural history: + +“Here’s the latest. I’ll sing it. Just listen. ‘Margaret, the +high-collared head with a white ribbon; she rides on a bike, plays a +violin, and talks in broken English,—I am glad to see you.’” Natural +history appears impressed, and says; + +“That’s an interesting piece. English in it too.” + +Porcupine called “geisha, geisha,” in a loud voice, and commanded; +“Bang your samisen; I’m going to dance a sword-dance.” + +His manner was so rough that the geishas were startled and did not +answer. Porcupine, unconcerned, brought out a cane, and began +performing the sword-dance in the center of the room. Then Clown, +having danced the Kii-no-kuni, the Kap-pore[K] and the Durhma-san on +the Shelf, almost stark-naked, with a palm-fibre broom, began +turkey-trotting about the room, shouting “The Sino-Japanese +negotiations came to a break…….” The whole was a crazy sight. + +I had been feeling sorry for Hubbard Squash, who up to this time had +sat up straight in his full dress. Even were this a farewell dinner +held in his honor, I thought he was under no obligation to look +patiently in a formal dress at the naked dance. So I went to him and +persuaded him with “Say, Koga-san, let’s go home.” Hubbard Squash said +the dinner was in his honor, and it would be improper for him to leave +the room before the guests. He seemed to be determined to remain. + +“What do you care!” I said, “If this is a farewell dinner, make it like +one. Look at those fellows; they’re just like the inmates of a lunatic +asylum. Let’s go.” + +And having forced hesitating Hubbard Squash to his feet, we were just +leaving the room, when Clown, marching past, brandishing the broom, saw +us. + +“This won’t do for the guest of honor to leave before us,” he hollered, +“this is the Sino-Japanese negotiations. Can’t let you off.” He +enforced his declaration by holding the broom across our way. My temper +had been pretty well aroused for some time, and I felt impatient. + +“The Sino-Japanese negotiation, eh? Then you’re a Chink,” and I whacked +his head with a knotty fist. + +This sudden blow left Clown staring blankly speechless for a second or +two; then he stammered out: + +“This is going some! Mighty pity to knock my head. What a blow on this +Yoshikawa! This makes the Sino-Japanese negotiations the sure stuff.” + +While Clown was mumbling these incoherent remarks, Porcupine, believing +some kind of row had been started, ceased his sword-dance and came +running toward us. On seeing us, he grabbed the neck of Clown and +pulled him back. + +“The Sino-Japane……ouch!……ouch! This is outrageous,” and Clown writhed +under the grip of Porcupine who twisted him sideways and threw him down +on the floor with a bang. I do not know the rest. I parted from Hubbard +Squash on the way, and it was past eleven when I returned home. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +The town is going to celebrate a Japanese victory to-day, and there is +no school. The celebration is to be held at the parade ground, and +Badger is to take out all the students and attend the ceremony. As one +of the instructors, I am to go with them. The streets are everywhere +draped with flapping national flags almost enough to dazzle the eyes. +There were as many as eight hundred students in all, and it was +arranged, under the direction of the teacher of physical culture to +divide them into sections with one teacher or two to lead them. The +arrangement itself was quite commendable, but in its actual operation +the whole thing went wrong. All students are mere kiddies who, ever too +fresh, regard it as beneath their dignity not to break all regulations. +This rendered the provision of teachers among them practically useless. +They would start marching songs without being told to, and if they +ceased the marching songs, they would raise devilish shouts without +cause. Their behavior would have done credit to the gang of tramps +parading the streets demanding work. When they neither sing nor shout, +they tee-hee and giggle. Why they cannot walk without these disorder, +passes my understanding, but all Japanese are born with their mouths +stuck out, and no kick will ever be strong enough to stop it. Their +chatter is not only of simple nature, but about the teachers when their +back is turned. What a degraded bunch! I made the students apologize to +me on the dormitory affair, and considered the incident closed. But I +was mistaken. To borrow the words of the old lady in the boarding +house, I was surely wrong Mr. Wright. The apology they offered was not +prompted by repentance in their hearts. They had kowtowed as a matter +of form by the command of the principal. Like the tradespeople who bow +their heads low but never give up cheating the public, the students +apologize but never stop their mischiefs. Society is made up, I think +it probable, of people just like those students. One may be branded +foolishly honest if he takes seriously the apologies others might +offer. We should regard all apologies a sham and forgiving also as a +sham; then everything would be all right. If one wants to make another +apologize from his heart, he has to pound him good and strong until he +begs for mercy from his heart. + +As I walked along between the sections, I could hear constantly the +voices mentioning “tempura” or “dango.” And as there were so many of +them, I could not tell which one mentioned it. Even if I succeeded in +collaring the guilty one I was sure of his saying, “No, I didn’t mean +you in saying tempura or dango. I fear you suffer from nervousness and +make wrong inferences.” This dastardly spirit has been fostered from +the time of the feudal lords, and is deep-rooted. No amount of teaching +or lecturing will cure it. If I stay in a town like this for one year +or so, I may be compelled to follow their example, who knows,—clean and +honest though I have been. I do not propose to make a fool of myself by +remaining quiet when others attempt to play games on me, with all their +excuses ready-made. They are men and so am I—students or kiddies or +whatever they may be. They are bigger than I, and unless I get even +with them by punishment, I would cut a sorry figure. But in the attempt +to get even, if I resort to ordinary means, they are sure to make it a +boomerang. If I tell them, “You’re wrong,” they will start an eloquent +defence, because they are never short of the means of sidestepping. +Having defended themselves, and made themselves appear suffering +martyrs, they would begin attacking me. As the incident would have been +started by my attempting to get even with them, my defence would not be +a defence until I can prove their wrong. So the quarrel, which they had +started, might be mistaken, after all, as one begun by me. But the more +I keep silent the more they would become insolent, which, speaking +seriously, could not be permitted for the sake of public morale. In +consequence, I am obliged to adopt an identical policy so they cannot +catch men in playing it back on them. If the situation comes to that, +it would be the last day of the Yedo kid. Even so, if I am to be +subjected to these pin-pricking[L] tricks, I am a man and got to risk +losing off the last remnant of the honor of the Yedo kid. I became more +convinced of the advisability of returning to Tokyo quickly and living +with Kiyo. To live long in such a countrytown would be like degrading +myself for a purpose. Newspaper delivering would be preferable to being +degraded so far as that. + +I walked along with a sinking heart, thinking like this, when the head +of our procession became suddenly noisy, and the whole came to a full +stop. I thought something has happened, stepped to the right out of the +ranks, and looked toward the direction of the noise. There on the +corner of Otemachi, turning to Yakushimachi, I saw a mass packed full +like canned sardines, alternately pushing back and forth. The teacher +of physical culture came down the line hoarsely shouting to all to be +quiet. I asked him what was the matter, and he said the middle school +and the normal had come to a clash at the corner. + +The middle school and the normal, I understood, are as much friendly as +dogs and monkeys. It is not explained why but their temper was +hopelessly crossed, and each would try to knock the chip off the +shoulder of the other on all occasions. I presume they quarrel so much +because life gets monotonous in this backwoods town. I am fond of +fighting, and hearing of the clash, darted forward to make the most of +the fun. Those foremost in the line are jeering, “Get out of the way, +you country tax!”[12] while those in the rear are hollowing “Push them +out!” I passed through the students, and was nearing the corner, when I +heard a sharp command of “Forward!” and the line of the normal school +began marching on. The clash which had resulted from contending for the +right of way was settled, but it was settled by the middle school +giving way to the normal. From the point of school-standing the normal +is said to rank above the middle. + +[Footnote 12: The normal school in the province maintains the students +mostly on the advance-expense system, supported by the country tax.] + + +The ceremony was quite simple. The commander of the local brigade read +a congratulatory address, and so did the governor, and the audience +shouted banzais. That was all. The entertainments were scheduled for +the afternoon, and I returned home once and started writing to Kiyo an +answer which had been in my mind for some days. Her request had been +that I should write her a letter with more detailed news; so I must get +it done with care. But as I took up the rolled letter-paper, I did not +know with what I should begin, though I have many things to write +about. + +Should I begin with that? That is too much trouble. Or with this? It is +not interesting. Isn’t there something which will come out smoothly, I +reflected, without taxing my head too much, and which will interest +Kiyo. There seemed, however, no such item as I wanted. I grated the +ink-cake, wetted the writing brush, stared at the letter-paper—stared +at the letter-paper, wetted the writing brush, grated the ink-cake—and, +having repeated the same thing several times, I gave up the letter +writing as not in my line, and covered the lid of the stationery box. +To write a letter was a bother. It would be much simpler to go back to +Tokyo and see Kiyo. Not that I am unconcerned about the anxiety of +Kiyo, but to get up a letter to please the fancy of Kiyo is a harder +job than to fast for three weeks. + +I threw down the brush and letter-paper, and lying down with my bent +arms as a pillow, gazed at the garden. But the thought of the letter to +Kiyo would come back in my mind. Then I thought this way; If I am +thinking of her from my heart, even at such a distance, my sincerity +would find responsive appreciation in Kiyo. If it does find response, +there is no need of sending letters. She will regard the absence of +letters from me as a sign of my being in good health. If I write in +case of illness or when something unusual happens, that will be +sufficient. + +The garden is about thirty feet square, with no particular plants +worthy of name. There is one orange tree which is so tall as to be seen +above the board fence from outside. Whenever I returned from the school +I used to look at this orange tree. For to those who had not been +outside of Tokyo, oranges on the tree are rather a novel sight. Those +oranges now green will ripen by degrees and turn to yellow, when the +tree would surely be beautiful. There are some already ripened. The old +lady told me that they are juicy, sweet oranges. “They will all soon be +ripe, and then help yourself to all you want,” she said. I think I will +enjoy a few every day. They will be just right in about three weeks. I +do not think I will have to leave the town in so short a time as three +weeks. + +While my attention was centered on the oranges, Porcupine[M] came in. + +“Say, to-day being the celebration[N] of victory, I thought I would get +something good to eat with you, and bought some beef.” + +So saying, he took out a package covered with a bamboo-wrapper, and +threw it down in the center of the room. I had been denied the pleasure +of patronizing the noodle house or dango shop, on top of getting sick +of the sweet potatoes and tofu, and I welcomed the suggestion with +“That’s fine,” and began cooking it with a frying pan and some sugar +borrowed from the old lady. + +Porcupine, munching the beef to the full capacity of his mouth, asked +me if I knew Red Shirt having a favorite geisha. I asked if that was +not one of the geishas who came to our dinner the other night, and he +answered, “Yes, I got the wind of the fact only recently; you’re +sharp.” + +“Red Shirt always speaks of refinement of character or of mental +consolation, but he is making a fool of himself by chasing round a +geisha. What a dandy rogue. We might let that go if he wouldn’t make +fuss about others making fools of themselves. I understand through the +principal he stopped your going even to noodle houses or dango shops as +unbecoming to the dignity of the school, didn’t he?” + +“According to his idea, running after a geisha is a mental consolation +but tempura or dango is a material pleasure, I guess. If that’s mental +consolation, why doesn’t the fool do it above board? You ought to see +the jacknape skipping out of the room when the geisha came into it the +other night,—I don’t like his trying to deceive us, but if one were to +point it out for him, he would deny it or say it was the Russian +literature or that the haiku is a half-brother of the new poetry, and +expect to hush it up by twaddling soft nonsense. A weak-knee like him +is not a man. I believe he lived the life of a court-maid in former +life. Perhaps his daddy might have been a kagema at Yushima in old +days.” + +“What is a kagema?” + +“I suppose something very unmanly,—sort of emasculated chaps. Say, that +part isn’t cooked enough. It might give you tape worm.” + +“So? I think it’s all right. And, say, Red Shirt is said to frequent +Kadoya at the springs town and meet his geisha there, but he keeps it +in dark.” + +“Kadoya? That hotel?” + +“Also a restaurant. So we’ve got to catch him there with his geisha and +make it hot for him right to his face.” + +“Catch him there? Suppose we begin a kind of night watch?” + +“Yes, you know there is a rooming house called Masuya in front of +Kadoya. We’ll rent one room upstairs of the house, and keep peeping +through a loophole we could make in the shoji.” + +“Will he come when we keep peeping at him?” + +“He may. We will have to do it more than one night. Must expect to keep +it up for at least two weeks.” + +“Say, that would make one pretty well tired, I tell you. I sat up every +night for about one week attending my father when he died, and it left +me thoroughly down and out for some time afterward.” + +“I don’t care if I do get tired some. A crook like Red Shirt should not +go unpunished that way for the honor of Japan, and I am going to +administer a chastisement in behalf of heaven.” + +“Hooray! If things are decided upon that way, I am game. And we are +going to start from to-night?” + +“I haven’t rented a room at Masuya yet, so can’t start it to-night.” + +“Then when?” + +“Will start before long. I’ll let you know, and want you help me.” + +“Right-O. I will help you any time. I am not much myself at scheming, +but I am IT when it comes to fighting.” + +While Porcupine and I were discussing the plan of subjugating Red +Shirt, the old lady appeared at the door, announcing that a student was +wanting to see Professor Hotta. The student had gone to his house, but +seeing him out, had come here as probable to find him. Porcupine went +to the front door himself, and returning to the room after a while, +said: + +“Say, the boy came to invite us to go and see the entertainment of the +celebration. He says there is a big bunch of dancers from Kochi to +dance something, and it would be a long time before we could see the +like of it again. Let’s go.” + +Porcupine seemed enthusiastic over the prospect of seeing that dance, +and induced me to go with him. I have seen many kinds of dance in +Tokyo. At the annual festival of the Hachiman Shrine, moving stages +come around the district, and I have seen the Shiokumi and almost any +other variety. I was little inclined to see that dance by the sturdy +fellows from Tosa province, but as Porcupine was so insistent, I +changed my mind and followed him out. I did not know the student who +came to invite Porcupine, but found he was the younger brother of Red +Shirt. Of all students, what a strange choice for a messenger! + +The celebration ground was decorated, like the wrestling amphitheater +at Ryogoku during the season, or the annual festivity of the Hommonji +temple, with long banners planted here and there, and on the ropes that +crossed and recrossed in the mid-air were strung the colors of all +nations, as if they were borrowed from as many nations for the occasion +and the large roof presented unusually cheerful aspect. On the eastern +corner there was built a temporary stage upon which the dance of Koehi +was to be performed. For about half a block, with the stage on the +right, there was a display of flowers and plant settings arranged on +shelves sheltered with reed screens. Everybody was looking at the +display seemingly much impressed, but it failed to impress me. If +twisted grasses or bamboos afforded so much pleasure, the gallantry of +a hunchback or the husband of a wrong pair should give as much pleasure +to their eyes. + +In the opposite direction, aerial bombs and fire works were steadily +going on. A balloon shot out on which was written “Long Live the +Empire!” It floated leisurely over the pine trees near the castle +tower, and fell down inside the compound of the barracks. Bang! A black +ball shot up against the serene autumn sky; burst open straight above +my head, streams of luminous green smoke ran down in an umbrella-shape, +and finally faded. Then another balloon. It was red with “Long Live the +Army and Navy” in white. The wind slowly carried it from the town +toward the Aioi village. Probably it would fall into the yard of Kwanon +temple there. + +At the formal celebration this morning there were not quite so many as +here now. It was surging mass that made me wonder how so many people +lived in the place. There were not many attractive faces among the +crowd, but as far as the numerical strength went, it was a formidable +one. In the meantime that dance had begun. I took it for granted that +since they call it a dance, it would be something similar to the kind +of dance by the Fujita troupe, but I was greatly mistaken. + +Thirty fellows, dressed up in a martial style, in three rows of ten +each, stood with glittering drawn swords. The sight was an eye-opener, +indeed. The space between the rows measured about two feet, and that +between the men might have been even less. One stood apart from the +group. He was similarly dressed but instead of a drawn sword, he +carried a drum hung about his chest. This fellow drawled out signals +the tone of which suggested a mighty easy-life, and then croaking a +strange song, he would strike the drum. The tune was outlandishly +unfamiliar. One might form the idea by thinking it a combination of the +Mikawa Banzai and the Fudarakuya. + +The song was drowsy, and like syrup in summer is dangling and slovenly. +He struck the drum to make stops at certain intervals. The tune was +kept with regular rhythmical order, though it appeared to have neither +head nor tail. In response to this tune, the thirty drawn swords flash, +with such dexterity and speed that the sight made the spectator almost +shudder. With live men within two feet of their position, the sharp +drawn blades, each flashing them in the same manner, they looked as if +they might make a bloody mess unless they were perfectly accurate in +their movements. If it had been brandishing swords alone without moving +themselves, the chances of getting slashed or cut might have been less, +but sometimes they would turn sideways together, or clear around, or +bend their knees. Just one second’s difference in the movement, either +too quick or too late, on the part of the next fellow, might have meant +sloughing off a nose or slicing off the head of the next fellow. The +drawn swords moved in perfect freedom, but the sphere of action was +limited to about two feet square, and to cap it all, each had to keep +moving with those in front and back, at right and left, in the same +direction at the same speed. This beats me! The dance of the Shiokumi +or the Sekinoto would make no show compared with this! I heard them say +the dance requires much training, and it could not be an easy matter to +make so many dancers move in a unison like this. Particularly difficult +part in the dance was that of the fellow with drum stuck to his chest. +The movement of feet, action of hands, or bending of knees of those +thirty fellows were entirely directed by the tune with which he kept +them going. To the spectators this fellow’s part appeared the easiest. +He sang in a lazy tune, but it was strange that he was the fellow who +takes the heaviest responsibility. + +While Porcupine and I, deeply impressed, were looking at the dance with +absorbing interest, a sudden hue and cry was raised about half a block +off. A commotion was started among those who had been quietly enjoying +the sights and all ran pell-mell in every direction. Some one was heard +saying “fight!” Then the younger brother of Red Shirt came running +forward through the crowd. + +“Please, Sir,” he panted, “a row again! The middles are going to get +even with the normals and have just begun fighting. Come quick, Sir!” +And he melted somewhere into the crowd. + +“What troublesome brats! So they’re at it again, eh? Why can’t they +stop it!” + +Porcupine, as he spoke, dashed forward, dodging among the running +crowd. He meant, I think, to stop the fight, because he could not be an +idle spectator once he was informed of the fact. I of course had no +intention of turning tail, and hastened on the heels of Porcupine. The +fight was in its fiercest. There were about fifty to sixty normals, and +the middles numbered by some ninety. The normals wore uniform, but the +middles had discarded their uniform and put on Japanese civilian +clothes, which made the distinction between the two hostile camps easy. +But they were so mixed up, and wrangling with such violence, that we +did not know how and where we could separate them. + +Porcupine, apparently at a loss what to do, looked at the wild scene +awhile, then turned to me, saying: + +“Let’s jump in and separate them. It will be hell if cops get on them.” + +I did not answer, but rushed to the spot where the scuffle appeared +most violent. + +“Stop there! Cut this out! You’re ruining the name of the school! Stop +this, dash you!” + +Shouting at the top of my voice, I attempted to penetrate the line +which seemed to separate the hostile sides, but this attempt did not +succeed. When about ten feet into the turmoil, I could neither advance +nor retreat. Right in my front, a comparatively large normal was +grappling with a middle about sixteen years of ago. + +“Stop that!” + +I grabbed the shoulder of the normal and tried to force them apart when +some one whacked my feet. On this sudden attack, I let go the normal +and fell down sideways. Some one stepped on my back with heavy shoes. +With both hands and knees upon the ground, I jumped up and the fellow +on my back rolled off to my right. I got up, and saw the big body of +Porcupine about twenty feet away, sandwiched between the students, +being pushed back and forth, shouting, “Stop the fight! Stop that!” + +“Say, we can’t do anything!” I hollered at him, but unable to hear, I +think, he did not answer. + +A pebble-stone whiffled through the air and hit squarely on my cheek +bone; the same moment some one banged my back with a heavy stick from +behind. + +“Profs mixing in!” “Knock them down!” was shouted. + +“Two of them; big one and small. Throw stones at them!” Another shout. + +“Drat you fresh jackanapes!” I cried as I wallopped the head of a +normal nearby. Another stone grazed my head, and passed behind me. I +did not know what had become of Porcupine, I could not find him. Well, +I could not help it but jumped into the teapot to stop the tempest. I +wasn’t[O] a Hottentot to skulk away on being shot at with +pebble-stones. What did they think I was anyway! I’ve been through all +kinds of fighting in Tokyo, and can take in all fights one may care to +give me. I slugged, jabbed and banged the stuffing out of the fellow +nearest to me. Then some one cried, “Cops! Cops! Cheese it! Beat it!” +At that moment, as if wading through a pond of molasses, I could hardly +move, but the next I felt suddenly released and both sides scampered +off simultaneously. Even the country fellows do creditable work when it +comes to retreating, more masterly than General Kuropatkin, I might +say. + +I searched for Porcupine who, I found his overgown torn to shreds, was +wiping his nose. He bled considerably, and his nose having swollen was +a sight. My clothes were pretty well massed with dirt, but I had not +suffered quite as much damage as Porcupine. I felt pain in my cheek and +as Porcupine said, it bled some. + +About sixteen police officers arrived at the scene but, all the +students having beat it in opposite directions, all they were able to +catch were Porcupine and me. We gave them our names and explained the +whole story. The officers requested us to follow them to the police +station which we did, and after stating to the chief of police what had +happened, we returned home. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +The next morning on awakening I felt pains all over my body, due, I +thought, to having had no fight for a long time. This is not creditable +to my fame as regards fighting, so I thought while in bed, when the old +lady brought me a copy of the Shikoku Shimbun. I felt so weak as to +need some effort even reaching for the paper. But what should be man so +easily upset by such a trifling affair,—so I forced myself to turn in +bed, and, opening its second page, I was surprised. There was the whole +story of the fight of yesterday in print. Not that I was surprised by +the news of the fight having been published, but it said that one +teacher Hotta of the Middle School and one certain saucy Somebody, +recently from Tokyo, of the same institution, not only started this +trouble by inciting the students, but were actually present at the +scene of the trouble, directing the students and engaged themselves +against the students of the Normal School. On top of this, something of +the following effect was added. + +“The Middle School in this prefecture has been an object of admiration +by all other schools for its good and ideal behavior. But since this +long-cherished honor has been sullied by these two irresponsible +persons, and this city made to suffer the consequent indignity, we have +to bring the perpetrators to full account. We trust that before we take +any step in this matter, the authorities will have those ‘toughs’ +properly punished, barring them forever from our educational circles.” + +All the types were italicized, as if they meant to administer +typographical chastisement upon us. “What the devil do I care!” I +shouted, and up I jumped out of bed. Strange to say, the pain in my +joints became tolerable. + +I rolled up the newspaper and threw it into the garden. Not satisfied, +I took that paper to the cesspool and dumped it there. Newspapers tell +such reckless lies. There is nothing so adept, I believe, as the +newspaper in circulating lies. It has said what I should have said. And +what does it mean by “one saucy Somebody who is recently from Tokyo?” +Is there any one in this wide world with the name of Somebody? Don’t +forget, I have a family and personal name of my own which I am proud +of. If they want to look at my family-record, they will bow before +every one of my ancestors from Mitsunaka Tada down. Having washed my +face, my cheek began suddenly smarting. I asked the old lady for a +mirror, and she asked if I had read the paper of this morning. “Yes,” I +said, “and dumped it in the cesspool; go and pick it up if you want +it,”—and she withdrew with a startled look. Looking in the mirror, I +saw bruises on my cheek. Mine is a precious face to me. I get my face +bruised, and am called a saucy Somebody as if I were nobody. That is +enough. + +It will be a reflection on my honor to the end of my days if it is said +that I shunned the public gaze and kept out of the school on account of +the write-up in the paper. So, after the breakfast, I attended the +school ahead of all. One after the other, all coming to the school +would grin at my face. What is there to laugh about! This face is my +own, gotten up, I am sure, without the least obligation on their part. +By and by, Clown appeared. + +“Ha, heroic action yesterday. Wounds of honor, eh?” + +He made this sarcastic remark, I suppose, in revenge for the knock he +received on his head from me at the farewell dinner. + +“Cut out nonsense; you get back there and suck your old drawing +brushes!” Then he answered “that was going some,” and enquired if it +pained much? + +“Pain or no pain, this is my face. That’s none of your business,” I +snapped back in a furious temper. Then Clown took his seat on the other +side, and still keeping his eye on me, whispered and laughed with the +teacher of history next to him. + +Then came Porcupine. His nose had swollen and was purple,—it was a +tempting object for a surgeon’s knife. His face showed far worse (is it +my conceit that make this comparison?) than mine. I and Porcupine are +chums with desks next to each other, and moreover, as ill-luck would +have it, the desks are placed right facing the door. Thus were two +strange faces placed together. The other fellows, when in want of +something to divert them, would gaze our way with regularity. They say +“too bad,” but they are surely laughing in their minds as “ha, these +fools!” If that is not so, there is no reason for their whispering +together and grinning like that. In the class room, the boys clapped +their hands when I entered; two or three of them banzaied. I could not +tell whether it was an enthusiastic approval or open insult. While I +and Porcupine were thus being made the cynosures of the whole school, +Red Shirt came to me as usual. + +“Too bad, my friend; I am very sorry indeed for you gentlemen,” he said +in a semi-apologetic manner. “I’ve talked with the principal in regard +to the story in the paper, and have arranged to demand that the paper +retract the report, so you needn’t worry on that score. You were +plunged into the trouble because my brother invited Mr. Hotta, and I +don’t know how I can apologize you. I’m going to do my level best in +this matter; you gentlemen please depend on that.” At the third hour +recess the principal came out of his room, and seemed more or less +perturbed, saying, “The paper made a bad mess of it, didn’t it? I hope +the matter will not become serious.” + +As to anxiety, I have none. If they propose to relieve me, I intend to +tender my resignation before I get fired,—that’s all. However, if I +resign with no fault on my part, I would be simply giving the paper +advantage. I thought it proper to make the paper take back what it had +said, and stick to my position. I was going to the newspaper office to +give them a piece of my mind on my way back but having been told that +the school had already taken steps to have the story retracted, I did +not. + +Porcupine and I saw the principal and Red Shirt at a convenient hour, +giving them a faithful version of the incident. The principal and Red +Shirt agreed that the incident must have been as we said and that the +paper bore some grudge against the school and purposely published such +a story. Red Shirt made a round of personal visits on each teacher in +the room, defending and explaining our action in the affair. +Particularly he dwelt upon the fact that his brother invited Porcupine +and it was his fault. All teachers denounced the paper as infamous and +agreed that we two deserved sympathy. + +On our way home, Porcupine warned me that Red Shirt smelt suspicious, +and we would be done unless we looked out. I said he had been smelling +some anyway,—it was not necessarily so just from to-day. Then he said +that it was his trick to have us invited and mixed in the fight +yesterday,—“Aren’t you on to that yet?” Well, I was not. Porcupine was +quite a Grobian but he was endowed, I was impressed, with a better +brain than I. + +“He made us mix into the trouble, and slipped behind and contrived to +have the paper publish the story. What a devil!” + +“Even the newspaper in the band wagon of Red Shirt? That surprises me. +But would the paper listen to Red Shirt so easily?” + +“Wouldn’t it, though. Darn easy thing if one has friends in the +paper.”[P] + +“Has he any?” + +“Suppose he hasn’t, still that’s easy. Just tell lies and say such and +such are facts, and the paper will take it up.” + +“A startling revelation, this. If that was really a trick of Red Shirt, +we’re likely to be discharged on account of this affair.” + +“Quite likely we may be discharged.” + +“Then I’ll tender my resignation tomorrow, and back to Tokyo I go. I am +sick of staying in such a wretched hole.” + +“Your resignation wouldn’t make Red Shirt squeal.” + +“That’s so. How can he be made to squeal?” + +“A wily guy like him always plots not to leave any trace behind, and it +would be difficult to follow his track.” + +“What a bore! Then we have to stand in a false light, eh? Damn it! I +call all kinds of god to witness if this is just and right!” + +“Let’s wait for two or three days and see how it turns out. And if we +can’t do anything else, we will have to catch him at the hot springs +town.” + +“Leaving this fight affair a separate case?” + +“Yes. We’ll have to his hit weak spot with our own weapon.” + +“That may be good. I haven’t much to say in planning it out; I leave it +to you and will do anything at your bidding.” + +I parted from Porcupine then. If Red Shirt was really instrumental in +bringing us two into the trouble as Porcupine supposed, he certainly +deserves to be called down. Red Shirt outranks us in brainy work. And +there is no other course open but to appeal to physical force. No +wonder we never see the end of war in the world. Among individuals, it +is, after all, the question of superiority of the fist. + +Next day I impatiently glanced over the paper, the arrival of which I +had been waiting with eagerness, but not a correction of the news or +even a line of retraction could be found. I pressed the matter on +Badger when I went to the school, and he said it might probably appear +tomorrow. On that “tomorrow” a line of retraction was printed in tiny +types. But the paper did not make any correction of the story. I called +the attention of Badger to the fact, and he replied that that was about +all that could be done under the circumstance. The principal, with the +face like a badger and always swaggering, is surprisingly, wanting in +influence. He has not even as much power as to bring down a country +newspaper, which had printed a false story. I was so thoroughly +indignant that I declared I would go alone to the office and see the +editor-in-chief on the subject, but Badger said no. + +“If you go there and have a blowup with the editor,” he continued, “it +would only mean of your being handed out worse stuff in the paper +again. Whatever is published in a paper, right or wrong, nothing can be +done with it.” And he wound up with a remark that sounded like a piece +of sermon by a Buddhist bonze that “We must be contented by speedily +despatching the matter from our minds and forgetting it.” + +If newspapers are of that character, it would be beneficial for us all +to have them suspended,—the sooner the better. The similarity of the +unpleasant sensation of being written-up in a paper and being +bitten-down by a turtle became plain for the first time by the +explanation of Badger. + +About three days afterward, Porcupine came to me excited, and said that +the time has now come, that he proposes to execute that thing we had +planned out. Then I will do so, I said, and readily agreed to join him. +But Porcupine jerked his head, saying that I had better not. I asked +him why, and he asked if I had been requested by the principal to +tender my resignation. No, I said, and asked if he had. He told me that +he was called by the principal who was very, very sorry for him but +under the circumstance requested him to decide to resign. + +“That isn’t fair. Badger probably had been pounding his belly-drum too +much and his stomach is upside down,” I said, “you and I went to the +celebration, looked at the glittering sword dance together, and jumped +into the fight together to stop it. Wasn’t it so? If he wants you to +tender your resignation, he should be impartial and should have asked +me to also. What makes everything in the country school so dull-head. +This is irritating!” + +“That’s wire-pulling by Red Shirt,” he said. “I and Red Shirt cannot go +along together, but they think you can be left as harmless.” + +“I wouldn’t get along with that Red Shirt either. Consider me harmless, +eh? They’re getting too gay with me.” + +“You’re so simple and straight that they think they can handle you in +any old way.” + +“Worse still. I wouldn’t get along with him, I tell you.” + +“Besides, since the departure of Koga, his successor has not arrived. +Furthermore, if they fire me and you together, there will be blank +spots in the schedule hours at the school.” + +“Then they expect me to play their game. Darn the fellow! See if they +can make me.” + +On going to the school next day I made straightway for the room of the +principal and started firing; + +“Why don’t you ask me to put in my resignation?” I said. + +“Eh?” Badger stared blankly. + +“You requested Hotta to resign, but not me. Is that right?” + +“That is on account of the condition of the school……” + +“That condition is wrong, I dare say. If I don’t have to resign, there +should be no necessity for Hotta to resign either.” + +“I can’t offer a detailed explanation about that……as to Hotta, it +cannot be helped if he goes…… ……we see no need of your resigning.” + +Indeed, he is a badger. He jabbers something, dodging the point, but +appears complacent. So I had to say: + +“Then, I will tender my resignation. You might have thought that I +would remain peacefully while Mr. Hotta is forced to resign, but I +cannot do it.” + +“That leaves us in a bad fix. If Hotta goes away and you follow him, we +can’t teach mathematics here.” + +“None of my business if you can’t.” + +“Say, don’t be so selfish. You ought to consider the condition of the +school. Besides, if it is said that you resigned within one month of +starting a new job, it would affect your record in the future. You +should consider that point also.” + +“What do I care about my record. Obligation is more important than +record.” + +“That’s right. What you say is right, but be good enough to take our +position into consideration. If you insist on resigning, then resign, +but please stay until we get some one to take your place. At any rate, +think the matter over once more, please.” + +The reason was so plain as to discourage any attempt to think it over, +but as I took some pity on Badger whose face reddened or paled +alternately as he spoke, I withdrew on the condition that I would think +the matter over. I did not talk with Red Shirt. If I have to land him +one, it was better, I thought, to have it bunched together and make it +hot and strong. + +I acquainted Porcupine with the details of my meeting with Badger. He +said he had expected it to be about so, and added that the matter of +resignation can be left alone without causing me any embarrassment +until the time comes. So I followed his advice. Porcupine appears +somewhat smarter than I, and I have decided to accept whatever advices +he may give. + +Porcupine finally tendered his resignation, and having bidden farewell +of all the fellow teachers, went down to Minato-ya on the beach. But he +stealthily returned to the hot springs town, and having rented a front +room upstairs of Masuya, started peeping through the hole he fingered +out in the shoji. I am the only person who knows of this. If Red Shirt +comes round, it would be night anyway, and as he is liable to be seen +by students or some others during the early part in the evening, it +would surely be after nine. For the first two nights, I was on the +watch till about 11 o’clock, but no sight of Red Shirt was seen. On the +third night, I kept peeping through from nine to ten thirty, but he did +not come. Nothing made me feel more like a fool than returning to the +boarding house at midnight after a fruitless watch. In four or five +days, our old lady began worrying about me and advised me to quit night +prowling,—being married. My night prowling is different from that kind +of night prowling. Mine is that of administering a deserved +chastisement. But then, when no encouragement is in sight after one +week, it becomes tiresome. I am quick tempered, and get at it with all +zeal when my interest is aroused, and would sit up all night to work it +out, but I have never shone in endurance. However loyal a member of the +heavenly-chastisement league I may be, I cannot escape monotony. On the +sixth night I was a little tired, and on the seventh thought I would +quit. Porcupine, however, stuck to it with bull-dog tenacity. From +early in the evening up to past twelve, he would glue his eye to the +shoji and keep steadily watching under the gas globe of Kadoya. He +would surprise me, when I come into the room, with figures showing how +many patrons there were to-day, how many stop-overs and how many women, +etc. Red Shirt seems never to be coming, I said, and he would fold his +arms, audibly sighing, “Well, he ought to.” If Red Shirt would not come +just for once, Porcupine would be deprived of the chance of handing out +a deserved and just punishment. + +I left my boarding house about 7 o’clock on the eighth night and after +having enjoyed my bath, I bought eight raw eggs. This would counteract +the attack of sweet potatoes by the old lady. I put the eggs into my +right and left pockets, four in each, with the same old red towel hung +over my shoulder, my hands inside my coat, went to Masuya. I opened the +shoji of the room and Porcupine greeted me with his Idaten-like face +suddenly radiant, saying: + +“Say, there’s hope! There’s hope!” Up to last night, he had been +downcast, and even I felt gloomy. But at his cheerful countenance, I +too became cheerful, and before hearing anything, I cried, “Hooray! +Hooray!” + +“About half past seven this evening,” he said, “that geisha named +Kosuzu has gone into Kadoya.” + +“With Red Shirt?” + +“No.” + +“That’s no good then.” + +“There were two geishas……seems to me somewhat hopeful.” + +“How?” + +“How? Why, the sly old fox is likely to send his girls ahead[Q], and +sneak round behind later.” + +“That may be the case. About nine now, isn’t it?” + +“About twelve minutes past nine,” said he, pulling out a watch with a +nickel case, “and, say put out the light. It would be funny to have two +silhouettes of bonze heads on the shoji. The fox is too ready to +suspect.” + +I blew out the lamp which stood upon the lacquer-enameled table. The +shoji alone was dimly plain by the star light. The moon has not come up +yet. I and Porcupine put our faces close to the shoji, watching almost +breathless. A wall clock somewhere rang half past nine. + +“Say, will he come to-night, do you think? If he doesn’t show up, I +quit.” + +“I’m going to keep this up while my money lasts.” + +“Money? How much have you?” + +“I’ve paid five yen and sixty sen up to to-day for eight days. I pay my +bill every night, so I can jump out anytime.” + +“That’s well arranged. The people of this hotel must have been rather +put out, I suppose.” + +“That’s all right with the hotel; only I can’t take my mind off the +house.” + +“But you take some sleep in daytime.” + +“Yes, I take a nap, but it’s nuisance because I can’t go out.” + +“Heavenly chastisement is a hard job, I’m sure,” I said. “If he gives +us the slip after giving us such trouble, it would have been a +thankless task.” + +“Well, I’m sure he will come to-night…—… Look, look!” His voice changed +to whisper and I was alert in a moment. A fellow with a black hat +looked up at the gas light of Kadoya and passed on into the darkness. +No, it was not Red Shirt. Disappointing, this! Meanwhile the clock at +the office below merrily tinkled off ten. It seems to be another bum +watch to-night. + +The streets everywhere had become quiet. The drum playing in the +tenderloin reached our ears distinctively. The moon had risen from +behind the hills of the hot springs. It is very light outside. Then +voices were heard below. We could not poke our heads out of the window, +so were unable to see the owners of the voices, but they were evidently +coming nearer. The dragging of komageta (a kind of wooden footwear) was +heard. They approached so near we could see their shadows. + +“Everything is all right now. We’ve got rid of the stumbling block.” It +was undoubtedly the voice of Clown. + +“He only glories in bullying but has no tact.” This from Red Shirt. + +“He is like that young tough, isn’t he? Why, as to that young tough, he +is a winsome, sporty Master Darling.” + +“I don’t want my salary raised, he says, or I want to tender +resignation,—I’m sure something is wrong with his nerves.” + +I was greatly inclined to open the window, jump out of the second story +and make them see more stars than they cared to, but I restrained +myself with some effort. The two laughed, and passed below the gas +light, and into Kadoya. + +“Say.” + +“Well.” + +“He’s here.” + +“Yes, he has come at last.” + +“I feel quite easy now.” + +“Damned Clown called me a sporty Master Darling.” + +“The stumbling[R] block means me. Hell!” + +I and Porcupine had to waylay them on their return. But we knew no more +than the man in the moon when they would come out. Porcupine went down +to the hotel office, notifying them to the probability of our going out +at midnight, and requesting them to leave the door unfastened so we +could get out anytime. As I think about it now, it is wonderful how the +hotel people complied with our request. In most cases, we would have +been taken for burglars. + +It was trying to wait for the coming of Red Shirt, but it was still +more trying to wait for his coming out again. We could not go to sleep, +nor could we remain with our faces stuck to the shoji all the time our +minds constantly in a state of feverish agitation. In all my life, I +never passed such fretful, mortifying hours. I suggested that we had +better go right into his room and catch him but Porcupine rejected the +proposal outright. If we get in there at this time of night, we are +likely to be prevented from preceding much further, he said, and if we +ask to see him, they will either answer that he is not there or will +take us into a different room. Supposing we do break into a room, we +cannot tell of all those many rooms, where we can find him. There is no +other way but to wait for him to come out, however tiresome it may be. +So we sat up till five in the morning. + +The moment we saw them emerging from Kadoya, I and Porcupine followed +them. It was some time before the first train started and they had to +walk up to town. Beyond the limit of the hot springs town, there is a +road for about one block running through the rice fields, both sides of +which are lined with cedar trees. Farther on are thatch-roofed farm +houses here and there, and then one comes upon a dyke leading straight +to the town through the fields. We can catch them anywhere outside the +town, but thinking it would be better to get them, if possible, on the +road lined with cedar trees where we may not be seen by others, we +followed them cautiously. Once out of the town limit, we darted on a +double-quick time, and caught up with them. Wondering what was coming +after them, they turned back, and we grabbed their shoulders. We cried, +“Wait!” Clown, greatly rattled, attempted to escape, but I stepped in +front of him to cut off his retreat. + +“What makes one holding the job of a head teacher stay over night at +Kadoya!” Porcupine directly fired the opening gun. + +“Is there any rule that a head teacher should not stay over night at +Kadoya?” Red Shirt met the attack in a polite manner. He looked a +little pale. + +“Why the one who is so strict as to forbid others from going even to +noodle house or dango shop as unbecoming to instructors, stayed over +night at a hotel with a geisha!” + +Clown was inclined to run at the first opportunity; so kept I before +him. + +“What’s that Master Darling of a young tough!” I roared. + +“I didn’t mean you. Sir. No, Sir, I didn’t mean you, sure.” He insisted +on this brazen excuse. I happened to notice at that moment that I had +held my pockets with both hands. The eggs in both pockets jerked so +when I ran, that I had been holding them. I thrust my hand into the +pocket, took out two and dashed them on the face of Clown. The eggs +crushed, and from the tip of his nose the yellow streamed down. Clown +was taken completely surprised, and uttering a hideous cry, he fell +down on the ground and begged for mercy. I had bought those eggs to +eat, but had not carried them for the purpose of making “Irish +Confetti” of them. Thoroughly roused, in the moment of passion, I had +dashed them at him before I knew what I was doing. But seeing Clown +down and finding my hand grenade successful, I banged the rest of the +eggs on him, intermingled with “Darn you, you sonovagun!” The face of +Clown was soaked in yellow. + +While I was bombarding Clown with the eggs, Porcupine was firing at +Red[S] Shirt. + +“Is there any evidence that I stayed there over night with a geisha?” + +“I saw your favorite old chicken go there early in the evening, and am +telling you so. You can’t fool me!” + +“No need for us of fooling anybody. I stayed there with Mr. Yoshikawa, +and whether any geisha had gone there early in the evening or not, +that’s none of my business.” + +“Shut up!” Porcupine wallopped him one. Red Shirt tottered. + +“This is outrageous! It is rough to resort to force before deciding the +right or wrong of it!” + +“Outrageous indeed!” Another clout. “Nothing but wallopping will be +effective on you scheming guys.” The remark was followed by a shower of +blows. I soaked Clown at the same time, and made him think he saw the +way to the Kingdom-Come. Finally the two crawled and crouched at the +foot of a cedar tree, and either from inability to move or to see, +because their eyes had become hazy, they did not even attempt to break +away. + +“Want more? If so, here goes some more!” With that we gave him more +until he cried enough. “Want more? You?” we turned to Clown, and he +answered “Enough, of course.” + +“This is the punishment of heaven on you grovelling wretches. Keep this +in your head and be more careful hereafter. You can never talk down +justice.” + +The two said nothing. They were so thoroughly cowed that they could not +speak. + +“I’m going to neither run away nor hide. You’ll find me at Minato-ya +on the beach up to five this evening. Bring police officers or any old +thing you want,” said Porcupine. + +“I’m not going to run away or hide either. Will wait for you at the +same place with Hotta. Take the case to the police station if you like, +or do as you damn please,” I said, and we two walked our own way. + +It was a little before seven when I returned to my room. I started +packing as soon as I was in the room, and the astonished old lady asked +me what I was trying to do. I’m going to Tokyo to fetch my Madam, I +said, and paid my bill. I boarded a train and came to Minato-ya on the +beach and found Porcupine asleep upstairs. I thought of writing my +resignation, but not knowing how, just scribbled off that “because of +personal affairs, I have to resign and return, to Tokyo. Yours truly,” +and addressed and mailed it to the principal. + +The steamer leaves the harbor at six in the evening. Porcupine and I, +tired out, slept like logs, and when we awoke it was two o’clock. We +asked the maid if the police had called on us, and she said no. Red +Shirt and Clown had not taken it to the police, eh? We laughed. + +That night I and Porcupine left the town. The farther the vessel +steamed away from the shore, the more refreshed we felt. From Kobe to +Tokyo we boarded a through train and when we made Shimbashi, we +breathed as if we were once more in congenial human society. I parted +from Porcupine at the station, and have not had the chance of meeting +him since. + +I forgot to tell you about Kiyo. On my arrival at Tokyo, I rushed into +her house swinging my valise, before going to a hotel, with “Hello, +Kiyo, I’m back!” + +“How good of you to return so soon!” she cried and hot tears streamed +down her cheeks. I was overjoyed, and declared that I would not go to +the country any more but would start housekeeping with Kiyo in Tokyo. + +Some time afterward, some one helped me to a job as assistant engineer +at the tram car office. The salary was 25 yen a month, and the house +rent six. Although the house had not a magnificent front entrance, Kiyo +seemed quite satisfied, but, I am sorry to say, she was a victim of +pneumonia and died in February this year. On the day preceding her +death, she asked me to bedside, and said, “Please, Master Darling, if +Kiyo is dead, bury me in the temple yard of Master Darling. I will be +glad to wait in the grave for my Master Darling.” + +So Kiyo’s grave is in the Yogen temple at Kobinata. + +—(THE END)— + + +[A: Insitent] + +[B: queershaped] + +[C: The original just had the Japanese character, Unicode U+5927, sans +description] + +[D: aweinspiring] + +[E: about about] + +[F: atomosphere] + +[G: Helloo] + +[H: you go] + +[I: goo-goo eyes] + +[J: proper hyphenation unknown] + +[K: pin-princking] + +[L: Procupine] + +[M: celabration] + +[N: wans’t] + +[O: paper.] + +[P: girl shead] + +[Q: stumblieg] + +[R: Rad] + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Botchan (Master Darling)</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Kin-nosuke Natsume</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Translator: Yasotaro Morri</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: August 17, 2003 [eBook #8868]<br /> +[Most recently updated: March 21, 2022]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: David Starner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) ***</div> + +<h1>BOTCHAN<br /> +(MASTER DARLING)</h1> + +<p class="fs2">by The Late Mr. Kin-nosuke Natsume</p> + +<p class="fs3">TRANSLATED By Yasotaro Morri </p> + +<p class="fs4">Revised by J. R. KENNEDY</p> + +<p class="fs5">1919</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<table summary="" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto"> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap00">A NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">CHAPTER I</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">CHAPTER II</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">CHAPTER III</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">CHAPTER IV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">CHAPTER V</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">CHAPTER VI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">CHAPTER VII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap08">CHAPTER VIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap09">CHAPTER IX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap10">CHAPTER X</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap11">CHAPTER XI</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap00"></a>A NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR</h2> + +<p> +No translation can expect to equal, much less to excel, the original. The +excellence of a translation can only be judged by noting how far it has +succeeded in reproducing the original tone, colors, style, the delicacy of +sentiment, the force of inert strength, the peculiar expressions native to the +language with which the original is written, or whatever is its marked +characteristic. The ablest can do no more, and to want more than this will be +demanding something impossible. Strictly speaking, the only way one can derive +full benefit or enjoyment from a foreign work is to read the original, for any +intelligence at second-hand never gives the kind of satisfaction which is +possible only through the direct touch with the original. Even in the best +translated work is probably wanted the subtle vitality natural to the original +language, for it defies an attempt, however elaborate, to transmit all there is +in the original. Correctness of diction may be there, but spontaneity is gone; +it cannot be helped. +</p> + +<p> +The task of the translator becomes doubly hazardous in case of translating a +European language into Japanese, or vice versa. Between any of the European +languages and Japanese there is no visible kinship in word-form, significance, +grammatical system, rhetorical arrangements. It may be said that the +inspiration of the two languages is totally different. A want of similarity of +customs, habits, traditions, national sentiments and traits makes the work of +translation all the more difficult. A novel written in Japanese which had +attained national popularity might, when rendered into English, lose its +captivating vividness, alluring interest and lasting appeal to the reader. +</p> + +<p> +These remarks are made not in way of excuse for any faulty dictions that may be +found in the following pages. Neither are they made out of personal modesty nor +of a desire to add undue weight to the present work. They are made in the hope +that whoever is good enough to go through the present translation will +remember, before he may venture to make criticisms, the kind and extent of +difficulties besetting him in his attempts so as not to judge the merit of the +original by this translation. Nothing would afford the translator a greater +pain than any unfavorable comment on the original based upon this translation. +If there be any deserving merits in the following pages the credit is due to +the original. Any fault found in its interpretation or in the English version, +the whole responsibility is on the translator. +</p> + +<p> +For the benefit of those who may not know the original, it must be stated that +“Botchan” by the late Mr. K. Natsume was an epoch-making piece of +work. On its first appearance, Mr. Natsume’s place and name as the +foremost in the new literary school were firmly established. He had written +many other novels of more serious intent, of heavier thoughts and of more +enduring merits, but it was this “Botchan” that secured him the +lasting fame. Its quaint style, dash and vigor in its narration appealed to the +public who had become somewhat tired of the stereotyped sort of manner with +which all stories had come to be handled. +</p> + +<p> +In its simplest understanding, “Botchan” may be taken as an episode +in the life of a son born in Tokyo, hot-blooded, simple-hearted, pure as +crystal and sturdy as a towering rock, honest and straight to a fault, +intolerant of the least injustice and a volunteer ever ready to champion what +he considers right and good. Children may read it as a “story of man who +tried to be honest.” It is a light, amusing and, at the name time, +instructive story, with no tangle of love affairs, no scheme of blood-curdling +scenes or nothing startling or sensational in the plot or characters. The +story, however, may be regarded as a biting sarcasm on a hypocritical society +in which a gang of instructors of dark character at a middle school in a +backwoods town plays a prominent part. The hero of the story is made a victim +of their annoying intrigues, but finally comes out triumphant by smashing the +petty red tapism, knocking down the sham pretentions and by actual use of the +fist on the Head Instructor and his henchman. +</p> + +<p> +The story will be found equally entertaining as a means of studying the +peculiar traits of the native of Tokyo which are characterised by their quick +temper, dashing spirit, generosity and by their readiness to resist even the +lordly personage if convinced of their own justness, or to kneel down even to a +child if they acknowledge their own wrong. Incidently the touching devotion of +the old maid servant Kiyo to the hero will prove a standing reproach to the +inconstant, unfaithful servants of which the number is ever increasing these +days in Tokyo. The story becomes doubly interesting by the fact that Mr. K. +Natsume, when quite young, held a position of teacher of English at a middle +school somewhere about the same part of the country described in the story, +while he himself was born and brought up in Tokyo. +</p> + +<p> +It may be added that the original is written in an autobiographical style. It +is profusely interladed with spicy, catchy colloquials patent to the people of +Tokyo for the equals of which we may look to the rattling speeches of notorious +Chuck Conners of the Bowery of New York. It should be frankly stated that much +difficulty was experienced in getting the corresponding terms in English for +those catchy expressions. Strictly speaking, some of them have no English +equivalents. Care has been exercised to select what has been thought most +appropriate in the judgment or the translator in converting those expressions +into English but some of them might provoke disapproval from those of the +“cultured” class with “refined” ears. The slangs in +English in this translation were taken from an American magazine of world-wide +reputation editor of which was not afraid to print of “damn” when +necessary, by scorning the timid, conventional way of putting it as +“d—n.” If the propriety of printing such short ugly words be +questioned, the translator is sorry to say that no means now exists of directly +bringing him to account for he met untimely death on board the Lusitania when +it was sunk by the German submarine. +</p> + +<p> +Thanks are due to Mr. J. R. Kennedy, General Manager, and Mr. Henry Satoh, +Editor-in-Chief, both of the Kokusai Tsushin-sha (the International News +Agency) of Tokyo and a host of personal friends of the translator whose +untiring assistance and kind suggestions have made the present translation +possible. Without their sympathetic interests, this translation may not have +seen the daylight. +</p> + +<p> +Tokyo, September, 1918. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p class="fs2">BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING)</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap01"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p> +Because of an hereditary recklessness, I have been playing always a losing game +since my childhood. During my grammar school days, I was once laid up for about +a week by jumping from the second story of the school building. Some may ask +why I committed such a rash act. There was no particular reason for doing such +a thing except I happened to be looking out into the yard from the second floor +of the newly-built school house, when one of my classmates, joking, shouted at +me; “Say, you big bluff, I’ll bet you can’t jump down from +there! O, you chicken-heart, ha, ha!” So I jumped down. The janitor of +the school had to carry me home on his back, and when my father saw me, he +yelled derisively, “What a fellow you are to go and get your bones +dislocated by jumping only from a second story!” +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll see I don’t get dislocated next time,” I +answered. +</p> + +<p> +One of my relatives once presented me with a pen-knife. I was showing it to my +friends, reflecting its pretty blades against the rays of the sun, when one of +them chimed in that the blades gleamed all right, but seemed rather dull for +cutting with. +</p> + +<p> +“Rather dull? See if they don’t cut!” I retorted. +</p> + +<p> +“Cut your finger, then,” he challenged. And with “Finger +nothing! Here goes!” I cut my thumb slant-wise. Fortunately the knife was +small and the bone of the thumb hard enough, so the thumb is still there, but +the scar will be there until my death. +</p> + +<p> +About twenty steps to the east edge of our garden, there was a moderate-sized +vegetable yard, rising toward the south, and in the centre of which stood a +chestnut tree which was dearer to me than life. In the season when the +chestnuts were ripe, I used to slip out of the house from the back door early +in the morning to pick up the chestnuts which had fallen during the night, and +eat them at the school. On the west side of the vegetable yard was the +adjoining garden of a pawn shop called Yamashiro-ya. This shopkeeper’s +son was a boy about 13 or 14 years old named Kantaro. Kantaro was, it happens, +a mollycoddle. Nevertheless he had the temerity to come over the fence to our +yard and steal my chestnuts. +</p> + +<p> +One certain evening I hid myself behind a folding-gate of the fence and caught +him in the act. Having his retreat cut off he grappled with me in desperation. +He was about two years older than I, and, though weak-kneed, was physically the +stronger. While I wallopped him, he pushed his head against my breast and by +chance it slipped inside my sleeve. As this hindered the free action of my arm, +I tried to shake him loose, though, his head dangled the further inside, and +being no longer able to stand the stifling combat, he bit my bare arm. It was +painful. I held him fast against the fence, and by a dexterous foot twist sent +him down flat on his back. Kantaro broke the fence and as the ground belonging +to Yamashiro-ya was about six feet lower than the vegetable yard, he fell +headlong to his own territory with a thud. As he rolled off he tore away the +sleeve in which his head had been enwrapped, and my arm recovered a sudden +freedom of movement. That night when my mother went to Yamashiro-ya to +apologize, she brought back that sleeve. +</p> + +<p> +Besides the above, I did many other mischiefs. With Kaneko of a carpenter shop +and Kaku of a fishmarket, I once ruined a carrot patch of one Mosaku. The +sprouts were just shooting out and the patch was covered with straws to ensure +their even healthy growth. Upon this straw-covered patch, we three wrestled for +fully half a day, and consequently thoroughly smashed all the sprouts. Also I +once filled up a well which watered some rice fields owned by one Furukawa, and +he followed me with kicks. The well was so devised that from a large bamboo +pole, sunk deep into the ground, the water issued and irrigated the rice +fields. Ignorant of the mechanical side of this irrigating method at that time, +I stuffed the bamboo pole with stones and sticks, and satisfied that no more +water came up, I returned home and was eating supper when Furukawa, fiery red +with anger, burst into our house with howling protests. I believe the affair +was settled on our paying for the damage. +</p> + +<p> +Father did not like me in the least, and mother always sided with my big +brother. This brother’s face was palish white, and he had a fondness for +taking the part of an actress at the theatre. +</p> + +<p> +“This fellow will never amount to much,” father used to remark when +he saw me. +</p> + +<p> +“He’s so reckless that I worry about his future,” I often +heard mother say of me. Exactly; I have never amounted to much. I am just as +you see me; no wonder my future used to cause anxiety to my mother. I am living +without becoming but a jailbird. +</p> + +<p> +Two or three days previous to my mother’s death, I took it into my head +to turn a somersault in the kitchen, and painfully hit my ribs against the +corner of the stove. Mother was very angry at this and told me not to show my +face again, so I went to a relative to stay with. While there, I received the +news that my mother’s illness had become very serious, and that after all +efforts for her recovery, she was dead. I came home thinking that I should have +behaved better if I had known the conditions were so serious as that. Then that +big brother of mine denounced me as wanting in filial piety, and that I had +caused her untimely death. Mortified at this, I slapped his face, and thereupon +received a sound scolding from father. +</p> + +<p> +After the death of mother, I lived with father and brother. Father did nothing, +and always said “You’re no good” to my face. What he meant by +“no good” I am yet to understand. A funny dad he was. My brother +was to be seen studying English hard, saying that he was going to be a +businessman. He was like a girl by nature, and so “sassy” that we +two were never on good terms, and had to fight it out about once every ten +days. When we played a chess game one day, he placed a chessman as a +“waiter,”—a cowardly tactic this,—and had hearty laugh +on me by seeing me in a fix. His manner was so trying that time that I banged a +chessman on his forehead which was injured a little bit and bled. He told all +about this to father, who said he would disinherit me. +</p> + +<p> +Then I gave up myself for lost, and expected to be really disinherited. But our +maid Kiyo, who had been with us for ten years or so, interceded on my behalf, +and tearfully apologized for me, and by her appeal my father’s wrath was +softened. I did not regard him, however, as one to be afraid of in any way, but +rather felt sorry for our Kiyo. I had heard that Kiyo was of a decent, +well-to-do family, but being driven to poverty at the time of the Restoration, +had to work as a servant. So she was an old woman by this time. This old +woman,—by what affinity, as the Buddhists say, I don’t +know,—loved me a great deal. Strange, indeed! She was almost blindly fond +of me,—me, whom mother, became thoroughly disgusted with three days +before her death; whom father considered a most aggravating proposition all the +year round, and whom the neighbors cordially hated as the local bully among the +youngsters. I had long reconciled myself to the fact that my nature was far +from being attractive to others, and so didn’t mind if I were treated as +a piece of wood; so I thought it uncommon that Kiyo should pet me like that. +Sometimes in the kitchen, when there was nobody around, she would praise me +saying that I was straightforward and of a good disposition. What she meant by +that exactly, was not clear to me, however. If I were of so good a nature as +she said, I imagined those other than Kiyo should accord me a better treatment. +So whenever Kiyo said to me anything of the kind, I used to answer that I did +not like passing compliments. Then she would remark; “That’s the +very reason I say you are of a good disposition,” and would gaze at me +with absorbing tenderness. She seemed to recreate me by her own imagination, +and was proud of the fact. I felt even chilled through my marrow at her +constant attention to me. +</p> + +<p> +After my mother was dead, Kiyo loved me still more. In my simple reasoning, I +wondered why she had taken such a fancy to me. Sometimes I thought it quite +futile on her part, that she had better quit that sort of thing, which was bad +for her. But she loved me just the same. Once in a while she would +buy, out of +her own pocket, some cakes or sweetmeats for me. When the night was cold, she +would secretly buy some noodle powder, and bring all unawares hot noodle gruel +to my bed; or sometimes she would even buy a bowl of steaming noodles from the +peddler. Not only with edibles, but she was generous alike with socks, pencils, +note books, etc. And she even furnished me,—this happened some time +later,—with about three yen, I did not ask her for the money; she offered +it from her own good will by bringing it to my room, saying that I might be in +need of some cash. This, of course, embarrassed me, but as she was so insistent +I consented to borrow it. I confess I was really glad of the money. I put it in +a bag, and carried it in my pocket. While about the house, I happened to drop +the bag into a cesspool. Helpless, I told Kiyo how I had lost the money, and at +once she fetched a bamboo stick, and said she will get it for me. After a while +I heard a splashing sound of water about our family well, and going there, saw +Kiyo washing the bag strung on the end of the stick. I opened the bag and found +the color of the three one-yen bills turned to faint yellow and +designs fading. +Kiyo dried them at an open fire and handed them over to me, asking if they were +all right. I smelled them and said; “They stink yet.” +</p> + +<p> +“Give them to me; I’ll get them changed.” She took those +three bills, and,—I do not know how she went about it,—brought +three yen in silver. I forget now upon what I spent the three yen. +“I’ll pay you back soon,” I said at the time, but +didn’t. I could not now pay it back even if I wished to do so with ten +times the amount. +</p> + +<p> +When Kiyo gave me anything she did so always when both father and brother were +out. Many things I do not like, but what I most detest is the monopolizing of +favors behind some one else’s back. Bad as my relations were with my +brother, still I did not feel justified in accepting candies or color-pencils +from Kiyo without my brother’s knowledge. “Why do you give those +things only to me and not to my brother also?” I asked her once, and she +answered quite unconcernedly that my brother may be left to himself as his +father bought him everything. That was partiality; father was obstinate, but I +am sure he was not a man who would indulge in favoritism. To Kiyo, however, he +might have looked that way. There is no doubt that Kiyo was blind to the extent +of her undue indulgence with me. She was said to have come from a well-to-do +family, but the poor soul was uneducated, and it could not be helped. All the +same, you cannot tell how prejudice will drive one to the extremes. Kiyo seemed +quite sure that some day I would achieve high position in society and become +famous. Equally she was sure that my brother, who was spending his hours +studiously, was only good for his white skin, and would stand no show in the +future. Nothing can beat an old woman for this sort of thing, I tell you. She +firmly believed that whoever she liked would become famous, while whoever she +hated would not. I did not have at that time any particular object in my life. +But the persistency with which Kiyo declared that I would be a great man some +day, made me speculate myself that after all I might become one. How absurd it +seems to me now when I recall those days. I asked her once what kind of a man I +should be, but she seemed to have formed no concrete idea as to that; only she +said that I was sure to live in a house with grand entrance hall, and ride in a +private rikisha. +</p> + +<p> +And Kiyo seemed to have decided for herself to live with me when I became +independent and occupy my own house. “Please let me live with +you,”—she repeatedly asked of me. Feeling somewhat that I should +eventually be able to own a house, I answered her “Yes,” as far as +such an answer went. This woman, by the way, was strongly imaginative. She +questioned me what place I liked,—Kojimachi-ku or Azabu-ku?—and +suggested that I should have a swing in our garden, that one room be enough for +European style, etc., planning everything to suit her own fancy. I did not then +care a straw for anything like a house; so neither Japanese nor European style +was much of use to me, and I told her to that effect. Then she would praise me +as uncovetous and clean of heart. Whatever I said, she had praise for me. +</p> + +<p> +I lived, after the death of mother, in this fashion for five or six years. I +had kicks from father, had rows with brother, and had candies and praise from +Kiyo. I cared for nothing more; I thought this was enough. I imagined all other +boys were leading about the same kind of life. As Kiyo frequently told me, +however, that I was to be pitied, and was unfortunate, I imagined that that +might be so. There was nothing that particularly worried me except that father +was too tight with my pocket money, and this was rather hard on me. +</p> + +<p> +In January of the 6th year after mother’s death, father died of apoplexy. +In April of the same year, I graduated from a middle school, and two months +later, my brother graduated from a business college. Soon he obtained a job in +the Kyushu branch of a certain firm and had to go there, while I had to remain +in Tokyo and continue my study. He proposed the sale of our house and the +realization of our property, to which I answered “Just as you like +it.” I had no intention of depending upon him anyway. Even were he to +look after me, I was sure of his starting something which would eventually end +in a smash-up as we were prone to quarrel on the least pretext. It was because +in order to receive his protection that I should have to bow before such a +fellow, that I resolved that I would live by myself even if I had to do milk +delivery. Shortly afterwards he sent for a second-hand dealer and sold for a +song all the bric-a-bric which had been handed down from ages ago in our +family. Our house and lot were sold, through the efforts of a middleman to a +wealthy person. This transaction seemed to have netted a goodly sum to him, but +I know nothing as to the detail. +</p> + +<p> +For one month previous to this, I had been rooming in a boarding house in +Kanda-ku, pending a decision as to my future course. Kiyo was greatly grieved +to see the house in which she had lived so many years change ownership, but she +was helpless in the matter. +</p> + +<p> +“If you were a little older, you might have inherited this house,” +she once remarked in earnest. +</p> + +<p> +If I could have inherited the house through being a little older, I ought to +have been able to inherit the house right then. She knew nothing, and believed +the lack of age only prevented my coming into the possession of the house. +</p> + +<p> +Thus I parted from my brother, but the disposal of Kiyo was a difficult +proposition. My brother was, of course, unable to take her along, nor was there +any danger of her following him so far away as Kyushu, while I was in a small +room of a boarding house, and might have to clear out anytime at that. There +was no way out, so I asked her if she intended to work somewhere else. Finally +she answered me definitely that she would go to her nephew’s and wait +until I started my own house and get married. This nephew was a clerk in the +Court of Justice, and being fairly well off, had invited Kiyo before more than +once to come and live with him, but Kiyo preferred to stay with us, even as a +servant, since she had become well used to our family. But now I think she +thought it better to go over to her nephew than to start a new life as servant +in a strange house. Be that as it may, she advised me to have my own household +soon, or get married, so she would come and help me in housekeeping. I believe +she liked me more than she did her own kin. +</p> + +<p> +My brother came to me, two days previous to his departure for Kyushu, and +giving me 600 yen, said that I might begin a business with it, or go ahead with +my study, or spend it in any way I liked, but that that would be the last he +could spare. It was a commendable act for my brother. What! about only 600 yen! +I could get along without it, I thought, but as this unusually simple manner +appealed to me, I accepted the offer with thanks. Then he produced 50 yen, +requesting me to give it to Kiyo next time I saw her, which I readily complied +with. Two days after, I saw him off at the Shimbashi Station, and have not set +my eyes on him ever since. +</p> + +<p> +Lying in my bed, I meditated on the best way to spend that 600 yen. A business +is fraught with too much trouble, and besides it was not my calling. Moreover +with only 600 yen no one could open a business worth the name. Were I even able +to do it, I was far from being educated, and after all, would lose it. Better +let investments alone, but study more with the money. Dividing the 600 yen into +three, and by spending 200 yen a year, I could study for three years. If I kept +at one study with bull-dog tenacity for three years, I should be able to learn +something. Then the selection of a school was the next problem. By nature, +there is no branch of study whatever which appeals to my taste. Nix on +languages or literature! The new poetry was all Greek to me; I could not make +out one single line of twenty. Since I detested every kind of study, any kind +of study should have been the same to me. Thinking thus, I happened to pass +front of a school of physics, and seeing a sign posted for the admittance of +more students, I thought this might be a kind of “affinity,” and +having asked for the prospectus, at once filed my application for entrance. +When I think of it now, it was a blunder due to my hereditary recklessness. +</p> + +<p> +For three years I studied about as diligently as ordinary fellows, but not +being of a particularly brilliant quality, my standing in the class was easier +to find by looking up from the bottom. Strange, isn’t it, that when three +years were over, I graduated? I had to laugh at myself, but there being no +reason for complaint, I passed out. +</p> + +<p> +Eight days after my graduation, the principal of the school asked me to come +over and see him. I wondered what he wanted, and went. A middle school in +Shikoku was in need of a teacher of mathematics for forty yen a month, and he +sounded me to see if I would take it. I had studied for three years, but to +tell the truth, I had no intention of either teaching or going to the country. +Having nothing in sight, however, except teaching, I readily accepted the +offer. This too was a blunder due to hereditary recklessness. +</p> + +<p> +I accepted the position, and so must go there. The three years of my school +life I had seen confined in a small room, but with no kick coming or having no +rough house. It was a comparatively easy going period in my life. But now I had +to pack up. Once I went to Kamakura on a picnic with my classmates while I was +in the grammar school, and that was the first and last, so far, that I stepped +outside of Tokyo since I could remember. This time I must go darn far away, +that it beats Kamakura by a mile. The prospective town is situated on the +coast, and looked the size of a needle-point on the map. It would not be much +to look at anyway. I knew nothing about the place or the people there. It did +not worry me or cause any anxiety. I had simply to travel there and that was +the annoying part. +</p> + +<p> +Once in a while, since our house was no more, I went to Kiyo’s +nephew’s to see her. Her nephew was unusually good-natured, and whenever +I called upon her, he treated me well if he happened to be at home. Kiyo would +boost me sky-high to her nephew right to my face. She went so far once as to +say that when I had graduated from school, I would purchase a house somewhere +in Kojimachi-ku and get a position in a government office. She decided +everything in her own way, and talked of it aloud, and I was made an unwilling +and bashful listener. I do not know how her nephew weighed her tales of +self-indulgence on me. Kiyo was a woman of the old type, and seemed, as if it +was still the days of Feudal Lords, to regard her nephew equally under +obligation to me even as she was herself. +</p> + +<p> +After settling about my new position, I called upon her three days previous to +my departure. She was sick abed in a small room, but, on seeing me she got up +and immediately inquired; +</p> + +<p> +“Master Darling, when do you begin housekeeping?” +</p> + +<p> +She evidently thought as soon as a fellow finishes school, money comes to his +pocket by itself. But then how absurd to call such a “great man” +“Darling.” I told her simply that I should let the house +proposition go for some time, as I had to go to the country. She looked greatly +disappointed, and blankly smoothed her gray-haired sidelocks. I felt sorry for +her, and said comfortingly; “I am going away but will come back soon. +I’ll return in the vacation next summer, sure.” Still as she +appeared not fully satisfied, I added; +</p> + +<p> +“Will bring you back a surprise. What do you like?” +</p> + +<p> +She wished to eat “sasa-ame”[1] of Echigo province. I had never +heard of “sasa-ame” of Echigo. To begin with, the location is +entirely different. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Footnote 1: Sasa-ame is a kind of rice-jelly wrapped with sasa, or the bamboo +leaves, well-known as a product of Echigo province.] +</p> + +<p> +“There seems to be no ‘sasa-ame’ in the country where +I’m going,” I explained, and she rejoined; “Then, in what +direction?” I answered “westward” and she came back with +“Is it on the other side of Hakone?” This give-and-take +conversation proved too much for me. +</p> + +<p> +On the day of my departure, she came to my room early in the morning and helped +me to pack up. She put into my carpet-bag tooth powder, tooth-brush and towels +which she said she had bought at a dry goods store on her way. I protested that +I did not want them, but she was insistent.[A] We rode in rikishas to the +station. Coming up the platform, she gazed at me from outside the car, and said +in a low voice; +</p> + +<p> +“This may be our last good-by. Take care of yourself.” +</p> + +<p> +Her eyes were full of tears. I did not cry, but was almost going to. After the +train had run some distance, thinking it would be all right now, I poked my +head out of the window and looked back. She was still there. She looked very +small. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap02"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p> +With a long, sonorous whistle the steamer which I was aboard came to a +standstill, and a boat was seen making toward us from the shore. The man rowing +the boat was stark naked, except for a piece of red cloth girt round his loins. +A barbarous place, this! though he may have been excused for it in such hot +weather as it was. The sun’s rays were strong and the water glimmered in +such strange colors as to dazzle one’s sight if gazed at it for long. I +had been told by a clerk of the ship that I was to get off here. The place +looked like a fishing village about the size of Omori. Great Scott! I +wouldn’t stay in such a hole, I thought, but I had to get out. So, down I +jumped first into the boat, and I think five or six others followed me. After +loading about four large boxes besides, the red-cloth rowed us ashore. When the +boat struck the sand, I was again the first to jump out, and right away I +accosted a skinny urchin standing nearby, asking him where the middle school +was. The kid answered blankly that he did not know. Confound the dull-head! Not +to know where the middle school was, living in such a tiny bit of a town. Then +a man wearing a rig with short, queer shaped sleeves approached me and bade me +follow. I walked after him and was taken to an inn called Minato-ya. The maids +of the inn, who gave me a disagreeable impression, chorused at sight of me; +“Please step inside.” This discouraged me in proceeding further, +and I asked them, standing at the door-way, to show me the middle school. On +being told that the middle school was about four miles away by rail, I became +still more discouraged at putting up there. I snatched my two valises from the +man with queer-shaped [B] sleeves who had guided me so far, and strode away. +The people of the inn looked after me with a dazed expression. +</p> + +<p> +The station was easily found, and a ticket bought without any fuss. The coach I +got in was about as dignified as a match-box. The train rambled on for about +five minutes, and then I had to get off. No wonder the fare was cheap; it cost +only three sen. I then hired a rikisha and arrived at the middle school, but +school was already over and nobody was there. The teacher on night-duty was out +just for a while, said the janitor,—the night-watch was taking life easy, +sure. I thought of visiting the principal, but being tired, ordered the +rikishaman to take me to a hotel. He did this with much alacrity and led me to +a hotel called Yamashiro-ya. I felt it rather amusing to find the name +Yamashiro-ya the same as that of Kantaro’s house. +</p> + +<p> +They ushered me to a dark room below the stairway. No one could stay in such a +hot place! I said I did not like such a warm room, but the maid dumped my +valises on the floor and left me, mumbling that all the other rooms were +occupied. So I took the room though it took some resolution to stand the +weltering heat. After a while the maid said the bath was ready, and I +took one. On my way back from the bathroom, I peeped about, and found +many rooms, which +looked much cooler than mine, vacant. Sunnovgun! They had lied. +By’m-by, +she fetched my supper. Although the room was hot, the meal was a deal better +than the kind I used to have in my boarding house. While waiting on me, she +questioned me where I was from, and I said, “from Tokyo.” Then she +asked; “Isn’t Tokyo a nice place?” and I shot back, +“Bet ’tis.” About the time the maid had reached the kitchen, +loud laughs were heard. There was nothing doing, so I went to bed, but could +not sleep. Not only was it hot, but noisy,—about five times noisier than +my boarding house. While snoozing, I dreamed of Kiyo. She was eating +“sasa-ame” of Echigo province without taking off the wrapper of +bamboo leaves. I tried to stop her, saying bamboo leaves may do her harm, but +she replied, “O, no, these leaves are very helpful for the health,” +and ate them with much relish. Astounded, I laughed “Ha, ha, +ha!”—and so awoke. The maid was opening the outside shutters. The +weather was just as clear as the previous day. +</p> + +<p> +I had heard once before that when travelling, one should give “tea +money” to the hotel or inn where he stops; that unless this “tea +money” is given, the hostelry would accord him rather rough treatment. It +must have been on account of my being slow in the fork over of this “tea +money” that they had huddled me into such a narrow, dark room. Likewise +my shabby clothes and the carpet bags and satin umbrella must have been +accountable for it. Took me for a piker, eh? those hayseeds! I would give them +a knocker with “tea money.” I left Tokyo with about 30 yen in my +pocket, which remained from my school expenses. Taking off the railway and +steamship fare, and other incidental expenses, I had still about 14 yen in my +pocket. I could give them all I had;—what did I care, I was going to get +a salary now. All country folk are tight-wads, and one 5-yen bill would hit +them square. Now watch and see. Having washed myself, I returned to my room and +waited, and the maid of the night before brought in my breakfast. Waiting on me +with a tray, she looked at me with a sort of sulphuric smile. Rude! Is any +parade marching on my face? I should say. Even my face is far better than that +of the maid. I intended of giving “tea money” after breakfast, but +I became disgusted, and taking out one 5-yen bill told her to take it to the +office later. The face of the maid became then shy and awkward. After the meal, +I left for the school. The maid did not have my shoes polished. +</p> + +<p> +I had had vague idea of the direction of the school as I rode to it the +previous day, so turning two or three corners, I came to the front gate. From +the gate to the entrance the walk was paved with granite. When I had passed to +the entrance in the rikisha, this walk made so outlandishly a loud noise that I +had felt coy. On my way to the school, I met a number of the students in +uniforms of cotton drill and they all entered this gate. Some of them were +taller than I and looked much stronger. When I thought of teaching fellows of +this ilk, I was impressed with a queer sort of uneasiness. My card was taken to +the principal, to whose room I was ushered at once. With scant mustache, +dark-skinned and big-eyed, the principal was a man who looked like a badger. He +studiously assumed an air of superiority, and saying he would like to see me do +my best, handed the note of appointment, stamped big, in a solemn manner. This +note I threw away into the sea on my way back to Tokyo. He said he would +introduce me to all my fellow teachers, and I was to show to each one of them +the note of appointment. What a bother! It would be far better to stick this +note up in the teachers’ room for three days instead of going through +such a monkey process. +</p> + +<p> +The teachers would not be all in the room until the bugle for the first hour +was sounded. There was plenty of time. The principal took out his watch, and +saying that he would acquaint me particularly with the school by-and-bye, he +would only furnish me now with general matters, and started a long lecture on +the spirit of education. For a while I listened to him with my mind half away +somewhere else, but about half way through his lecture, I began to realize that +I should soon be in a bad fix. I could not do, by any means, all he expected of +me. He expected that I should make myself an example to the students, should +become an object of admiration for the whole school or should exert my moral +influence, besides teaching technical knowledge in order to become a real +educator, or something ridiculously high-sounding. No man with such admirable +qualities would come so far away for only 40 yen a month! Men are generally +alike. If one gets excited, one is liable to fight, I thought, but if things +are to be kept on in the way the principal says, I could hardly open my mouth +to utter anything, nor take a stroll around the place. If they wanted me to +fill such an onerous post, they should have told all that before. I hate to +tell a lie; I would give it up as having been cheated, and get out of this mess +like a man there and then. I had only about 9 yen left in my pocket after +tipping the hotel 5 yen. Nine yen would not take me back to Tokyo. I had better +not have tipped the hotel; what a pity! However, I would be able to manage it +somehow. I considered it better to run short in my return expenses than to tell +a lie. +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot do it the way you want me to. I return this appointment.” +</p> + +<p> +I shoved back the note. The principal winked his badger-like eyes and gazed at +me. Then he said; +</p> + +<p> +“What I have said just now is what I desire of you. I know well that you +cannot do all I want. So don’t worry.” +</p> + +<p> +And he laughed. If he knew it so well already, what on earth did he scare me +for? +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the bugle sounded, being followed by bustling noises in the direction +of the class rooms. All the teachers would be now ready, I was told, and I +followed the principal to the teachers’ room. In a spacious rectangular +room, they sat each before a table lined along the walls. When I entered the +room, they all glanced at me as if by previous agreement. Did they think my +face was for a show? Then, as per instructions, I introduced myself and showed +the note to each one of them. Most of them left their chairs and made a slight +bow of acknowledgment. But some of the more painfully polite took the note and +read it and respectfully returned it to me, just like the cheap performances at +a rural show! When I came to the fifteenth, who was the teacher of physical +training, I became impatient at repeating the same old thing so often. The +other side had to do it only once, but my side had to do it fifteen times. They +ought to have had some sympathy. +</p> + +<p> +Among those I met in the room there was Mr. Blank who was head teacher. Said he +was a Bachelor of Arts. I suppose he was a great man since he was a graduate +from Imperial University and had such a title. He talked in a strangely +effeminate voice like a woman. But what surprised me most was that he wore a +flannel shirt. However thin it might be, flannel is flannel and must have been +pretty warm at that time of the year. What painstaking dress is required which +will be becoming to a B.A.! And it was a red shirt; wouldn’t that kill +you! I heard afterwards that he wears a red shirt all the year round. What a +strange affliction! According to his own explanation, he has his shirts made to +order for the sake of his health as the red color is beneficial to the physical +condition. Unnecessary worry, this, for that being the case, he should have had +his coat and hakama also in red. And there was one Mr. Koga, teacher of +English, whose complexion was very pale. Pale-faced people are usually thin, +but this man was pale and fat. When I was attending grammar school, there was +one Tami Asai in our class, and his father was just as pale as this Koga. Asai +was a farmer, and I asked Kiyo if one’s face would become pale if he took +up farming. Kiyo said it was not so; Asai ate always Hubbard squash of +“uranari” [2] and that was the reason. Thereafter when I saw any +man pale and fat, I took it for granted that it was the result of his having +eaten too much of squash of “uranari.” This English teacher was +surely subsisting upon squash. However, what the meaning of +“uranari” is, I do not know. I asked Kiyo once, but she only +laughed. Probably she did not know. Among the teachers of mathematics, there +was one named Hotta. This was a fellow of massive body, with hair closely +cropped. He looked like one of the old-time devilish priests who made the Eizan +temple famous. I showed him the note politely, but he did not even look at it, +and blurted out; +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Footnote 2: Means the last crop.] +</p> + +<p> +“You’re the man newly appointed, eh? Come and see me sometime, ha, +ha, ha!” +</p> + +<p> +Devil take his “Ha, ha, ha!” Who would go to see a fellow so void +of the sense of common decency! I gave this priest from this time the nickname +of Porcupine. +</p> + +<p> +The Confucian teacher was strict in his manner as becoming to his profession. +“Arrived yesterday? You must be tired. Start teaching already? Working +hard, indeed!”—and so on. He was an old man, quite sociable and +talkative. +</p> + +<p> +The teacher of drawing was altogether like a cheap actor. He wore a thin, +flappy haori of sukiya, and, toying with a fan, he giggled; “Where from? +eh? Tokyo? Glad to hear that. You make another of our group. I’m a Tokyo +kid myself.” +</p> + +<p> +If such a fellow prided himself on being a Tokyo kid, I wished I had never been +born in Tokyo. I might go on writing about each one of them, for there are +many, but I stop here otherwise there will be no end to it. +</p> + +<p> +When my formal introduction was over, the principal said that I might go for +the day, but I should make arrangements as to the class hours, etc., with the +head teacher of mathematics and begin teaching from the day after the morrow. +Asked who was the head teacher of mathematics, I found that he was no other +than that Porcupine. Holy smokes! was I to serve under him? I was disappointed. +</p> + +<p> +“Say, where are you stopping? Yamashiro-ya? Well, I’ll come and +talk it over.” +</p> + +<p> +So saying, Porcupine, chalk in hand, left the room to his class. That was +rather humiliating for a head-teacher to come over and see his subordinate, but +it was better than to call me over to him. +</p> + +<p> +After leaving the school, I thought of returning straight to the hotel, but as +there was nothing to do, I decided to take in a little of the town, and started +walking about following my nose. I saw prefectural building; it was an old +structure of the last century. Also I saw the barracks; they were less imposing +than those of the Azabu Regiment, Tokyo. I passed through the main street. The +width of the street is about one half that of Kagurazaka, and its aspect is +inferior. What about a castle-town of 250,000-koku Lord! Pity the fellows who +get swell-headed in such a place as a castle-town! +</p> + +<p> +While I walked about musing like this, I found myself in front of Yamashiro-ya. +The town was much narrower than I had been led to believe. +</p> + +<p> +“I think I have seen nearly all. Guess I’ll return and eat.” +And I entered the gate. The mistress of the hotel who was sitting at the +counter, jumped out of her place at my appearance and with “Are you back, +Sire!” scraped the floor with her forehead. When I took my shoes off and +stepped inside, the maid took me to an upstairs room that had became vacant. It +was a front room of 15 mats (about 90 square feet). I had never before lived in +so splendid a room as this. As it was quite uncertain when I should again be +able to occupy such a room in future, I took off my European dress, and with +only a single Japanese summer coat on, sprawled in the centre of the room in +the shape of the Japanese letter “big” (arms stretched out and legs +spread wide[D]). I found it very refreshing. +</p> + +<p> +After luncheon I at once wrote a letter to Kiyo. I hate most to write letters +because I am poor at sentence-making and also poor in my stock of words. +Neither did I have any place to which to address my letters. However, Kiyo +might be getting anxious. It would not do to let her worry lest she think the +steamer which I boarded had been wrecked and I was drowned,—so I braced +up and wrote a long one. The body of the letter was as follows: +</p> + +<p class="letter"> “Arrived yesterday. A dull place. Am sleeping in a +room of 15 mats. Tipped the hotel five yen as tea money. The house-wife of the +hotel scraped the floor with her forehead. Couldn’t sleep last night. +Dreamed Kiyo eat sasa-ame together with the bamboo-leaf wrappers. Will return +next summer. Went to the school to-day, and nicknamed all the fellows. +‘Badger’ for the principal, ‘Red Shirt’ for the +head-teacher, ‘Hubbard Squash’ for the teacher of English, +‘Porcupine’ the teacher of mathematics and ‘Clown’ for +that of drawing. Will write you many other things soon. Good bye.” +</p> + +<p> +When I finished writing the letter, I felt better and sleepy. So I slept in the +centre of the room, as I had done before, in the letter “big” shape +([D]). No dream this time, and I had a sound sleep. +</p> + +<p> +“Is this the room?”—a loud voice was heard,—a voice +which woke me up, and Porcupine entered. +</p> + +<p> +“How do you do? What you have to do in the school——” he +began talking shop as soon as I got up and rattled me much. On learning my +duties in the school, there seemed to be no difficulty, and I decided to +accept. If only such were what was expected of me, I would not be surprised +were I told to start not only two days hence but even from the following day. +The talk on business over, Porcupine said that he did not think it was my +intention to stay in such a hotel all the time, that he would find a room for +me in a good boarding house, and that I should move. +</p> + +<p> +“They wouldn’t take in another from anybody else but I can do it +right away. The sooner the better. Go and look at the room to-day, move +tomorrow and start teaching from the next day. That’ll be all nice and +settled.” +</p> + +<p> +He seemed satisfied by arranging all by himself. Indeed, I should not be able +to occupy such a room for long. I might have to blow in all of my salary for +the hotel bill and yet be short of squaring it. It was pity to leave the hotel +so soon after I had just shone with a 5-yen tip. However, it being decidedly +convenient to move and get settled early if I had to move at all, I asked +Porcupine to get that room for me. He told me then to come over with him and +see the house at any rate, and I did. The house was situated mid-way up a hill +at the end of the town, and was a quiet. The boss was said to be a dealer in +antique curios, called Ikagin, and his wife was about four years his senior. I +learned the English word “witch” when I was in middle school, and +this woman looked exactly like one. But as she was another man’s wife, +what did I care if she was a witch. Finally I decided to live in the house from +the next day. On our way back Porcupine treated me to a cup of ice-water. When +I first met him in the school, I thought him a disgustingly overbearing fellow, +but judging by the way he had looked after me so far, he appeared not so bad +after all. Only he seemed, like me, impatient by nature and of quick-temper. I +heard afterward that he was liked most by all the students in the school. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap03"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p> +My teaching began at last. When I entered the class-room and stepped upon the +platform for the first time, I felt somewhat strange. While lecturing, I +wondered if a fellow like me could keep up the profession of public instructor. +The students were noisy. Once in a while, they would holler +“Teacher!” “Teacher,”—it was “going +some.” I had been calling others “teacher” every day so far, +in the school of physics, but in calling others “teacher” and being +called one, there is a wide gap of difference. It made me feel as if some one +was tickling my soles. I am not a sneakish fellow, nor a coward; +only—it’s a pity—I lack audacity. If one calls me +“teacher” aloud, it gives me a shock similar to that of hearing the +noon-gun in Marunouchi when I was hungry. The first hour passed away in a +dashing manner. And it passed away without encountering any knotty questions. +As I returned to the teachers’ room, Porcupine asked me how it was. I +simply answered “well,” and he seemed satisfied. +</p> + +<p> +When I left the teachers’ room, chalk in hand, for the second hour class, +I felt as if I was invading the enemy’s territory. On entering the room, +I found the students for this hour were all big fellows. I am a Tokyo kid, +delicately built and small, and did not appear very impressive even in my +elevated position. If it comes to a scraping, I can hold my own even with +wrestlers, but I had no means of appearing awe-inspiring[E], merely by the aid +of my tongue, to so many as forty such big chaps before me. Believing, however, +that it would set a bad precedent to show these country fellows any weakness, I +lectured rather loudly and in brusque tone. During the first part the students +were taken aback and listened literally with their mouths open. +“That’s one on you!” I thought. Elated by my success, I kept +on in this tone, when one who looked the strongest, sitting in the middle of +the front row, stood up suddenly, and called “Teacher!” There it +goes!—I thought, and asked him what it was. +</p> + +<p> +“A-ah sa-ay, you talk too quick. A-ah ca-an’t you make it a leetle +slow? A-ah?” “A-ah ca-an’t you?” “A-ah?” +was altogether dull. +</p> + +<p> +“If I talk too fast, I’ll make it slow, but I’m a Tokyo +fellow, and can’t talk the way you do. If you don’t understand it, +better wait until you do.” +</p> + +<p> +So I answered him. In this way the second hour was closed better than I had +expected. Only, as I was about to leave the class, one of the students asked +me, “A-ah say, won’t you please do them for me?” and showed +me some problems in geometry which I was sure I could not solve. This proved to +be somewhat a damper on me. But, helpless, I told him I could not make them +out, and telling him that I would show him how next time, hastily got out of +the room. And all of them raised “Whee—ee!” Some of them were +heard saying “He doesn’t know much.” Don’t take a +teacher for an encyclopaedia! If I could work out such hard questions as these +easily, I would not be in such a backwoods town for forty yen a month. I +returned to the teachers’ room. +</p> + +<p> +“How was it this time?” asked Porcupine. I said “Umh.” +But not satisfied with “Umh” only, I added that all the students in +this school were boneheads. He put up a whimsical face. +</p> + +<p> +The third and the fourth hour and the first hour in the afternoon were more or +less the same. In all the classes I attended, I made some kind of blunder. I +realised that the profession of teaching not quite so easy a calling as might +have appeared. My teaching for the day was finished but I could not get away. I +had to wait alone until three o’clock. I understood that at three +o’clock the students of my classes would finish cleaning up the rooms and +report to me, whereupon I would go over the rooms. Then I would run through the +students’ roll, and then be free to go home. Outrageous, indeed, to keep +on chained to the school, staring at the empty space when he had nothing more +to do, even though he was “bought” by a salary! Other fellow +teachers, however, meekly submitted to the regulation, and believing it not +well for me,—a new comer—to fuss about it, I stood it. On my way +home, I appealed to Porcupine as to the absurdity of keeping me there till +three o’clock regardless of my having nothing to do in the school. He +said “Yes” and laughed. But he became serious and in an advisory +manner told me not to make many complaints about the school. +</p> + +<p> +“Talk to me only, if you want to. There are some queer guys +around.” +</p> + +<p> +As we parted at the next corner, I did not have time to hear more from him. +</p> + +<p> +On reaching my room, the boss of the house came to me saying, “Let me +serve you tea.” I expected he was going to treat me to some good tea +since he said “Let me serve you,” but he simply made himself at +home and drank my own tea. Judging by this, I thought he might be practising +“Let me serve you” during my absence. The boss said that he was +fond of antique drawings and curios and finally had decided to start in that +business. +</p> + +<p> +“You look like one quite taken about art. Suppose you begin patronizing +my business just for fun as er—connoisseur of art?” +</p> + +<p> +It was the least expected kind of solicitation. Two years ago, I went to the +Imperial Hotel (Tokyo) on an errand, and I was taken for a locksmith. When I +went to see the Daibutsu at Kamakura, having wrapped up myself from +head to toe +with a blanket, a rikisha man addressed me as “Gov’ner.” I +have been mistaken on many occasions for as many things, but none so far has +counted on me as a probable connoisseur of art. One should know better by my +appearance. Any one who aspires to be a patron of art is usually +pictured,—you may see in any drawing,—with either a hood on his +head, or carrying a tanzaku[3] in his hand. The fellow who calls me a +connoisseur of art and pretends to mean it, may be surely as crooked as a +dog’s hind legs. I told him I did not like such art-stuff, which is +usually favored by retired people. He laughed, and remarking that that nobody +liked it at first, but once in it, will find it so fascinating that he will +hardly get over it, served tea for himself and drank it in a grotesque manner. +I may say that I had asked him the night before to buy some tea for me, but I +did not like such a bitter, heavy kind. One swallow seemed to act right on my +stomach. I told him to buy a kind not so bitter as that, and he answered +“All right, Sir,” and drank another cup. The fellow seemed never to +know of having enough of anything so long as it was another man’s. After +he left the room, I prepared for the morrow and went to bed. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Footnote 3: A tanzaku is a long, narrow strip of stiff paper on which a +Japanese poem is written.] +</p> + +<p> +Everyday thereafter I attended at the school and worked as per regulations. +Every day on my return, the boss came to my room with the same old “Let +me serve you tea.” In about a week I understood the school in a general +way, and had my own idea as to the personality of the boss and his wife. I +heard from one of my fellow teachers that the first week to one month after the +receipt of the appointment worried them most as to whether they had been +favorably received among the students. I never felt anything on that score. +Blunders in the class room once in a while caused me chagrin, but in about half +an hour everything would clear out of my head. I am a fellow who, by nature, +can’t be worrying long about[F] anything even if I try to. I was +absolutely indifferent as how my blunders in the class room affected the +students, or how much further they affected the principal or the head-teacher. +As I mentioned before, I am not a fellow of much audacity to speak of, but I am +quick to give up anything when I see its finish. +</p> + +<p> +I had resolved to go elsewhere at once if the school did not suit me. In +consequence, neither Badger nor Red Shirt wielded any influence over me. And +still less did I feel like coaxing or coddling the youngsters in the class +room. +</p> + +<p> +So far it was O.K. with the school, but not so easy as that at my boarding +house. I could have stood it if it had been only the boss coming to my room +after my tea. But he would fetch many things to my room. First time he brought +in seals.[4] He displayed about ten of them before me and persuaded me to buy +them for three yen, which was very cheap, he said. Did he take me for a third +rate painter making a round of the country? I told him I did not want them. +Next time he brought in a panel picture of flowers and birds, drawn by one +Kazan or somebody. He hung it against the wall of the alcove and asked me if it +was not well done, and I echoed it looked well done. Then he started lecturing +about Kazan, that there are two Kazans, one is Kazan something and the other is +Kazan anything, and that this picture was the work of that Kazan something. +After this nonsensical lecture, he insisted that he would make it fifteen yen +for me to buy it. I declined the offer saying that I was shy of the money. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Footnote 4: Artists have several seals of stone with which to stamp on the +picture they draw as a guarantee of their personal work or for identification. +The shape and kind of seals are quite a hobby among artists, and sales or +exchange are of common occurrence.] +</p> + +<p> +“You can pay any time.” He was insistent. I settled him by telling +him of my having no intention of purchasing it even if I had the necessary +money. Again next time, he yanked in a big writing stone slab about the size of +a ridge-tile. +</p> + +<p> +“This is a tankei,”[5] he said. As he “tankeied” two or +three times, I asked for fun what was a tankei. Right away he commenced +lecturing on the subject. “There are the upper, the middle and the lower +stratum in tankei,” he said. “Most of tankei slabs to-day are made +from the upper stratum,” he continued, “but this one is surely from +the middle stratum. Look at this ‘gan.’[6] ’Tis certainly +rare to have three ‘gans’ like this. The ink-cake grates smoothly +on it. Try it, sir,”—and he pushed it towards me. I asked him how +much, and he answered that on account of its owner having brought it from China +and wishing to sell it as soon as possible, he would make it very +cheap, that I +could have it for thirty yen. I was sure he was a fool. I seemed to be able to +get through the school somehow, but I would soon give out if this “curio +siege” kept on long. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Footnote 5: Tankei is the name of a place in China where a certain kind of +stone suitable for writing purposes was produced.] +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Footnote 6: “Gan” may be understood as a kind of natural mark on +the stone peculiar to the stone from Tankei.] +</p> + +<p> +Shortly afterwards, I began to get sick of the school. One certain night, while +I was strolling about a street named Omachi, I happened to notice a sign of +noodles below of which was annotated “Tokyo” in the house next to +the post office. I am very fond of noodles. While I was in Tokyo, if I passed +by a noodle house and smelled the seasoning spices, I felt uncontrollable +temptation to go inside at any cost. Up to this time I had forgotten the noodle +on account of mathematics and antique curios, but since I had seen thus the +sign of noodles, I could hardly pass it by unnoticed. So availing myself of +this opportunity, I went in. It was not quite up to what I had judged by the +sign. Since it claimed to follow the Tokyo style, they should have tidied up a +little bit about the room. They did not either know Tokyo or have the +means,—I did not know which, but the room was miserably dirty. The +floor-mats had all seen better days and felt shaggy with sandy dust. The +sootcovered walls defied the blackest black. The ceiling was not only smoked by +the lamp black, but was so low as to force one involuntarily bend down his +neck. Only the price-list, on which was glaringly written “Noodles” +and which was pasted on the wall, was entirely new. I was certain that they +bought an old house and opened the business just two or three days before. At +the head of the price-list appeared “tempura” (noodles served with +shrimp fried in batter). +</p> + +<p> +“Say, fetch me some tempura,” I ordered in a loud voice. Then three +fellows who had been making a chewing noise together in a corner, looked in my +direction. As the room was dark I did not notice them at first. But when we +looked at each other, I found them all to be boys in our school. They +“how d’ye do’d” me and I acknowledged it. That night, +having come across the noodle after so long a time, it tasted so fine that I +ate four bowls. +</p> + +<p> +The next day as I entered the class room quite unconcernedly, I saw on the +black board written in letters so large as to take up the whole space; +“Professor Tempura.” The boys all glanced at my face and made merry +hee-haws at my cost. It was so absurd that I asked them if it was in any way +funny for me to eat tempura noodle. Thereupon one of them +said,—“But four bowls is too much.” What did they care if I +ate four bowls or five as long as I paid it with my own money,—and +speedily finishing up my class, I returned to the teachers’ room. After +ten minutes’ recess, I went to the next class, and there on the black +board was newly written quite as large as before; “Four bowls of tempura +noodles, but don’t laugh.” +</p> + +<p> +The first one did not arouse any ill-temper in me, but this time it made me +feel irritating mad. A joke carried too far becomes mischievous. It is like the +undue jealousy of some women who, like coal, look black and suggest flames. +Nobody likes it. These country simpletons, unable to differentiate upon so +delicate a boundary, would seem to be bent on pushing everything to the limit. +As they lived in such a narrow town where one has no more to see if he goes on +strolling about for one hour, and as they were capable of doing nothing better, +they were trumpeting aloud this tempura incident in quite as serious a manner +as the Russo-Japanese war. What a bunch of miserable pups! It is because they +are raised in this fashion from their boyhood that there are many punies who, +like the dwarf maple tree in the flower pot, mature gnarled and twisted. I have +no objection to laugh myself with others over innocent jokes. But how’s +this? Boys as they are, they showed a “poisonous temper.” Silently +erasing off “tempura” from the board, I questioned them if they +thought such mischief interesting, that this was a cowardly joke and if they +knew the meaning of “cowardice.” Some of them answered that to get +angry on being laughed at over one’s own doing, was cowardice. What made +them so disgusting as this? I pitied myself for coming from far off Tokyo to +teach such a lot. +</p> + +<p> +“Keep your mouth shut, and study hard,” I snapped, and started the +class. In the next class again there was written: “When one eats tempura +noodles it makes him drawl nonsense.” There seemed no end to it. I was +thoroughly aroused with anger, and declaring that I would not teach such +sassies, went home straight. The boys were glad of having an unexpected +holiday, so I heard. When things had come to this pass, the antique curious +seemed far more preferable to the school. +</p> + +<p> +My return home and sleep over night greatly rounded off my rugged temper over +the tempura affair. I went to the school, and they were there also. I could not +tell what was what. The three days thereafter were pacific, and on the night of +the fourth day, I went to a suburb called Sumida and ate “dango” +(small balls made of glutinous rice, dressed with sugar-paste). Sumida is a +town where there are restaurants, hot-springs bath houses and a park, and in +addition, the “tenderloin.” The dango shop where I went was near +the entrance to the tenderloin, and as the dango served there was widely known +for its nice taste, I dropped in on my way back from my bath. As I did not meet +any students this time, I thought nobody knew of it, but when I entered the +first hour class next day, I found written on the black board; “Two +dishes of dango—7 sen.” It is true that I ate two dishes and paid +seven sen. Troublesome kids! I declare. I expected with certainty that there +would be something at the second hour, and there it was; “The dango in +the tenderloin taste fine.” Stupid wretches! +</p> + +<p> +No sooner I thought the dango incident closed than the red towel +became the +topic for widespread gossip. Inquiry as to the story revealed it to be +something unusually absurd. Since my arrival here, I had made it a +part of my +routine to take in the hot springs bath every day. While there was nothing in +this town which compared favorably with Tokyo, the hot springs were worthy of +praise. So long as I was in the town, I decided that I would have a dip every +day, and went there walking, partly for physical exercise, before my supper. +And whenever I went there I used to carry a large-size European towel dangling +from my hand. Added to somewhat reddish color the towel had acquired by its +having been soaked in the hot-springs, the red color on its border, which was +not fast enough, streaked about so that the towel now looked as if it were dyed +red. This towel hung down from my hand on both ways whether afoot or riding in +the train. For this reason, the students nicknamed me Red Towel. Honest, it is +exasperating to live in a little town. +</p> + +<p> +There is some more. The bath house I patronized was a newly built three-story +house, and for the patrons of the first class the house provided a bath-robe, +in addition to an attendant, and the cost was only eight sen. On top of that, a +maid would serve tea in a regular polite fashion. I always paid the first +class. Then those gossipy spotters started saying that for one who made only +forty yen a month to take a first class bath every day was extravagant. Why the +devil should they care? It was none of their business. +</p> + +<p> +There is still some more. The bath-tub,—or the tank in this +case,—was built of granite, and measured about thirty square feet. +Usually there were thirteen or fourteen people in the tank, but sometimes there +was none. As the water came up clear to the breast, I enjoyed, for athletic +purposes, swimming in the tank. I delighted in swimming in this 30-square feet +tank, taking chances of the total absence of other people. Once, going +downstairs from the third story with a light heart, and peeping through the +entrance of the tank to see if I should be able to swim, I noticed a sign put +up in which was boldly written: “No swimming allowed in the tank.” +As there may not have been many who swam in the tank, this notice was probably +put up particularly for my sake. After that I gave up swimming. But although I +gave up swimming, I was surprised, when I went to the school, to see on the +board, as usual, written: “No swimming allowed in the tank.” It +seemed as if all the students united in tracking me everywhere. They made me +sick. I was not a fellow to stop doing whatever I had started upon no matter +what students might say, but I became thoroughly disgusted when I meditated on +why I had come to such a narrow, suffocating place. And, then, when I returned +home, the “antique curio siege” was still going on. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap04"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p> +For us teachers there was a duty of night watch in the school, and we had to do +it in turn. But Badger and Red Shirt were not in it. On asking why these two +were exempt from this duty, I was told that they were accorded by the +government treatment similar to officials of “Sonin” rank. Oh, +fudge! They were paid more, worked less, and were then excused from this night +watch. It was not fair. They made regulations to suit their convenience and +seemed to regard all this as a matter of course. How could they be so brazen +faced as this! I was greatly dissatisfied relative to this question, but +according to the opinion of Porcupine, protests by a single person, with what +insistency they may be made, will not be heard. They ought to be heard whether +they are made by one person or by two if they are just. Porcupine remonstrated +with me by quoting “Might is right” in English. I did not catch his +point, so I asked him again, and he told me that it meant the right of the +stronger. If it was the right of the stronger I had known it for long, and did +not require Porcupine explain that to me at this time. The right of the +stronger was a question different from that of the night watch. Who would agree +that Badger and Red Shirt were the stronger? But argument or no argument, the +turn of this night watch at last fell upon me. Being quite fastidious, I never +enjoyed sound sleep unless I slept comfortably in my own bedding. From my +childhood, I never stayed out overnight. When I did not find sleeping under the +roof of my friends inviting, night watch in the school, you may be sure, was +still worse. However repulsive, if this was a part of the forty yen a month, +there was no alternative. I had to do it. +</p> + +<p> +To remain alone in the school after the faculty and students had gone home, was +something particularly awkward. The room for the night watch was in the rear of +the school building at the west end of the dormitory. I stepped inside to see +how it was, and finding it squarely facing the setting sun, I thought I would +melt. In spite of autumn having already set in, the hot spell still lingered, +quite in keeping with the dilly-dally atmosphere of the country. I ordered the +same kind of meal as served for the students, and finished my supper. The meal +was unspeakably poor. It was a wonder they could subsist on such miserable +stuff and keep on “roughing it” in that lively fashion. Not only +that, they were always hungry for supper, finishing it at 4.30 in the +afternoon. They must be heroes in a sense. I had thus my supper, but the sun +being still high, could not go to bed yet. I felt like going to the +hot-springs. I did not know the wrong or right of night watch going out, but it +was oppressively trying to stand a life akin to heavy imprisonment. When I +called at the school the first time and inquired about night watch, I was told +by the janitor that he had just gone out and I thought it strange. But now by +taking the turn of night watch myself, I could fathom the situation; it was +right for any night watch to go out. I told the janitor that I was going out +for a minute. He asked me “on business?” and I answered +“No,” but to take a bath at the hot springs, and went out straight. +It was too bad that I had left my red towel at home, but I would borrow one +over there for to-day. +</p> + +<p> +I took plenty of time in dipping in the bath and as it became dark at last, I +came to the Furumachi Station on a train. It was only about four blocks to the +school; I could cover it in no time. When I started walking schoolwards, Badger +was seen coming from the opposite direction. Badger, I presumed, was going to +the hot springs by this train. He came with brisk steps, and as we passed by, I +nodded my courtesy. Then Badger, with a studiously owlish countenance, asked: +</p> + +<p> +“Am I wrong to understand that you are night watch?” +</p> + +<p> +Chuck that “Am-I-wrong-to-understand”! Two hours ago, did he not +say to me “You’re on first night watch to-night. Now, take care of +yourself?” What makes one use such a roundabout, twisted way of saying +anything when he becomes a principal? I was far from smiling. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Sir,” I said, “I’m night watch to-night, and as I +am night watch I will return to the school and stay there overnight, +sure.” With this parting shot, I left him where we met. Coming then to +the cross-streets of Katamachi, I met Porcupine. This is a narrow place, I tell +you. Whenever one ventures out, he is sure to come across some familiar face. +</p> + +<p> +“Say, aren’t you night watch?” he hallooed, and I said +“Yes, I am.” “Tis wrong for night watch to leave his post at +his pleasure,” he added, and to this I blurted out with a bold front; +“Nothing wrong at all. It is wrong not to go out.” +</p> + +<p> +“Say, old man, your slap-dash is going to the limit. Wouldn’t look +well for the principal or the head teacher to see you out like this.” +</p> + +<p> +The submissive tone of his remark was contrary to Porcupine as I had known him +so far, so I cut him short by saying: +</p> + +<p> +“I have met the principal just now. Why, he approved my taking a stroll +about the town. Said it would be hard on night watch unless he took a walk when +it is hot.” Then I made a bee-line for the school. +</p> + +<p> +Soon it was night. I called the janitor to my room and had a chat for about two +hours. I grew tired of this, and thought I would get into bed anyway, even if I +could not sleep. I put on my night shirt, lifted the mosquito-net, rolled off +the red blanket and fell down flat on my back with a bang. The making of this +bumping noise when I go to bed is my habit from my boyhood. “It is a bad +habit,” once declared a student of a law school who lived on the ground +floor, and I on the second, when I was in the boarding house at Ogawa-machi, +Kanda-ku, and who brought complaints to my room in person. Students of law +schools, weaklings as they are, have double the ability of ordinary persons +when it comes to talking. As this student of law dwelt long on absurd +accusations, I downed him by answering that the noise made when I went to bed +was not the fault of my hip, but that of the house which was not built on a +solid base, and that if he had any fuss to make, make it to the house, not to +me. This room for night watch was not on the second floor, so nobody cared how +much I banged. I do not feel well-rested unless I go to bed with the loudest +bang I can make. +</p> + +<p> +“This is bully!” and I straightened out my feet, when something +jumped and clung to them. They felt coarse, and seemed not to be fleas. I was a +bit surprised, and shook my feet inside the blanket two or three times. +Instantly the blamed thing increased,—five or six of them on my legs, two +or three on the thighs, one crushed beneath my hip and another clear up to my +belly. The shock became greater. Up I jumped, took off the blanket, and about +fifty to sixty grasshoppers flew out. I was more or less uneasy until I found +out what they were, but now I saw they were grasshoppers, they set me on the +war path. “You insignificant grasshoppers, startling a man! See +what’s coming to you!” With this I slapped them with my pillow +twice or thrice, but the objects being so small, the effect was out of +proportion to the force with which the blows were administered. I adopted a +different plan. In the manner of beating floor-mats with rolled matting at +house-cleaning, I sat up in bed and began beating them with the pillow. Many of +them flew up by the force of the pillow; some desperately clung on or shot +against my nose or head. I could not very well hit those on my head with the +pillow; I grabbed such, and dashed them on the floor. What was more provoking +was that no matter how hard I dashed them, they landed on the mosquito-net +where they made a fluffy jerk and remained, far from being dead. At last, in +about half an hour the slaughter of the grasshoppers was ended. I fetched a +broom and swept them out. The janitor came along and asked what was the matter. +</p> + +<p> +“Damn the matter! Where in thunder are the fools who keep grasshoppers in +bed! You pumpkinhead!” +</p> + +<p> +The janitor answered by explaining that he did not know anything about it. +“You can’t get away with Did-not-know,” and I followed this +thundering by throwing away the broom. The awe-struck janitor shouldered the +broom and faded away. +</p> + +<p> +At once I summoned three of the students to my room as the +“representatives,” and six of them reported. Six or ten made no +difference; I rolled up the sleeves of my night-shirt and fired away. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you mean by putting grasshoppers in my bed!” +</p> + +<p> +“Grasshoppers? What are they?” said one in front, in a tone +disgustingly quiet. In this school, not only the principal, but the students as +well, were addicted to using twisted-round expressions. +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t know grasshoppers! You shall see!” To my chagrin, +there was none; I had swept them all out. I called the janitor again and told +him to fetch those grasshoppers he had taken away. The janitor said he had +thrown them into the garbage box, but that he would pick them out again. +“Yes, hurry up,” I said, and he sped away. After a while he brought +back about ten grasshoppers on a white paper, remarking: +</p> + +<p> +“I’m sorry, Sir. It’s dark outside and I can’t find out +more. I’ll find some tomorrow.” All fools here, down to the +janitor. I showed one grasshopper to the students. +</p> + +<p> +“This is a grasshopper. What’s the matter for as big idiots as you +not to know a grasshopper.” Then the one with a round face sitting on the +left saucily shot back: +</p> + +<p> +“A-ah say, that’s a locust, a-ah——.” +</p> + +<p> +“Shut up. They’re the same thing. In the first place, what do you +mean by answering your teacher ‘A-ah say’? Ah-Say or Ah-Sing is a +Chink’s name!” +</p> + +<p> +For this counter-shot, he answered: +</p> + +<p> +“A-ah say and Ah-Sing is different,—A-ah say.” They never got +rid of “A-ah say.” +</p> + +<p> +“Grasshoppers or locusts, why did you put them into my bed? When I asked +you to?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nobody put them in.” +</p> + +<p> +“If not, how could they get into the bed?” +</p> + +<p> +“Locusts are fond of warm places and probably they got in there +respectfully by themselves.” +</p> + +<p> +“You fools! Grasshoppers getting into bed respectfully! I should smile at +them getting in there respectfully! Now, what’s the reason for doing this +mischief? Speak out.” +</p> + +<p> +“But there is no way to explain it because we didn’t do it.” +</p> + +<p> +Shrimps! If they were afraid of making a clean breast of their own deed, they +should not have done it at all. They looked defiant, and appeared to insist on +their innocence as long as no evidence was brought up. I myself did some +mischief while in the middle school, but when the culprit was sought after, I +was never so cowardly, not even once, to back out. What one has done, has been +done; what he has not, has not been,—that’s the black and white of +it. I, for one have been game and square, no matter how much mischief I might +have done. If I wished to dodge the punishment, I would not start it. Mischief +and punishment are bound to go together. We can enjoy mischief-making with some +show of spirit because it is accompanied by certain consequences. Where does +one expect to see the dastardly spirit which hungers for mischief-making +without punishment, in vogue? The fellows who like to borrow money but not pay +it back, are surely such as these students here after they are graduated. What +did these fellows come to this middle school for, anyway? They enter a school, +tattle round lies, play silly jokes behind some one by sneaking and cheating +and get wrongly swell-headed when they finish the school thinking they have +received an education. A common lot of jackasses they are. +</p> + +<p> +My hatred of talking with these scamps became intense, so I dismissed them by +saying: +</p> + +<p> +“If you fellows have nothing to say, let it go at that. You deserve pity +for not knowing the decent from the vulgar after coming to a middle +school.” +</p> + +<p> +I am not very decent in my own language or manner, but am sure that my moral +standard is far more decent than that of these gangs. Those six boys filed out +leisurely. Outwardly they appeared more dignified than I their +teacher. It was +the more repulsive for their calm behavior. I have no temerity equal to theirs. +Then I went to bed again, and found the inside of the net full of merry crowds +of mosquitoes. I could not bother myself to burn one by one with a candle +flame. So I took the net off the hooks, folded it the lengthwise, and shook it +crossways, up and down the room. One of the rings of the net, flying round, +accidentally hit the back of my hand, the effect of which I did not soon +forget. When I went to bed for the third time, I cooled off a little, but could +not sleep easily. My watch showed it was half past ten. Well, as I thought it +over, I realized myself as having come to a dirty pit. If all teachers of +middle schools everywhere have to handle fellows like these in this school, +those teachers have my sympathy. It is wonderful that teachers never run short. +I believe there are many boneheads of extraordinary patience; but me for +something else. In this respect, Kiyo is worthy of admiration. She is an old +woman, with neither education nor social position, but as a human, she does +more to command our respect. Until now, I have been a trouble to her without +appreciating her goodness, but having come alone to such a far-off country, I +now appreciated, for the first time, her kindness. If she is fond of sasa-ame +of Echigo province, and if I go to Echigo for the purpose of buying that +sweetmeat to let her eat it, she is fully worth that trouble. Kiyo has been +praising me as unselfish and straight, but she is a person of sterling +qualities far more than I whom she praises. I began to feel like meeting her. +</p> + +<p> +While I was thus meditating about Kiyo, all of a sudden, on the floor above my +head, about thirty to forty people, if I guess by the number, started stamping +the floor with bang, bang, bang that well threatened to bang down the floor. +This was followed by proportionately loud whoops. The noise surprised me, and I +popped up. The moment I got up I became aware that the students were starting a +rough house to get even with me. What wrong one has committed, he has to +confess, or his offence is never atoned for. They are just to ask for +themselves what crimes they have done. It should be proper that they repent +their folly after going to bed and to come and beg me pardon the next morning. +Even if they could not go so far as to apologize they should have kept quiet. +Then what does this racket mean? Were we keeping hogs in our +dormitory? +</p> + +<p> +“This crazy thing got to stop. See what you get!” +</p> + +<p> +I ran out of the room in my night shirt, and flew upstairs in three and half +steps. Then, strange to say, the thunderous rumbling, of which I was +sure of +hearing in the act, was hushed. Not only a whisper but even footsteps were not +heard. This was funny. The lamp was already blown out and although I could not +see what was what in the dark, nevertheless could tell by instinct whether +there was somebody around or not. In the long corridor running from the east to +the west, there was not hiding even a mouse. From other end of the corridor the +moonlight flooded in and about there it was particularly light. The scene was +somewhat uncanny. I have had the habit from my boyhood of frequently dreaming +and of flying out of bed and of muttering things which nobody understood, +affording everybody a hearty laugh. One night, when I was sixteen or seventeen, +I dreamed that I picked up a diamond, and getting up, demanded of my brother +who was sleeping close to me what he had done with that diamond. The demand was +made with such force that for about three days all in the house chaffed me +about the fatal loss of precious stone, much to my humiliation. Maybe this +noise which I heard was but a dream, although I was sure it was real. I was +wondering thus in the middle of the corridor, when at the further end where it +was moonlit, a roar was raised, coming from about thirty or forty throats, +“One, two, three,—Whee-ee!” The roar had hardly subsided, +when, as before, the stamping of the floor commenced with furious rhythm. Ah, +it was not a dream, but a real thing! +</p> + +<p> +“Quit making the noise! ’Tis midnight!” +</p> + +<p> +I shouted to beat the band, and started in their direction. My passage was +dark; the moonlight yonder was only my guide. About twelve feet past, I +stumbled squarely against some hard object; ere the “Ouch!” has +passed clear up to my head, I was thrown down. I called all kinds of gods, but +could not run. My mind urged me on to hurry up, but my leg would not obey the +command. Growing impatient, I hobbled on one foot, and found both voice and +stamping already ceased and perfectly quiet. Men can be cowards but I never +expected them capable of becoming such dastardly cowards as this. They +challenged hogs. +</p> + +<p> +Now the situation having developed to this pretty mess, I would not give it up +until I had dragged them out from hiding and forced them to apologize. With +this determination, I tried to open one of the doors and examine inside, but it +would not open. It was locked or held fast with a pile of tables or something; +to my persistent efforts the door stood unyielding. Then I tried one across the +corridor on the northside, but it was also locked. While this irritating +attempt at door-opening was going on, again on the east end of the corridor the +whooping roar and rhythmic stamping of feet were heard. The fools at both ends +were bent on making a goose of me. I realized this, but then I was at a loss +what to do. I frankly confess that I have not quite as much tact as dashing +spirit. In such a case I am wholly at the mercy of swaying circumstances +without my own way of getting through it. Nevertheless, I do not expect to play +the part of underdog. If I dropped the affair then and there, it would reflect +upon my dignity. It would be mortifying to have them think that they had one on +the Tokyo-kid and that Tokyo-kid was wanting in tenacity. To have it on record +that I had been guyed by these insignificant spawn when on night watch, and had +to give in to their impudence because I could not handle them,—this would +be an indelible disgrace on my life. Mark ye,—I am descendant of a +samurai of the “hatamoto” class. The blood of the +“hatamoto” samurai could be traced to Mitsunaka Tada, who in turn +could claim still a nobler ancestor. I am different from, and nobler than, +these manure-smelling louts. The only pity is that I am rather short of tact; +that I do not know what to do in such a case. That is the trouble. But I would +not throw up the sponge; not on your life! I only do not know how because I am +honest. Just think,—if the honest does not win, what else is there in +this world that will win? If I cannot beat them to-night, I will tomorrow; if +not tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow. If not the day after tomorrow, I +will sit down right here, get my meals from my home until I beat them. +</p> + +<p> +Thus resolved, I squatted in the middle of the corridor and waited for the +dawn. Myriads of mosquitoes swarmed about me, but I did not mind them. I felt +my leg where I hit it a while ago; it seemed bespattered with something greasy. +I thought it was bleeding. Let it bleed all it cares! Meanwhile, exhausted by +these unwonted affairs, I fell asleep. When I awoke, up I jumped with a curse. +The door on my right was half opened, and two students were standing in front +of me. The moment I recovered my senses from the drowsy lull, I grabbed a leg +of one of them nearest to me, and yanked it with all my might. He fell down +prone. Look at what you’re getting now! I flew at the other fellow, who +was much confused; gave him vigorous shaking twice or thrice, and he only kept +open his bewildering eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Come up to my room.” Evidently they were mollycoddles, for they +obeyed my command without a murmur. The day had become already clear. +</p> + +<p> +I began questioning those two in my room, but,—you cannot pound out the +leopard’s spots no matter how you may try,—they seemed determined +to push it through by an insistent declaration of “not guilty,” +that they would not confess. While this questioning was going on, the students +upstairs came down, one by one, and began congregating in my room. I noticed +all their eyes were swollen from want of sleep. +</p> + +<p> +“Blooming nice faces you got for not sleeping only one night. And you +call yourselves men! Go, wash your face and come back to hear what I’ve +got to tell you.” +</p> + +<p> +I hurled this shot at them, but none of them went to wash his face. For about +one hour, I had been talking and back-talking with about fifty students when +suddenly Badger put in his appearance. I heard afterward that the janitor ran +to Badger for the purpose of reporting to him that there was a trouble in the +school. What a weak-knee of the janitor to fetch the principal for so trifling +an affair as this! No wonder he cannot see better times than a janitor. +</p> + +<p> +The principal listened to my explanation, and also to brief remarks from the +students. “Attend school as usual till further notice. Hurry up with +washing your face and breakfast; there isn’t much time left.” So +the principal let go all the students. Decidedly slow way of handling, this. If +I were the principal, I would expel them right away. It is because the school +accords them such luke-warm treatment that they get “fresh” and +start “guying” the night watch. +</p> + +<p> +He said to me that it must have been trying on my nerves, and that I might be +tired, and also that I need not teach that day. To this I replied: +</p> + +<p> +“No, Sir, no worrying at all. Such things may happen every night, but it +would not disturb me in the least as long as I breathe. I will do the teaching. +If I were not able to teach on account of lack of sleep for only one single +night, I would make a rebate of my salary to the school.” +</p> + +<p> +I do not know how this impressed him, but he gazed at me for a while, and +called my attention to the fact that my face was rather swollen. Indeed, I felt +it heavy. Besides, it itched all over. I was sure the mosquitoes must have +stung me there to their hearts’ content. I further added: +</p> + +<p> +“My face may be swollen, but I can talk all right; so I will +teach;” thus scratching my face with some warmth. The principal smiled +and remarked, “Well, you have the strength.” To tell the truth, he +did not intend remark to be a compliment, but, I think, a sneer. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap05"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p> +“Won’t you go fishing?” asked Red Shirt. He talks in +a +strangely womanish voice. One would not be able to tell whether he was a man or +a woman. As a man he should talk like one. Is he not a college graduate? I can +talk man-like enough, and am a graduate from a school of physics at that. It is +a shame for a B.A. to have such a squeak. +</p> + +<p> +I answered with the smallest enthusiasm, whereupon he further asked me an +impolite question if I ever did fishing. I told him not much, that I once +caught three gibels when I was a boy, at a fishing game pond at Koume, and that +I also caught a carp about eight inches long, at a similar game at the festival +of Bishamon at Kagurazaka;—the carp, just as I was coaxing it out of the +water, splashed back into it, and when I think of the incident I feel mortified +at the loss even now. Red Shirt stuck out his chin and laughed “ho, +ho.” Why could he not laugh just like an ordinary person? “Then you +are not well acquainted with the spirit of the game,” he cried. +“I’ll show you if you like.” He seemed highly elated. +</p> + +<p> +Not for me! I take it this way that generally those who are fond of fishing or +shooting have cruel hearts. Otherwise, there is no reason why they could derive +pleasure in murdering innocent creatures. Surely, fish and birds would prefer +living to getting killed. Except those who make fishing or shooting their +calling, it is nonsense for those who are well off to say that they cannot +sleep well unless they seek the lives of fish or birds. This was the way I +looked at the question, but as he was a B. A. and would have a better command +of language when it came to talking, I kept mum, knowing he would beat me in +argument. Red Shirt mistook my silence for my surrender, and began to induce me +to join him right away, saying he would show me some fish and I should come +with him if I was not busy, because he and Mr. Yoshikawa were lonesome when +alone. Mr. Yoshikawa is the teacher of drawing whom I had nicknamed Clown. I +don’t know what’s in the mind of this Clown, but he was a constant +visitor at the house of Red Shirt, and wherever he went, Clown was sure to be +trailing after him. They appeared more like master and servant than two fellow +teachers. As Clown used to follow Red Shirt like a shadow, it would be natural +to see them go off together now, but when those two alone would have been well +off, why should they invite me,—this brusque, unaesthetic +fellow,—was hard to understand. Probably, vain of his fishing ability, he +desired to show his skill, but he aimed at the wrong mark, if that was his +intention, as nothing of the kind would touch me. I would not be chagrined if +he fishes out two or three tunnies. I am a man myself and poor though I may be +in the art, I would hook something if I dropped a line. If I declined his +invitation, Red Shirt would suspect that I refused not because of my lack of +interest in the game but because of my want of skill of fishing. I weighed the +matter thus, and accepted his invitation. After the school, I returned home and +got ready, and having joined Red Shirt and Clown at the station, we three +started to the shore. There was only one boatman to row; the boat was long and +narrow, a kind we do not have in Tokyo. I looked for fishing rods but could +find none. +</p> + +<p> +“How can we fish without rods? How are we going to manage it?” I +asked Clown and he told me with the air of a professional fisherman that no +rods were needed in the deep-sea fishing, but only lines. I had better not +asked him if I was to be talked down in this way. +</p> + +<p> +The boatman was rowing very slowly, but his skill was something wonderful. We +had already come far out to sea, and on turning back, saw the shore minimized, +fading in far distance. The five-storied pagoda of Tosho Temple appeared above +the surrounding woods like a needle-point. Yonder stood Aoshima (Blue Island). +Nobody was living on this island which a closer view showed to be covered with +stones and pine trees. No wonder no one could live there. Red Shirt was +intently surveying about and praising the general view as fine. Clown also +termed it “an absolutely fine view.” I don’t know whether it +is so fine as to be absolute, but there was no doubt as to the exhilarating +air. I realized it as the best tonic to be thus blown by the fresh sea breeze +upon a wide expanse of water. I felt hungry. +</p> + +<p> +“Look at that pine; its trunk is straight and spreads its top branches +like an umbrella. Isn’t it a Turnersque picture?” said Red Shirt. +“Yes, just like Turner’s,” responded Clown, +“Isn’t the way it curves just elegant? Exactly the touch of +Turner,” he added with some show of pride. I didn’t know what +Turner was, but as I could get along without knowing it, I kept silent. The +boat turned to the left with the island on the right. The sea was so perfectly +calm as to tempt one to think he was not on the deep sea. The pleasant occasion +was a credit to Red Shirt. As I wished, if possible, to land on the island, I +asked the boatman if our boat could not be made to it. Upon this Red Shirt +objected, saying that we could do so but it was not advisable to go too close +the shore for fishing. I kept still for a while. Then Clown made the +unlooked-for proposal that the island be named Turner Island. +“That’s good. We shall call it so hereafter,” +seconded Red +Shirt. If I was included in that “We,” it was something I least +cared for. Aoshima was good enough for me. “By the way, how would it +look,” said Clown, “if we place Madonna by Raphael upon that rock? +It would make a fine picture.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let’s quit talking about Madonna, ho, ho, ho,” and Red Shirt +emitted a spooky laugh. +</p> + +<p> +“That’s all right. Nobody’s around,” remarked Clown as +he glanced at me, and turning his face to other direction significantly, smiled +devilishly. I felt sickened. +</p> + +<p> +As it was none of my business whether it was a Madonna or a kodanna (young +master), they let pose there any old way, but it was vulgar to feign assurance +that one’s subject is in no danger of being understood so long as others +did not know the subject. Clown claims himself as a Yedo kid. I thought that +the person called Madonna was no other than a favorite geisha of Red Shirt. I +should smile at the idea of his gazing at his tootsy-wootsy standing beneath a +pine tree. It would be better if Clown would make an oil painting of the scene +and exhibit it for the public. +</p> + +<p> +“This will be about the best place.” So saying the boatman stopped +rowing the boat and dropped an anchor. +</p> + +<p> +“How deep is it?” asked Red Shirt, and was told about six fathoms. +</p> + +<p> +“Hard to fish sea-breams in six fathoms,” said Red Shirt as he +dropped a line into the water. The old sport appeared to expect to fetch some +bream. Bravo! +</p> + +<p> +“It wouldn’t be hard for you. Besides it is calm,” Clown +fawningly remarked, and he too dropped a line. The line had only a tiny bit of +lead that looked like a weight. It had no float. To fish without a float seemed +as nearly reasonable as to measure the heat without a thermometer, which was +something impossible for me. So I looked on. They then told me to start, and +asked me if I had any line. I told them I had more than I could use, but that I +had no float. +</p> + +<p> +“To say that one is unable to fish without a float shows that he is a +novice,” piped up Clown. +</p> + +<p> +“See? When the line touches the bottom, you just manage it with your +finger on the edge. If a fish bites, you could tell in a minute. There it +goes,” and Red Shirt hastily started taking out the line. I wondered what +he had got, but I saw no fish, only the bait was gone. Ha, good for you, +Gov’nur! +</p> + +<p> +“Wasn’t it too bad! I’m sure it was a big one. If you miss +that way, with your ability, we would have to keep a sharper watch to-day. But, +say, even if we miss the fish, it’s far better than staring at a float, +isn’t it? Just like saying he can’t ride a bike without a +brake.” Clown has been getting rather gay, and I was almost tempted to +swat him. I’m just as good as they are. The sea isn’t leased by Red +Shirt, and there might be one obliging bonito which might get caught by my +line. I dropped my line then, and toyed it with my finger carelessly. +</p> + +<p> +After a while something shook my line with successive jerks. I thought it must +be a fish. Unless it was something living, it would not give that tremulous +shaking. Good! I have it, and I commenced drawing in the line, while Clown +jibed me “What? Caught one already? Very remarkable, indeed!” I had +drawn in nearly all the line, leaving only about five feet in the water. I +peeped over and saw a fish that looked like a gold fish with stripes was coming +up swimming to right and left. It was interesting. On taking it out of the +water, it wriggled and jumped, and covered my face with water. After some +effort, I had it and tried to detach the hook, but it would not come out +easily. My hands became greasy and the sense was anything but pleasing. I was +irritated; I swung the line and banged the fish against the bottom of the boat. +It speedily died. Red Shirt and Clown watched me with surprise. I washed my +hands in the water but they still smelled “fishy.” No more for me! +I don’t care what fish I might get, I don’t want to grab a fish. +And I presume the fish doesn’t want to be grabbed either. I hastily +rolled up the line. +</p> + +<p> +“Splendid for the first honor, but that’s goruki,” Clown +again made a “fresh” remark. +</p> + +<p> +“Goruki sounds like the name of a Russian literator,” said Red +Shirt. “Yes, just like a Russian literator,” Clown at once seconded +Red Shirt. Gorky for a Russian literator, Maruki a photographer of Shibaku, and +komeno-naruki (rice) a life-giver, eh? This Red Shirt has a bad hobby of +marshalling before anybody the name of foreigners. Everybody has his specialty. +How could a teacher of mathematics like me tell whether it is a Gorky or +shariki (rikishaman). Red Shirt should have been a little more considerate. And +if he wants to mention such names at all, let him mention “Autobiography +of Ben Franklin,” or “Pushing to the Front,” or something we +all know. Red Shirt has been seen once in a while bringing a magazine with a +red cover entitled Imperial Literature to the school and poring over it with +reverence. I heard it from Porcupine that Red Shirt gets his supply of all +foreign names from that magazine. Well, I should say! +</p> + +<p> +For some time, Red Shirt and Clown fished assiduously and within about an hour +they caught about fifteen fish. The funny part of it was that all they caught +were goruki; of sea-bream there was not a sign. +</p> + +<p> +“This is a day of bumper crop of Russian literature,” Red Shirt +said, and Clown answered: +</p> + +<p> +“When one as skilled as you gets nothing but goruki, it’s natural +for me to get nothing else.” +</p> + +<p> +The boatman told me that this small-sized fish goruki has too many tiny bones +and tastes too poor to be fit for eating, but they could be used for +fertilising. So Red Shirt and Clown were fishing fertilisers with vim and +vigor. As for me, one goruki was enough and I laid down myself on the bottom, +and looked up at the sky. This was far more dandy than fishing. +</p> + +<p> +Then the two began whispering. I could not hear well, nor did I care to. I was +looking up at the sky and thinking about Kiyo. If I had enough of money, I +thought, and came with Kiyo to such a picturesque place, how joyous it would +be. No matter how picturesque the scene might be, it would be flat in the +company of Clown or of his kind. Kiyo is a poor wrinkled woman, but I am not +ashamed to take her to any old place. Clown or his likes, even in a Victoria or +a yacht, or in a sky-high position, would not be worthy to come within her +shadow. If I were the head teacher, and Red Shirt I, Clown would be sure to +fawn on me and jeer at Red Shirt. They say Yedo kids are flippant. Indeed, if a +fellow like Clown was to travel the country and repeatedly declare “I am +a Yedo kid,” no wonder the country folk would decide that the flippant +are Yedo kids and Yedo kids are flippant. While I was meditating like this, I +heard suppressed laughter. Between their laughs they talked something, but I +could not make out what they were talking about. “Eh? I don’t +know……” “…… That’s true …… he doesn’t know …… +isn’t it pity, though …….” “Can that be…….” “With +grasshoppers …… that’s a fact.” +</p> + +<p> +I did not listen to what they were talking, but when I heard Clown say +“grasshoppers,” I cocked my ear instinctively. Clown emphasized, +for what reason I do not know the word “grasshopers” so that it +would be sure to reach my ear plainly, and he blurred the rest on purpose. I +did not move, and kept on listening. “That same old Hotta,” +“that may be the case….” “Tempura …… ha, ha, ha ……” +“…… incited ……” “…… dango also? ……” +</p> + +<p> +The words were thus choppy, but judging by their saying +“grasshoppers,” “tempura” or “dango,” I was +sure they were secretly talking something about me. If they wanted to talk, +they should do it louder. If they wanted to discuss something secret, why in +thunder did they invite me? What damnable blokes! Grasshoppers or +glass-stoppers, I was not in the wrong; I have kept quiet to save the face of +Badger because the principal asked me to leave the matter to him. +Clown has +been making unnecessary criticisms; out with your old paint-brushes there! +Whatever concerns me, I will settle it myself sooner or later, and they had +just to keep off my toes. But remarks such as “the same old Hotta” +or “…… incited ……” worried me a bit. I could not make out whether +they meant that Hotta incited me to extend the circle of the trouble, or that +he incited the students to get at me. As I gazed at the blue sky, the sunlight +gradually waned and chilly winds commenced stirring. The clouds that resembled +the streaky smokes of joss sticks were slowly extending over a clear sky, and +by degrees they were absorbed, melted and changed to a faint fog. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, let’s be going,” said Red Shirt suddenly. “Yes, +this is the time we were going. See your Madonna to-night?” responded +Clown. “Cut out nonsense …… might mean a serious trouble,” said Red +Shirt who was reclining against the edge of the boat, now raising himself. +“O, that’s all right if he hears ...,” and when +Clown, so +saying, turned himself my way, I glared squarely in his face. Clown turned back +as if to keep away from a dazzling light, and with “Ha, this is going +some,” shrugged his shoulders and scratched his head. +</p> + +<p> +The boat was now being rowed shore-ward over the calm sea. “You +don’t seem much fond of fishing,” asked Red Shirt. “No, +I’d rather prefer lying and looking at the sky,” I answered, and +threw the stub of cigarette I had been smoking into the water; it sizzled and +floated on the waves parted by the oar. +</p> + +<p> +“The students are all glad because you have come. So we want you do your +best.” Red Shirt this time started something quite alien to fishing. +“I don’t think they are,” I said. “Yes; I don’t +mean it as flattery. They are, sure. Isn’t it so, Mr. Yoshikawa?” +</p> + +<p> +“I should say they are. They’re crazy over it,” said Clown +with an unctuous smile. Strange that whatever Clown says, it makes me itching +mad. “But, if you don’t look out, there is danger,” warned +Red Shirt. +</p> + +<p> +“I am fully prepared for all dangers,” I replied. In fact, I had +made up my mind either to get fired or to make all the students in the +dormitory apologize to me. +</p> + +<p> +“If you talk that way, that cuts everything out. Really, as a head +teacher, I’ve been considering what is good for you, and wouldn’t +like you to mistake it.” +</p> + +<p> +“The head teacher is really your friend. And I’m doing what I can +for you, though mighty little, because you and I are Yedo kids, and I would +like to have you stay with us as long as possible and we can help each +other.” So said Clown and it sounded almost human. I would sooner hang +myself than to get helped by Clown. +</p> + +<p> +“And the students are all glad because you had come, but there are many +circumstances,” continued Red Shirt. “You may feel angry sometimes +but be patient for the present, and I will never do anything to hurt your +interests.” +</p> + +<p> +“You say ‘many circumstances’; what are they?” +</p> + +<p> +“They’re rather complicated. Well, they’ll be clear to you by +and by. You’ll understand them naturally without my talking them over. +What do you say, Mr. Yoshikawa?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, they’re pretty complicated; hard to get them cleared up in a +jiffy. But they’ll become clear by-the-bye. Will be understood naturally +without my explaining them,” Clown echoed Red Shirt. +</p> + +<p> +“If they’re such a bother, I don’t mind not hearing them. I +only asked you because you sprang the subject.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s right. I may seem irresponsible in not concluding the thing +I had started. Then this much I’ll tell you. I mean no offense, but you +are fresh from school, and teaching is a new experience. And a school is a +place where somewhat complicated private circumstances are common and one +cannot do everything straight and simple.” +</p> + +<p> +“If can’t get it through straight and simple, how does it +go?” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, there you are so straight as that. As I was saying, you’re +short of experience....” +</p> + +<p> +“I should be. As I wrote it down in my record-sheet, I’m 23 years +and four months.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s it. So you’d be done by some one in unexpected +quarter.” +</p> + +<p> +“I’m not afraid who might do me as long as I’m honest.” +</p> + +<p> +“Certainly not. No need be afraid, but I do say you look sharp; your +predecessor was done.” +</p> + +<p> +I noticed Clown had become quiet, and turning round, saw him at the stern +talking with the boatman. Without Clown, I found our conversation running +smoothly. +</p> + +<p> +“By whom was my predecessor done?” +</p> + +<p> +“If I point out the name, it would reflect on the honor of that person, +so I can’t mention it. Besides there is no evidence to prove it and I may +be in a bad fix if I say it. At any rate, since you’re here, my efforts +will prove nothing if you fail. Keep a sharp look-out, please.” +</p> + +<p> +“You say look-out, but I can’t be more watchful than I’m now. +If I don’t do anything wrong, after all, that’s all right +isn’t it?” +</p> + +<p> +Red Shirt laughed. I did not remember having said anything provocative of +laughter. Up to this very minute, I have been firm in my conviction that +I’m right. When I come to consider the situation, it appears that a +majority of people are encouraging others to become bad. They seem to believe +that one must do wrong in order to succeed. If they happen to see some one +honest and pure, they sneer at him as “Master Darling” or +“kiddy.” What’s the use then of the instructors of ethics at +grammar schools or middle schools teaching children not to tell a lie or to be +honest. Better rather make a bold departure and teach at schools the gentle art +of lying or the trick of distrusting others, or show pupils how to do others. +That would be beneficial for the person thus taught and for the public as well. +When Red Shirt laughed, he laughed at my simplicity. My word! what chances have +the simple-hearted or the pure in a society where they are made objects of +contempt! Kiyo would never laugh at such a time; she would listen with profound +respect. Kiyo is far superior to Red Shirt. +</p> + +<p> +“Of course, that’t all right as long as you don’t do anything +wrong. But although you may not do anything wrong, they will do you just the +same unless you can see the wrong of others. There are fellows you have got to +watch,—the fellows who may appear off-hand, simple and so kind as to get +boarding house for you…… Getting rather cold. ’Tis already autumn, +isn’t it. The beach looks beer-color in the fog. A fine view. Say, Mr. +Yoshikawa, what do you think of the scene along the beach?……” This in a +loud voice was addressed to Clown. +</p> + +<p> +“Indeed, this is a fine view. I’d get a sketch of it if I had time. +Seems a pity to leave it there,” answered Clown. +</p> + +<p> +A light was seen upstairs at Minato-ya, and just as the whistle of a train was +sounded, our boat pushed its nose deep into the sand. “Well, so +you’re back early,” courtesied the wife of the boatman as she +stepped upon the sand. I stood on the edge of the boat; and whoop! I jumped out +to the beach. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap06"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p> +I heartily despise Clown. It would be beneficial for Japan if such a fellow +were tied to a quernstone and dumped into the sea. As to Red Shirt, his voice +did not suit my fancy. I believe he suppresses his natural tones to put on airs +and assume genteel manner. He may put on all kinds of airs, but nothing good +will come of it with that type of face. If anything falls in love with him, +perhaps the Madonna will be about the limit. As a head-teacher, however, he is +more serious than Clown. As he did not say definitely, I cannot get to the +point, but it appears that he warned me to look-out for Porcupine as he is +crooked. If that was the case, he should have declared it like a man. And if +Porcupine is so bad a teacher as that, it would be better to discharge him. +What a lack of backbone for a head teacher and a Bachelor of Arts! As he is a +fellow so cautious as to be unable to mention the name of the other even in a +whisper, he is surely a mollycoddle. All mollycoddles are kind, and that Red +Shirt may be as kind as a woman. His kindness is one thing, and his voice quite +another, and it would be wrong to disregard his kindness on account of his +voice. But then, isn’t this world a funny place! The fellow I don’t +like is kind to me, and the friend whom I like is crooked,—how absurd! +Probably everything here goes in opposite directions as it is in the country, +the contrary holds in Tokyo. A dangerous place, this. By degrees, fires may get +frozen and custard pudding petrified. But it is hardly believable that +Porcupine would incite the students, although he might do most anything he +wishes as he is best liked among them. Instead of taking in so roundabout a +way, in the first place, it would have saved him a lot of trouble if he came +direct to me and got at me for a fight. If I am in his way, he had better tell +me so, and ask me to resign because I am in his way. There is nothing that +cannot be settled by talking it over. If what he says sounds reasonable, I +would resign even tomorrow. This is not the only town where I can get bread and +butter; I ought not to die homeless wherever I go. I thought Porcupine was a +better sport. +</p> + +<p> +When I came here, Porcupine was the first to treat me to ice water. To be +treated by such a fellow, even if it is so trifling a thing as ice water, +affects my honor. I had only one glass then and had him pay only one sen and a +half. But one sen or half sen, I shall not die in peace if I accept a favor +from a swindler. I will pay it back tomorrow when I go to the school. I +borrowed three yen from Kiyo. That three yen is not paid yet to-day, though it +is five years since. Not that I could not pay, but that I did not want to. Kiyo +never looks to my pocket thinking I shall pay it back by-the-bye. Not by any +means. I myself do not expect to fulfill cold obligation like a stranger by +meditating on returning it. The more I worry about paying it back, the more I +may be doubting the honest heart of Kiyo. It would be the same as traducing her +pure mind. I have not paid her back that three yen not because I regard her +lightly, but because I regard her as part of myself. Kiyo and Porcupine cannot +be compared, of course, but whether it be ice water or tea, the fact that I +accept another’s favor without saying anything is an act of good-will, +taking the other on his par value, as a decent fellow. Instead of chipping in +my share, and settling each account, to receive munificence with grateful mind +is an acknowledgment which no amount of money can purchase. I have neither +title nor official position but I am an independent fellow, and to have an +independent fellow kowtow to you in acknowledgment of the favor you extend him +should be considered as far more than a return acknowledgment with a million +yen. I made Porcupine blow one sen and a half, and gave him my gratitude which +is more costly than a million yen. He ought to have been thankful for that. And +then what an outrageous fellow to plan a cowardly action behind my back! I will +give him back that one sen and a half tomorrow, and all will be square. Then I +will land him one. When I thought thus far, I felt sleepy and slept like a log. +The next day, as I had something in my mind, I went to the school earlier than +usual and waited for Porcupine, but he did not appear for a considerable time. +“Confucius” was there, so was Clown, and finally Red Shirt, but for +Porcupine there was a piece of chalk on his desk but the owner was not there. I +had been thinking of paying that one sen and a half as soon as I entered the +room, and had brought the coppers to the school grasped in my hand. My hands +get easily sweaty, and when I opened my hand, I found them wet. Thinking that +Porcupine might say something if wet coins were given him, I placed them upon +my desk, and cooled them by blowing in them. Then Red Shirt came to me and said +he was sorry to detain me yesterday, thought I have been annoyed. I told him I +was not annoyed at all, only I was hungry. Thereupon Red Shirt put his elbows +upon the desk, brought his sauce-pan-like face close to my nose, and said; +“Say, keep dark what I told you yesterday in the boat. You haven’t +told it anybody, have you?” He seems quite a nervous fellow as becoming +one who talks in a feminish voice. It was certain that I had not told it to +anybody, but as I was in the mood to tell it and had already one sen and a half +in my hand, I would be a little rattled if a gag was put on me. To the devil +with Red Shirt! Although he had not mentioned the name “Porcupine,” +he had given me such pointers as to put me wise as to who the objective was, +and now he requested me not to blow the gaff!—it was an irresponsibility +least to be expected from a head teacher. In the ordinary run of things, he +should step into the thick of the fight between Porcupine and me, and side with +me with all his colors flying. By so doing, he might be worthy the position of +the head teacher, and vindicate the principle of wearing red shirts. +</p> + +<p> +I told the head teacher that I had not divulged the secret to anybody but was +going to fight it out with Porcupine. Red Shirt was greatly perturbed, and +stuttered out; “Say, don’t do anything so rash as that. I +don’t remember having stated anything plainly to you about Mr. Hotta……. +if you start a scrimmage here, I’ll be greatly embarrassed.” And he +asked the strangely outlandish question if I had come to the school to start +trouble? Of course not, I said, the school would not stand for my making +trouble and pay me salary for it. Red Shirt then, perspiring, begged me to keep +the secret as mere reference and never mention it. “All right, +then,” I assured him, “this robs me shy, but since you’re so +afraid of it, I’ll keep it all to myself.” “Are you +sure?” repeated Red Shirt. There was no limit to his womanishness. If Red +Shirt was typical of Bachelors of Arts, I did not see much in them. He appeared +composed after having requested me to do something self-contradictory and +wanting logic, and on top of that suspects my sincerity. +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t you mistake,” I said to myself, “I’m a man +to the marrow, and haven’t the idea of breaking my own promises; mark +that!” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the occupants of the desks on both my sides came to the room, and Red +Shirt hastily withdrew to his own desk. Red Shirt shows some air even in his +walk. In stepping about the room, he places down his shoes so as to make no +sound. For the first time I came to know that making no sound in one’s +walk was something satisfactory to one’s vanity. He was not training +himself for a burglar, I suppose. He should cut out such nonsense before it +gets worse. Then the bugle for the opening of classes was heard. Porcupine did +not appear after all. There was no other way but to leave the coins upon the +desk and attend the class. +</p> + +<p> +When I returned to the room a little late after the first hour class, all the +teachers were there at their desks, and Porcupine too was there. The moment +Porcupine saw my face, he said that he was late on my account, and I should pay +him a fine. I took out that one sen and a half, and saying it was the price of +the ice water, shoved it on his desk and told him to take it. +“Don’t josh me,” he said, and began laughing, but as I +appeared unusually serious, he swept the coins back to my desk, and flung back, +“Quit fooling.” So he really meant to treat me, eh? +</p> + +<p> +“No fooling; I mean it,” I said. “I have no reason to accept +your treat, and that’s why I pay you back. Why don’t you take +it?” +</p> + +<p> +“If you’re so worried about that one sen and a half, I will take +it, but why do you pay it at this time so suddenly?” +</p> + +<p> +“This time or any time, I want to pay it back. I pay it back because I +don’t like you treat me.” +</p> + +<p> +Porcupine coldly gazed at me and ejaculated “H’m.” If I had +not been requested by Red Shirt, here was the chance to show up his cowardice +and make it hot for him. But since I had promised not to reveal the secret, I +could do nothing. What the deuce did he mean by “H’m” when I +was red with anger. +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll take the price of the ice water, but I want you leave your +boarding house.” +</p> + +<p> +“Take that coin; that’s all there is to it. To leave or +not,—that’s my pleasure.” +</p> + +<p> +“But that is not your pleasure. The boss of your boarding house came to +me yesterday and wanted me to tell you leave the house, and when I heard his +explanation, what he said was reasonable. And I dropped there on my way here +this morning to hear more details and make sure of everything.” +</p> + +<p> +What Porcupine was trying to get at was all dark to me. +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t care a snap what the boss was damn well pleased to tell +you,” I cried. “What do you mean by deciding everything by +yourself! If there is any reason, tell me first. What’s the matter with +you, deciding what the boss says is reasonable without hearing me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then you shall hear,” he said. “You’re too tough and +been regarded a nuisance over there. Say, the wife of a boarding house is a +wife, not a maid, and you’ve been such a four-flusher as to make her wipe +your feet.” +</p> + +<p> +“When did I make her wipe my feet?” I asked. +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t know whether you did or did not, but anyway they’re +pretty sore about you. He said he can make ten or fifteen yen easily if he sell +a roll of panel-picture.” +</p> + +<p> +“Damn the chap! Why did he take me for a boarder then!” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t know why. They took you but they want you leave because +they got tired of you. So you’d better get out.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sure, I will. Who’d stay in such a house even if they beg me on +their knees. You’re insolent to have induced me to go to such a false +accuser in the first place.” +</p> + +<p> +“Might be either I’m insolent or you’re tough.” +Porcupine is no less hot-tempered than I am, and spoke with equally loud voice. +All the other teachers in the room, surprised, wondering what has happened, +looked in our direction and craned their necks. I was not conscious of having +done anything to be ashamed of, so I stood up and looked around. Clown alone +was laughing amused. The moment he met my glaring stare as if to say “You +too want to fight?” he suddenly assumed a grave face and became serious. +He seemed to be a little cowed. Meanwhile the bugle was heard, and Porcupine +and I stopped the quarrel and went to the class rooms. +</p> + +<p> +In the afternoon, a meeting of the teachers was going to be held to discuss the +question of punishment of those students in the dormitory who offended me the +other night. This meeting was a thing I had to attend for the first time in my +life, and I was totally ignorant about it. Probably it was where the teachers +gathered to blow about their own opinions and the principal bring them to +compromise somehow. To compromise is a method used when no decision can be +delivered as to the right or wrong of either side. It seemed to me a waste of +time to hold a meeting over an affair in which the guilt of the other side was +plain as daylight. No matter who tried to twist it round, there was no ground +for doubting the facts. It would have been better if the principal had decided +at once on such a plain case; he is surely wanting in decision. If all +principals are like this, a principal is a synonym of a +“dilly-dally.” +</p> + +<p> +The meeting hall was a long, narrow room next to that of the principal, and was +used for dining room. About twenty chairs, with black leather seat, were lined +around a narrow table, and the whole scene looked like a restaurant in Kanda. +At one end of the table the principal took his seat, and next to him Red Shirt. +All the rest shifted for themselves, but the gymnasium teacher is said always +to take the seat farthest down out of modesty. The situation was new to me, so +I sat down between the teachers of natural history and of Confucius. Across the +table sat Porcupine and Clown. Think how I might, the face of Clown was a +degrading type. That of Porcupine was far more charming, even if I was now on +bad terms with him. The panel picture which hung in the alcove of the reception +hall of Yogen temple where I went to the funeral of my father, looked exactly +like this Porcupine. A priest told me the picture was the face of a strange +creature called Idaten. To-day he was pretty sore, and frequently stared at me +with his fiery eyes rolling. “You can’t bulldoze me with +that,” I thought, and rolled my own in defiance and stared back at him. +My eyes are not well-shaped but their large size is seldom beaten by others. +Kiyo even once suggested that I should make a fine actor because I had big +eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“All now here?” asked the principal, and the clerk named Kawamura +counted one, two, three and one was short. “Just one more,” said +the clerk, and it ought to be; Hubbard Squash was not there. I don’t know +what affinity there is between Hubbard Squash and me, but I can never forget +his face. When I come to the teachers’ room, his face attracts me first; +while walking out in the street, his manners are recalled to my mind. When I go +to the hot springs, sometimes I meet him with a pale-face in the bath, and if I +hallooed to him, he would raise his trembling head, making me feel sorry for +him. In the school there is no teacher so quiet as he. He seldom, if ever, +laughs or talks. I knew the word “gentleman” from books, and +thought it was found only in the dictionary, but not a thing alive. But since I +met Hubbard Squash, I was impressed for the first time that the word +represented a real substance. +</p> + +<p> +As he is a man so attached to me, I had noticed his absence as soon as I +entered the meeting hall. To tell the truth, I came to the hall with the +intention of sitting next to him. The principal said that the absentee may +appear shortly, and untied a package he had before him, taking out some +hectograph sheets and began reading them. Red Shirt began polishing his amber +pipe with a silk handkerchief. This was his hobby, which was probably becoming +to him. Others whispered with their neighbors. Still others were writing +nothings upon the table with the erasers at the end of their pencils. Clown +talked to Porcupine once in a while, but he was not responsive. He only said +“Umh” or “Ahm,” and stared at me with wrathful eyes. I +stared back with equal ferocity. +</p> + +<p> +Then the tardy Hubbard Squash apologetically entered, and politely explained +that he was unavoidably detained. “Well, then the meeting is called to +order,” said Badger. On these sheets was printed, first the question of +the punishment of the offending students, second that of superintending the +students, and two or three other matters. Badger, putting on airs as usual, as +if he was an incarnation of education, spoke to the following effect. +</p> + +<p> +“Any misdeeds or faults among the teachers or the students in this school +are due to the lack of virtues in my person, and whenever anything happens, I +inwardly feel ashamed that a man like me could hold his position. Unfortunately +such an affair has taken place again, and I have to apologize from my heart. +But since it has happened, it cannot be helped; we must settle it one way or +other. The facts are as you already know, and I ask you gentlemen to state +frankly the best means by which the affair may be settled.” +</p> + +<p> +When I heard the principal speak, I was impressed that indeed the principal, or +Badger, was saying something “grand.” If the principal was willing +to assume all responsibilities, saying it was his fault or his lack of virtues, +it would have been better stop punishing the students and get himself fired +first. Then there will be no need of holding such thing as a meeting. In the +first place, just consider it by common sense. I was doing my night duty right, +and the students started trouble. The wrong doer is neither the principal nor +I. If Porcupine incited them, then it would be enough to get rid of the +students and Porcupine. Where in thunder would be a peach of damfool who always +swipes other people’s faults and says “these are mine?” It +was a stunt made possible only by Badger. Having made such an illogical +statement, he glanced at the teachers in a highly pleased manner. But no one +opened his mouth. The teacher of natural history was gazing at the crow which +had hopped on the roof of the nearby building. The teacher of Confucius was +folding and unfolding the hectograph sheet. Porcupine was still staring at me. +If a meeting was so nonsensical an affair as this, I would have been better +absent taking a nap at home. +</p> + +<p> +I became irritated, and half raised myself, intending to make a convincing +speech, but just then Red Shirt began saying something and I stopped. I saw him +say something, having put away his pipe, and wiping his face with a striped +silk handkerchief. I’m sure he copped that handkerchief from the Madonna; +men should use white linen. He said: +</p> + +<p> +“When I heard of the rough affairs in the dormitory, I was greatly +ashamed as the head teacher of my lack of discipline and influence. When such +an affair takes place there is underlying cause somewhere. Looking at the +affair itself, it may seem that the students were wrong, but in a closer study +of the facts, we may find the responsibility resting with the School. +Therefore, I’m afraid it might affect us badly in the future if we +administer too severe a punishment on the strength of what has been shown on +the surface. As they are youngsters, full of life and vigor, they might +half-consciously commit some youthful pranks, without due regard as to their +good or bad. As to the mode of punishment itself, I have no right to suggest +since it is a matter entirely in the hand of the principal, but I should ask, +considering these points, that some leniency be shown toward the +students.” +</p> + +<p> +Well, as Badger, so was Red Shirt. He declares the “Rough Necks” +among the students is not their fault but the fault of the teachers. A crazy +person beats other people because the beaten are wrong. Very grateful, indeed. +If the students were so full of life and vigor, shovel them out into the campus +and let them wrestle their heads off. Who would have grasshoppers put into his +bed unconsciously! If things go on like this, they may stab some one asleep, +and get freed as having done the deed unconsciously. +</p> + +<p> +Having figured it out in this wise, I thought I would state my own views on the +matter, but I wanted to give them an eloquent speech and fairly take away their +breath. I have an affection of the windpipe which clog after two or three words +when I am excited. Badger and Red Shirt are below my standing in their +personality, but they were skilled in speech-making, and it would not do to +have them see my awkwardness. I’ll make a rough note of composition +first, I thought, and started mentally making a sentence, when, to my surprise, +Clown stood up suddenly. It was unusual for Clown to state his opinion. He +spoke in his flippant tone: +</p> + +<p> +“Really the grasshopper incident and the whoop-la affair are peculiar +happenings which are enough to make us doubt our own future. We teachers at +this time must strive to clear the atmosphere of the school. And what the +principal and the head teacher have said just now are fit and proper. I +entirely agree with their opinions. I wish the punishment be moderate.” +</p> + +<p> +In what Clown had said there were words but no meaning. It was a juxtaposition +of high-flown words making no sense. All that I understood was the words, +“I entirely agree with their opinions.” +</p> + +<p> +Clown’s meaning was not clear to me, but as I was thoroughly angered, I +rose without completing my rough note. +</p> + +<p> +“I am entirely opposed to…….” I said, but the rest did not come at +once. “…….I don’t like such a topsy-turvy settlement,” I +added and the fellows began laughing. “The students are absolutely wrong +from the beginning. It would set a bad precedent if we don’t make them +apologize ……. What do we care if we kick them all out ……. darn the kids trying +to guy a new comer…….” and I sat down. Then the teacher of natural +history who sat on my right whined a weak opinion, saying “The students +may be wrong, but if we punish them too severely, they may start a reaction and +would make it rather bad. I am for the moderate side, as the head teacher +suggested.” The teacher of Confucius on my left expressed his agreement +with the moderate side, and so did the teacher of history endorse the views of +the head teacher. Dash those weak-knees! Most of them belonged to the coterie +of Red Shirt. It would make a dandy school if such fellows run it. I had +decided in my mind that it must be either the students apologize to me or I +resign, and if the opinion of Red Shirt prevailed, I had determined to return +home and pack up. I had no ability of out-talking such fellows, or even if I +had, I was in no humor to keeping their company for long. Since I don’t +expect to remain in the school, the devil may take care of the rest. If I said +anything, they would only laugh; so I shut my mouth tight. +</p> + +<p> +Porcupine, who up to this time had been listening to the others, stood up with +some show of spirit. Ha, the fellow was going to endorse the views of Red +Shirt, eh? You and I got to fight it out anyway, I thought, so do any way you +darn please. Porcupine spoke in a thunderous voice: +</p> + +<p> +“I entirely differ from the opinions of the head teacher and other +gentlemen. Because, viewed from whatever angle, this incident cannot be other +than an attempt by those fifty students in the dormitory to make a fool of a +new teacher. The head teacher seems to trace the cause of the trouble to the +personality of that teacher himself, but, begging his pardon, I think he is +mistaken. The night that new teacher was on night duty was not long after his +arrival, not more than twenty days after he had come into contact with the +students. During those short twenty days, the students could have no reason to +criticise his knowledges or his person. If he was insulted for some cause which +deserved insult, there may be reasons in our considering the act of the +students, but if we show undue leniency toward the frivolous students who would +insult a new teacher without cause, it would affect the dignity of this school. +The spirit of education is not only in imparting technical knowledges, but also +in encouraging honest, ennobling and samurai-like virtues, while eliminating +the evil tendency to vulgarity and roughness. If we are afraid of reaction or +further trouble, and satisfy ourselves with make-shifts, there is no telling +when we can ever get rid of this evil atmosphere[G]. We are here to eradicate +this very evil. If we mean to countenance it, we had better not accepted our +positions here. For these reasons, I believe it proper to punish the students +in the dormitory to the fullest extent and also make them apologize to that +teacher in the open.” +</p> + +<p> +All were quiet. Red Shirt again began polishing his pipe. I was greatly elated. +He spoke almost what I had wanted to. I’m such a simple-hearted fellow +that I forgot all about the bickerings with Porcupine, and looked at him with a +grateful face, but he appeared to take no notice of me. +</p> + +<p> +After a while, Porcupine again stood up, and said. “I forgot to mention +just now, so I wish to add. The teacher on night duty that night seems to have +gone to the hot springs during his duty hours, and I think it a blunder. It is +a matter of serious misconduct to take the advantage of being in sole charge of +the school, to slip out to a hot springs. The bad behavior of the students is +one thing; this blunder is another, and I wish the principal to call attention +of the responsible person to that matter.” +</p> + +<p> +A strange fellow! No sooner had he backed me up than he began talking me down. +I knew the other night watch went out during his duty hours, and thought it was +a custom, so I went as far out as to the hot springs without considering the +situation seriously. But when it was pointed out like this, I realised that I +had been wrong. Thereupon I rose again and said; “I really went to the +hot springs. It was wrong and I apologize.” Then all again laughed. +Whatever I say, they laugh. What a lot of boobs! See if you fellows can make a +clean breast of your own fault like this! You fellows laugh because you +can’t talk straight. +</p> + +<p> +After that the principal said that since it appeared that there will be no more +opinions, he will consider the matter well and administer what he may deem a +proper punishment. I may here add the result of the meeting. The students in +the dormitory were given one week’s confinement, and in addition to that, +apologized to me. If they had not apologized, I intended to resign and go +straight home, but as it was it finally resulted in a bigger and still worse +affair, of which more later. The principal then at the meeting said something +to the effect that the manners of the students should be directed rightly by +the teachers’ influence, and as the first step, no teacher should +patronize, if possible, the shops where edibles and drinks were served, +excepting, however, in case of farewell party or such social gatherings. He +said he would like no teacher to go singly to eating houses of lower +kind—for instance, noodle-house or dango shop…. And again all laughed. +Clown looked at Porcupine, said “tempura” and winked his eyes, but +Porcupine regarded him in silence. Good! +</p> + +<p> +My “think box” is not of superior quality, so things said by Badger +were not clear to me, but I thought if a fellow can’t hold the job of +teacher in a middle school because he patronizes a noodle-house or dango shop, +the fellow with bear-like appetite like me will never be able to hold it. If it +was the case, they ought to have specified when calling for a teacher one who +does not eat noodle and dango. To give an appointment without reference to the +matter at first, and then to proclaim that noodle or dango should not be eaten +was a blow to a fellow like me who has no other petty hobby. Then Red Shirt +again opened his mouth. +</p> + +<p> +“Teachers of the middle school belong to the upper class of society and +they should not be looking after material pleasures only, for it would +eventually have effect upon their personal character. But we are human, and it +would be intolerable in a small town like this to live without any means of +affording some pleasure to ourselves, such as fishing, reading literary +products, composing new style poems, or haiku (17-syllable poem). We should +seek mental consolation of higher order.” +</p> + +<p> +There seemed no prospect that he would quit the hot air. If it was a mental +consolation to fish fertilisers on the sea, have goruki for Russian literature, +or to pose a favorite geisha beneath pine tree, it would be quite as much a +mental consolation to eat dempura noodle and swallow dango. Instead of dwelling +on such sham consolations, he would find his time better spent by washing his +red shirts. I became so exasperated that I asked; “Is it also a mental +consolation to meet the Madonna?” No one laughed this time and looked at +each other with queer faces, and Red Shirt himself hung his head, apparently +embarrassed. Look at that! A good shot, eh? Only I was sorry for Hubbard Squash +who, having heard the remark, became still paler. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap07"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p> +That very night I left the boarding house. While I was packing up, the boss +came to me and asked if there was anything wrong in the way I was treated. He +said he would be pleased to correct it and suit me if I was sore at anything. +This beats me, sure. How is it possible for so many boneheads to be in this +world! I could not tell whether they wanted me to stay or get out. +They’re crazy. It would be disgrace for a Yedo kid to fuss about with +such a fellow; so I hired a rikishaman and speedily left the house. +</p> + +<p> +I got out of the house all right, but had no place to go. The rikishaman asked +me where I was going. I told him to follow me with his mouth shut, then he +shall see and I kept on walking. I thought of going to Yamashiro-ya to avoid +the trouble of hunting up a new boarding house, but as I had no prospect of +being able to stay there long, I would have to renew the hunt sooner or later, +so I gave up the idea. If I continued walking this way, I thought I might +strike a house with the sign of “boarders taken” or something +similar, and I would consider the first house with the sign the one provided +for me by Heaven. I kept on going round and round through the quiet, decent +part of the town when I found myself at Kajimachi. This used to be former +samurai quarters where one had the least chance of finding any boarding house, +and I was going to retreat to a more lively part of the town when a good idea +occurred to me. Hubbard Squash whom I respected lived in this part of the town. +He is a native of the town, and has lived in the house inherited from his great +grandfather. He must be, I thought, well informed about nearly everything in +this town. If I call on him for his help, he will perhaps find me a good +boarding house. Fortunately, I called at his house once before, and there was +no trouble in finding it out. I knocked at the door of a house, which I knew +must be his, and a woman about fifty years old with an old fashioned +paper-lantern in hand, appeared at the door. I do not despise young women, but +when I see an aged woman, I feel much more solicitous. This is probably because +I am so fond of Kiyo. This aged lady, who looked well-refined, was certainly +mother of Hubbard Squash whom she resembled. She invited me inside, but I asked +her to call him out for me. When he came I told him all the circumstances, and +asked him if he knew any who would take me for a boarder. Hubbard Squash +thought for a moment in a sympathetic mood, then said there was an old couple +called Hagino, living in the rear of the street, who had asked him sometime ago +to get some boarders for them as there are only two in the house and they had +some vacant rooms. Hubbard Squash was kind enough to go along with me and find +out if the rooms were vacant. They were. +</p> + +<p> +From that night I boarded at the house of the Haginos. What surprised me was +that on the day after I left the house of Ikagin, Clown stepped in and took the +room I had been occupying. Well used to all sorts of tricks and crooks as I +might have been, this audacity fairly knocked me off my feet. It was sickening. +</p> + +<p> +I saw that I would be an easy mark for such people unless I brace up and try to +come up, or down, to their level. It would be a high time indeed for me to be +alive if it were settled that I would not get three meals a day without living +on the spoils of pick pockets. Nevertheless, to hang myself,—healthy and +vigorous as I am,—would be not only inexcusable before my ancestors but a +disgrace before the public. Now I think it over, it would have been better for +me to have started something like a milk delivery route with that six hundred +yen as capital, instead of learning such a useless stunt as mathematics at the +School of Physics. If I had done so, Kiyo could have stayed with me, and I +could have lived without worrying about her so far a distance away. While I was +with her I did not notice it, but separated thus I appreciated Kiyo as a +good-natured old woman. One could not find a noble natured woman like Kiyo +everywhere. She was suffering from a slight cold when I left Tokyo and I +wondered how she was getting on now? Kiyo must have been pleased when she +received the letter from me the other day. By the way, I thought it was the +time I was in receipt of answer from her. I spent two or three days with things +like this in my mind. I was anxious about the answer, and asked the old lady of +the house if any letter came from Tokyo for me, and each time she would appear +sympathetic and say no. The couple here, being formerly of samurai class, +unlike the Ikagin couple, were both refined. The old man’s recital of +“utai” in a queer voice at night was somewhat telling on my nerves, +but it was much easier on me as he did not frequent my room like Ikagin with +the remark of “let me serve you tea.” +</p> + +<p> +The old lady once in a while would come to my room and chat on many things. She +questioned me why I had not brought my wife with me. I asked her if I looked +like one married, reminding her that I was only twenty four yet. Saying +“it is proper for one to get married at twenty four” as a +beginning, she recited that Mr. Blank married when he was twenty, that Mr. +So-and-So has already two children at twenty two, and marshalled altogether +about half a dozen examples,—quite a damper on my youthful theory. I will +then get married at twenty four, I said, and requested her to find me +a good +wife, and she asked me if I really meant it. +</p> + +<p> +“Really? You bet! I can’t help wanting to get married.” +</p> + +<p> +“I should suppose so. Everybody is just like that when young.” This +remark was a knocker; I could not say anything to that. +</p> + +<p> +“But I’m sure you have a Madam already. I have seen to that with my +own eyes.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, they are sharp eyes. How have you seen it?” +</p> + +<p> +“How? Aren’t you often worried to death, asking if there’s no +letter from Tokyo?” +</p> + +<p> +“By Jupiter! This beats me!” +</p> + +<p> +“Hit the mark, haven’t I?” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, you probably have.” +</p> + +<p> +“But the girls of these days are different from what they used to be and +you need a sharp look-out on them. So you’d better be careful.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you mean that my Madam in Tokyo is behaving badly?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, your Madam is all right.” +</p> + +<p> +“That makes me feel safe. Then about what shall I be careful?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yours is all right. Though yours is all right…….” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is one not all right?” +</p> + +<p> +“Rather many right in this town. You know the daughter of the Toyamas? +</p> + +<p> +“No, I do not.” +</p> + +<p> +“You don’t know her yet? She is the most beautiful girl about here. +She is so beautiful that the teachers in the school call her Madonna. You +haven’t heard that? +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, the Madonna! I thought it was the name of a geisha.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, Sir. Madonna is a foreign word and means a beautiful girl, +doesn’t it?” +</p> + +<p> +“That may be. I’m surprised.” +</p> + +<p> +“Probably the name was given by the teacher of drawing.” +</p> + +<p> +“Was it the work of Clown?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, it was given by Professor Yoshikawa.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is that Madonna not all right?” +</p> + +<p> +“That Madonna-san is a Madonna not all right.” +</p> + +<p> +“What a bore! We haven’t any decent woman among those with +nicknames from old days. I should suppose the Madonna is not all right.” +</p> + +<p> +“Exactly. We have had awful women such as O-Matsu the Devil or Ohyaku the +Dakki. +</p> + +<p> +“Does the Madonna belong to that ring?” +</p> + +<p> +“That Madonna-san, you know, was engaged to Professor Koga,—who +brought you here,—yes, was promised to him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ha, how strange! I never knew our friend Hubbard Squash was a fellow of +such gallantry. We can’t judge a man by his appearance. I’ll be a +bit more careful.” +</p> + +<p> +“The father of Professor Koga died last year,—up to that time they +had money and shares in a bank and were well off,—but since then things +have grown worse, I don’t know why. Professor Koga was too good-natured, +in short, and was cheated, I presume. The wedding was delayed by one thing or +another and there appeared the head teacher who fell in love with the Madonna +head over heels and wanted to marry her.” +</p> + +<p> +“Red Shirt? He ought be hanged. I thought that shirt was not an ordinary +kind of shirt. Well?” +</p> + +<p> +“The head teacher proposed marriage through a go-between, but +the Toyamas +could not give a definite answer at once on account of their relations with the +Kogas. They replied that they would consider the matter or something like that. +Then Red Shirt-san worked up some ways and started visiting the Toyamas and has +finally won the heart of the Miss. Red Shirt-san is bad, but so is Miss Toyama; +they all talk bad of them. She had agreed to be married to Professor Koga and +changed her mind because a Bachelor of Arts began courting her,—why, that +would be an offense to the God of To-day.” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course. Not only of To-day but also of tomorrow and the day after; in +fact, of time without end.” +</p> + +<p> +“So Hotta-san a friend of Koga-san, felt sorry for him and went to the +head teacher to remonstrate with him. But Red Shirt-san said that he had no +intention of taking away anybody who is promised to another. He may get married +if the engagement is broken, he said, but at present he was only being +acquainted with the Toyamas and he saw nothing wrong in his visiting the +Toyamas. Hotta-san couldn’t do anything and returned. Since then they say +Red Shirt-san and Hotta-san are on bad terms.” +</p> + +<p> +“You do know many things, I should say. How did you get such details? +I’m much impressed.” +</p> + +<p> +“The town is so small that I can know everything.” +</p> + +<p> +Yes, everything seems to be known more than one cares. Judging by her way, this +woman probably knows about my tempura and dango affairs. Here was a pot that +would make peas rattle! The meaning of the Madonna, the relations between +Porcupine and Red Shirt became clear and helped me a deal. Only what puzzled me +was the uncertainty as to which of the two was wrong. A fellow simple-hearted +like me could not tell which side he should help unless the matter was +presented in black and white. +</p> + +<p> +“Of Red Shirt and Porcupine, which is a better fellow?” +</p> + +<p> +“What is Porcupine, Sir?” +</p> + +<p> +“Porcupine means Hotta.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, Hotta-san is physically strong, as strength goes, but Red +Shirt-san is a Bachelor of Arts and has more ability. And Red Shirt-san is more +gentle, as gentleness goes, but Hotta-san is more popular among the +students.” +</p> + +<p> +“After all, which is better?” +</p> + +<p> +“After all, the one who gets a bigger salary is greater, I +suppose?” +</p> + +<p> +There was no use of going on further in this way, and I closed the talk. +</p> + +<p> +Two or three days after this, when I returned from the school, the old lady +with a beaming smile, brought me a letter, saying, “Here you are Sir, at +last. Take your time and enjoy it.” I took it up and found it was from +Kiyo. On the letter were two or three retransmission slips, and by these I saw +the letter was sent from Yamashiro-ya to the Ikagins, then to the +Haginos. +Besides, it stayed at Yamashiro-ya for about one week; even letters seemed to +stop in a hotel. I opened it, and it was a very long letter. +</p> + +<p> +“When I received the letter from my Master Darling, I intended to write +an answer at once. But I caught cold and was sick abed for about one week and +the answer was delayed for which I beg your pardon. I am not well-used to +writing or reading like girls in these days, and it required some efforts to +get done even so poorly written a letter as this. I was going to ask my nephew +to write it for me, but thought it inexcusable to my Master Darling when I +should take special pains for myself. So I made a rough copy once, and then a +clean copy. I finished the clean copy, in two days, but the rough copy took me +four days. It may be difficult for you to read, but as I have written this +letter with all my might, please read it to the end.” +</p> + +<p> +This was the introductory part of the letter in which, about four feet long, +were written a hundred and one things. Well, it was difficult to read. Not only +was it poorly written but it was a sort of juxtaposition of simple syllables +that racked one’s brain to make it clear where it stopped or where it +began. I am quick-tempered and would refuse to read such a long, unintelligible +letter for five yen, but I read this seriously from the first to the last. It +is a fact that I read it through. My efforts were mostly spent in untangling +letters and sentences; so I started reading it over again. The room had become +a little dark, and this rendered it harder to read it; so finally I stepped out +to the porch where I sat down and went over it carefully. The early autumn +breeze wafted through the leaves of the banana trees, bathed me with cool +evening air, rustled the letter I was holding and would have blown it clear to +the hedge if I let it go. I did not mind anything like this, but kept on +reading. +</p> + +<p> +“Master Darling is simple and straight like a split bamboo by +disposition,” it says, “only too explosive. That’s what +worries me. If you brand other people with nicknames you will only make enemies +of them; so don’t use them carelessly; if you coin new ones, just tell +them only to Kiyo in your letters. The countryfolk are said to be bad, and I +wish you to be careful not have them do you. The weather must be worse than in +Tokyo, and you should take care not to catch cold. Your letter is too short +that I can’t tell how things are going on with you. Next time write me a +letter at least half the length of this one. Tipping the hotel with five yen is +all right, but were you not short of money afterward? Money is the only thing +one can depend upon when in the country and you should economize and be +prepared for rainy days. I’m sending you ten yen by postal money order. I +have that fifty yen my Master Darling gave me deposited in the Postal Savings +to help you start housekeeping when you return to Tokyo, and taking out this +ten, I have still forty yen left,—quite safe.” +</p> + +<p> +I should say women are very particular on many things. +</p> + +<p> +When I was meditating with the letter flapping in my hand on the porch, the old +lady opened the sliding partition and brought in my supper. +</p> + +<p> +“Still poring over the letter? Must be a very long one, I imagine,” +she said. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, this is an important letter, so I’m reading it with the wind +blowing it about,” I replied—the reply which was nonsense even for +myself,—and I sat down for supper. I looked in the dish on the tray, and +saw the same old sweet potatoes again to-night. This new boarding house was +more polite and considerate and refined than the Ikagins, but the grub was too +poor stuff and that was one drawback. It was sweet potato yesterday, so it was +the day before yesterday, and here it is again to-night. True, I declared +myself very fond of sweet potatoes, but if I am fed with sweet potatoes with +such insistency, I may soon have to quit this dear old world. I can’t be +laughing at Hubbard Squash; I shall become Sweet Potato myself before long. If +it were Kiyo she would surely serve me with my favorite sliced tunny or fried +kamaboko, but nothing doing with a tight, poor samurai. It seems best that I +live with Kiyo. If I have to stay long in the school, I believe I would call +her from Tokyo. Don’t eat tempura, don’t eat dango, and then get +turned yellow by feeding on sweet potatoes only, in the boarding house. +That’s for an educator, and his place is really a hard one. I think even +the priests of the Zen sect are enjoying better feed. I cleaned up the sweet +potatoes, then took out two raw eggs from the drawer of my desk, broke them on +the edge of the rice bowl, to tide it over. I have to get nourishment by eating +raw eggs or something, or how can I stand the teaching of twenty one hours a +week? +</p> + +<p> +I was late for my bath to-day on account of the letter from Kiyo. But I would +not like to drop off a single day since I had been there everyday. I thought I +would take a train to-day, and coming to the station with the same old red +towel dangling out of my hand, I found the train had just left two or three +minutes ago, and had to wait for some time. While I was smoking a cigarette on +a bench, my friend Hubbard Squash happened to come in. Since I heard the story +about him from the old lady my sympathy for him had become far greater than +ever. His reserve always appeared to me pathetic. It was no longer a case of +merely pathetic; more than that. I was wishing to get his salary doubled, if +possible, and have him marry Miss Toyama and send them to Tokyo for about one +month on a pleasure trip. Seeing him, therefore, I motioned him to a seat +beside me, addressing him cheerfully: +</p> + +<p> +“Hello[H], going to bath? Come and sit down here.” +</p> + +<p> +Hubbard Squash, appearing much awe-struck, said; “Don’t mind me, +Sir,” and whether out of polite reluctance or I don’t know what, +remained standing. +</p> + +<p> +“You have to wait for a little while before the next train starts; sit +down; you’ll be tired,” I persuaded him again. In fact, I was so +sympathetic for him that I wished to have him sit down by me somehow. Then with +a “Thank you, Sir,” he at last sat down. A fellow like Clown, +always fresh, butts in where he is not wanted; or like Porcupine swaggers about +with a face which says “Japan would be hard up without me,” or like +Red Shirt, self-satisfied in the belief of being the wholesaler of gallantry +and of cosmetics. Or like Badger who appears to say; “If +‘Education’ were alive and put on a frockcoat, it would look like +me.” One and all in one way or other have bravado, but I have never seen +any one like this Hubbard Squash, so quiet and resigned, like a doll taken for +a ransom. His face is rather swollen but for the Madonna to cast off such a +splendid fellow and give preference to Red Shirt, was frivolous beyond my +understanding. Put how many dozens of Red Shirt you like together, it will not +make one husband of stuff to beat Hubbard Squash. +</p> + +<p> +“Is anything wrong with you? You look quite fatigued,” I asked. +</p> + +<p> +“No, I have no particular ailments…….” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s good. Poor health is the worst thing one can get.” +</p> + +<p> +“You appear very strong.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I’m thin, but never got sick. That’s something I +don’t like.” +</p> + +<p> +Hubbard Squash smiled at my words. Just then I heard some young girlish laughs +at the entrance, and incidentally looking that way, I saw a +“peach.” A beautiful girl, tall, white-skinned, with her head done +up in “high-collared” style, was standing with a woman of about +forty-five or six, in front of the ticket window. I am not a fellow given to +describing a belle, but there was no need to repeat asserting that she was +beautiful. I felt as if I had warmed a crystal ball with perfume and held it in +my hand. The older woman was shorter, but as she resembled the younger, they +might be mother and daughter. The moment I saw them, I forgot all about Hubbard +Squash, and was intently gazing at the young beauty. Then I was a bit startled +to see Hubbard Squash suddenly get up and start walking slowly toward them. I +wondered if she was not the Madonna. The three were courtesying in front of the +ticket window, some distance away from me, and I could not hear what they were +talking about. +</p> + +<p> +The clock at the station showed the next train to start in five minutes. Having +lost my partner, I became impatient and longed for the train to start as soon +as possible, when a fellow rushed into the station excited. It was Red Shirt. +He had on some fluffy clothes, loosely tied round with a silk-crepe girdle, and +wound to it the same old gold chain. That gold chain is stuffed. Red Shirt +thinks nobody knows it and is making a big show of it, but I have been wise. +Red Shirt stopped short, stared around, and then after bowing politely to the +three still in front of the ticket window, made a remark or two, and hastily +turned toward me. He came up to me, walking in his usual cat’s style, and +hallooed. +</p> + +<p> +“You too going to bath? I was afraid of missing the train and hurried up, +but we have three or four minutes yet. Wonder if that clock is right?” +</p> + +<p> +He took out his gold watch, and remarking it wrong about two minutes sat down +beside me. He never turned toward the belle, but with his chin on the top of a +cane, steadily looked straight before him. The older woman would occasionally +glance toward Red Shirt, but the younger kept her profile away. Surely she was +the Madonna. +</p> + +<p> +The train now arrived with a shrill whistle and the passengers hastened to +board. Red Shirt jumped into the first class coach ahead of all. One cannot +brag much about boarding the first class coach here. It cost only five sen for +the first and three sen for the second to Sumida; even I paid for the first and +a white ticket. The country fellows, however, being all close, seemed to regard +the expenditure of the extra two sen a serious matter and mostly boarded the +second class. Following Red Shirt, the Madonna and her mother entered the first +class. Hubbard Squash regularly rides in the second class. He stood at the door +of a second class coach and appeared somewhat hesitating, but seeing me coming, +took decisive steps and jumped into the second. I felt sorry for him—I do +not know why—and followed him into the same coach. Nothing wrong in +riding on the second with a ticket for the first, I believe. +</p> + +<p> +At the hot springs, going down from the third floor to the bath room in bathing +gown, again I met Hubbard Squash. I feel my throat clogged up and unable to +speak at a formal gathering, but otherwise I am rather talkative; so I opened +conversation with him. He was so pathetic and my compassion was aroused to such +an extent that I considered it the duty of a Yedo kid to console him to the +best of my ability. But Hubbard Squash was not responsive. Whatever I said, he +would only answer “eh?” or “umh,” and even these with +evident effort. Finally I gave up my sympathetic attempt and cut off the +conversation. +</p> + +<p> +I did not meet Red Shirt at the bath. There are many bath rooms, and one does +not necessarily meet the fellows at the same bath room though he might come on +the same train. I thought it nothing strange. When I got out of the bath, I +found the night bright with the moon. On both sides of the street stood willow +trees which cast their shadows on the road. I would take a little stroll, I +thought. Coming up toward north, to the end of the town, one sees a large gate +to the left. Opposite the gate stands a temple and both sides of the approach +to the temple are lined with houses with red curtains. A tenderloin inside a +temple gate is an unheard-of phenomenon. I wanted to go in and have a look at +the place, but for fear I might get another kick from Badger, I passed it by. A +flat house with narrow lattice windows and black curtain at the entrance, near +the gate, is the place where I ate dango and committed the blunder. A round +lantern with the signs of sweet meats hung outside and its light fell on the +trunk of a willow tree close by. I hungered to have a bite of dango, but went +away forbearing. +</p> + +<p> +To be unable to eat dango one is so fond of eating, is tragic. But to have +one’s betrothed change her love to another, would be more tragic. When I +think of Hubbard Squash, I believe that I should not complain if I +cannot eat +dango or anything else for three days. Really there is nothing so unreliable a +creature as man. As far as her face goes, she appears the least likely to +commit so stony-hearted an act as this. But the beautiful person is +cold-blooded and Koga-san who is swollen like a pumpkin soaked in water, is a +gentleman to the core,—that’s where we have to be on the look-out. +Porcupine whom I had thought candid was said to have incited the students and +he whom then I regarded an agitator, demanded of the principal a summary +punishment of the students. The disgustingly snobbish Red Shirt is unexpectedly +considerate and warns me in ways more than one, but then he won the Madonna by +crooked means. He denies, however, having schemed anything crooked about the +Madonna, and says he does not care to marry her unless her engagement with Koga +is broken. When Ikagin beat me out of his house, Clown enters and takes my +room. Viewed from any angle, man is unreliable. If I write these things to +Kiyo, it would surprise her. She would perhaps say that because it is the west +side of Hakone that the town had all the freaks and crooks dumped in +together.[7] +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Footnote 7: An old saying goes that east of the Hakone pass, there are no +apparitions or freaks.] +</p> + +<p> +I do not by nature worry about little things, and had come so far without +minding anything. But hardly a month had passed since I came here, and I have +begun to regard the world quite uneasily. I have not met with any particularly +serious affairs, but I feel as if I had grown five or six years older. Better +say “good by” to this old spot soon and return to Tokyo, I thought. +While strolling thus thinking on various matters, I had passed the stone bridge +and come up to the levy of the Nozeri river. The word river sounds too big; it +is a shallow stream of about six feet wide. If one goes on along the levy for +about twelve blocks, he reaches the Aioi village where there is a temple of +Kwanon. +</p> + +<p> +Looking back at the town of the hot springs, I see red lights gleaming amid the +pale moon beams. Where the sound of the drum is heard must be the tenderloin. +The stream is shallow but fast, whispering incessantly. When I had covered +about three blocks walking leisurely upon the bank, I perceived a shadow ahead. +Through the light of the moon, I found there were two shadows. They were +probably village youngsters returning from the hot springs, though they did not +sing, and were exceptionally quiet for that. +</p> + +<p> +I kept on walking, and I was faster than they. The two shadows became larger. +One appeared like a woman. When I neared them within about sixty feet, the man, +on hearing my footsteps, turned back. The moon was shining from behind me. I +could see the manner of the man then and something queer struck me. They +resumed their walk as before. And I chased them on a full speed. The other +party, unconscious, walked slowly. I could now hear their voice distinctly. The +levy was about six feet wide, and would allow only three abreast. I easily +passed them, and turning back gazed squarely into the face of the man. The moon +generously bathed my face with its beaming light. The fellow uttered a low +“ah,” and suddenly turning sideway, said to the woman +“Let’s go back.” They traced their way back toward the hot +springs town. +</p> + +<p> +Was it the intention of Red Shirt to hush the matter up by pretending +ignorance, or was it lack of nerve? I was not the only fellow who suffered the +consequence of living in a small narrow town. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap08"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p> +On my way back from the fishing to which I was invited by Red Shirt, and since +then, I began to suspect Porcupine. When the latter wanted me to get out of +Ikagin’s house on sham pretexts, I regarded him a decidedly unpleasant +fellow. But as Porcupine, at the teachers’ meeting, contrary to my +expectation, stood firmly for punishing the students to the fullest extent of +the school regulations, I thought it queer. When I heard from the old lady +about Porcupine volunteering himself for the sake of Hubbard Squash to stop Red +Shirt meddling with the Madonna, I clapped my hands and hoorayed for him. +Judging by these facts, I began to wonder if the wrong-doer might be not +Porcupine, but Red Shirt the crooked one. He instilled into my head some flimsy +hearsay plausibly and in a roundabout-way. At this juncture I saw Red Shirt +taking a walk with the Madonna on the levy of the Nozeri river, and I decided +that Red Shirt may be a scoundrel. I am not sure of his being really scoundrel +at heart, but at any rate he is not a good fellow. He is a fellow with a double +face. A man deserves no confidence unless he is as straight as the bamboo. One +may fight a straight fellow, and feel satisfied. We cannot lose sight of the +fact that Red Shirt or his kind who is kind, gentle, refined, and takes pride +in his pipe had to be looked sharp, for I could not be too careful in getting +into a scrap with the fellow of this type. I may fight, but I would not get +square games like the wrestling matches at the Wrestling Amphitheatre +in Tokyo. +Come to think of it, Porcupine who turned against me and startled the whole +teachers’ room over the amount of one sen and a half is far more like a +man. When he stared at me with owlish eyes at the teachers’ meeting, I +branded him as a spiteful guy, but as I consider the matter now, he is better +than the feline voice of Red Shirt. To tell the truth, I tried to get +reconciled with Porcupine, and after the meeting, spoke a word or two to him, +but he shut up like a clam and kept glaring at me. So I became sore, and let it +go at that. +</p> + +<p> +Porcupine has not spoken to me since. The one sen and a half which I paid him +back upon the desk, is still there, well covered with dust. I could not touch +it, nor would Porcupine take it. This one sen and a half has become a barrier +between us two. We two were cursed with this one sen and a half. Later indeed I +got sick of its sight that I hated to see it. +</p> + +<p> +While Porcupine and I were thus estranged, Red Shirt and I continued friendly +relations and associated together. On the day following my accidental meeting +with him near the Nozeri river, for instance, Red Shirt came to my desk as soon +as he came to the school, and asked me how I liked the new boarding house. He +said we would go together for fishing Russian literature again, and talked on +many things. I felt a bit piqued, and said, “I saw you twice last +night,” and he answered, “Yes, at the station. Do you go there at +that time every day? Isn’t it late?” I startled him with the +remark; “I met you on the levy of the Nozeri river too, didn’t +I?” and he replied, “No, I didn’t go in that direction. I +returned right after my bath.” +</p> + +<p> +What is the use of trying to keep it dark. Didn’t we meet actually face +to face? He tells too many lies. If one can hold the job of a head teacher and +act in this fashion, I should be able to run the position of Chancellor of a +university. From this time on, my confidence in Red Shirt became still less. I +talk with Red Shirt whom I do not trust, and I keep silent with Porcupine whom +I respect. Funny things do happen in this world. +</p> + +<p> +One day Red Shirt asked me to come over to his house as he had something to +tell me, and much as I missed the trip to the hot springs, I started for his +house at about 4 o’clock. Red Shirt is single, but in keeping with the +dignity of a head teacher, he gave up the boarding house life long ago, and +lives in a fine house. The house rent, I understood, was nine yen and fifty +sen. The front entrance was so attractive that I thought if one can live in +such a splendid house at nine yen and a half in the country, it would be a good +game to call Kiyo from Tokyo and make her heart glad. The younger brother of +Red Shirt answered my bell. This brother gets his lessons on algebra and +mathematics from me at the school. He stands no show in his school work, and +being a “migratory bird” is more wicked than the native boys. +</p> + +<p> +I met Red Shirt. Smoking the same old unsavory amber pipe, he said something to +the following effect: +</p> + +<p> +“Since you’ve been with us, our work has been more satisfactory +than it was under your predecessor, and the principal is very glad to have got +the right person in the right place. I wish you to work as hard as you can, for +the school is depending upon you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, is that so. I don’t think I can work any harder than +now…….” +</p> + +<p> +“What you’re doing now is enough. Only don’t forget what I +told you the other day.” +</p> + +<p> +“Meaning that one who helps me find a boarding house is dangerous?” +</p> + +<p> +“If you state it so baldly, there is no meaning to it……. But that’s +all right,…… I believe you understand the spirit of my advice. And if you keep +on in the way you’re going to-day …… We have not been blind …… we might +offer you a better treatment later on if we can manage it.” +</p> + +<p> +“In salary? I don’t care about the salary, though the more the +better.” +</p> + +<p> +“And fortunately there is going to be one teacher transferred,…… however, +I can’t guarantee, of course, until I talk it over with the principal …… +and we might give you something out of his salary.” +</p> + +<p> +“Thank you. Who is going to be transferred?” +</p> + +<p> +“I think I may tell you now; ’tis going to be announced +soon. Koga +is the man.” +</p> + +<p> +“But isn’t Koga-san a native of this town?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, he is. But there are some circumstances …… and it is partly by his +own preference.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is he going?” +</p> + +<p> +“To Nobeoka in Hiuga province. As the place is so far away, he is going +there with his salary raised a grade higher.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is some one coming to take his place?” +</p> + +<p> +“His successor is almost decided upon.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, that’s fine, though I’m not very anxious to have my +salary raised.” +</p> + +<p> +“I’m going to talk to the principal about that anyway. And, we may +have to ask you to work more some time later …… and the principal appears to be +of the same opinion……. I want you to go[I] ahead with that in your mind.” +</p> + +<p> +“Going to increase my working hours?” +</p> + +<p> +“No. The working hours may be reduced……” +</p> + +<p> +“The working hours shortened and yet work more? Sounds funny.” +</p> + +<p> +“It does sound funny …… I can’t say definitely just yet …… it means +that we may have to ask you to assume more responsibility.” +</p> + +<p> +I could not make out what he meant. To assume more responsibility might mean my +appointment to the senior instructor of mathematics, but Porcupine is the +senior instructor and there is no danger of his resigning. Besides, he is so +very popular among the students that his transfer or discharge would be +inadvisable. Red Shirt always misses the point. And though he did not get to +the point, the object of my visit was ended. We talked a while on sundry +matters, Red Shirt proposing a farewell dinner party for Hubbard Squash, asking +me if I drink liquor and praising Hubbard Squash as an amiable gentleman, etc. +Finally he changed the topic and asked me if I take an interest in +“haiku.”[8] Here is where I beat it, I thought, and, +saying +“No, I don’t, good by,” hastily left the house. The +“haiku” should be a diversion of Baseo[9] or the boss of a +barbershop. It would not do for the teacher of mathematics to rave over the old +wooden bucket and the morning glory.[10] +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Footnote 8: The 17-syllable poem.] +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Footnote 9: A famous composer of the poem.] +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Footnote 10: There is a well-known 17-syllable poem describing the scene of +morning glories entwining around the wooden bucket.] +</p> + +<p> +I returned home and thought it over. Here is a man whose mental process defies +a layman’s understanding. He is going to court hardships in a strange +part of the country in preference of his home and the school where he is +working,—both of which should satisfy most anybody,—because he is +tired of them. That may be all right if the strange place happens to be a +lively metropolis where electric cars run,—but of all places, why Nobeoka +in Hiuga province? This town here has a good steamship connection, yet I became +sick of it and longed for home before one month had passed. Nobeoka is situated +in the heart of a most mountainous country. According to Red Shirt, one has to +make an all-day ride in a wagonette to Miyazaki, after he had left the vessel, +and from Miyazaki another all-day ride in a rikisha to Nobeoka. Its name alone +does not commend itself as civilized. It sounds like a town inhabited by men +and monkeys in equal numbers. However sage-like Hubbard Squash might be I +thought he would not become a friend of monkeys of his own choice. What a +curious slant! +</p> + +<p> +Just then the old lady brought in my supper—“Sweet potatoes +again?” I asked, and she said, “No, Sir, it is tofu +to-night.” They are about the same thing. +</p> + +<p> +“Say, I understand Koga-san is going to Nobeoka.” +</p> + +<p> +“Isn’t it too bad?” +</p> + +<p> +“Too bad? But it can’t be helped if he goes there by his own +preference.” +</p> + +<p> +“Going there by his own preference? Who, Sir?” +</p> + +<p> +“Who? Why, he! Isn’t Professor Koga going there by his own +choice?” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s wrong Mr. Wright, Sir.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ha, Mr. Wright, is it? But Red Shirt told me so just now. If +that’s wrong Mr. Wright, then Red Shirt is blustering Mr. Bluff.” +</p> + +<p> +“What the head-teacher says is believable, but so Koga-san does not wish +to go.” +</p> + +<p> +“Our old lady is impartial, and that is good. Well, what’s the +matter?” +</p> + +<p> +“The mother of Koga-san was here this morning, and told me all the +circumstances.” +</p> + +<p> +“Told you what circumstances?” +</p> + +<p> +“Since the father of Koga-san died, they have not been quite well off as +we might have supposed, and the mother asked the principal if his salary could +not be raised a little as Koga-san has been in service for four years. +See?” +</p> + +<p> +“Well?” +</p> + +<p> +“The principal said that he would consider the matter, and she felt +satisfied and expected the announcement of the increase before long. She hoped +for its coming this month or next. Then the principal called Koga-san to his +office one day and said that he was sorry but the school was short of money and +could not raise his salary. But he said there is an opening in Nobeoka which +would give him five yen extra a month and he thought that would suit his +purpose, and the principal had made all arrangements and told Koga-san he had +better go…….” +</p> + +<p> +“That wasn’t a friendly talk but a command. Wasn’t it?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Sir, Koga-san told the principal that he liked to stay here better +at the old salary than go elsewhere on an increased salary, because he has his +own house and is living with his mother. But the matter has all been settled, +and his successor already appointed and it couldn’t be helped, said the +principal.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hum, that’s a jolly good trick, I should say. Then Koga-san has no +liking to go there? No wonder I thought it strange. We would have to go a long +way to find any blockhead to do a job in such a mountain village and get +acquainted with monkeys for five yen extra.” +</p> + +<p> +“What is a blockhead, Sir?” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, let go at that. It was all the scheme of Red Shirt. Deucedly +underhand scheme, I declare. It was a stab from behind. And he means to raise +my salary by that; that’s not right. I wouldn’t take that raise. +Let’s see if he can raise it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is your salary going to be raised, Sir?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, they said they would raise mine, but I’m thinking of refusing +it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you refuse?” +</p> + +<p> +“Why or no why, it’s going to be refused. Say, Red Shirt is a fool; +he is a coward.” +</p> + +<p> +“He may be a coward, but if he raises your salary, it would be best for +you to make no fuss, but accept it. One is apt to get grouchy when young, but +will always repent when he is grown up and thinks that it was pity he +hadn’t been a little more patient. Take an old woman’s advice for +once, and if Red Shirt-san says he will raise your salary, just take it with +thanks.” +</p> + +<p> +“It’s none of business of you old people.” +</p> + +<p> +The old lady withdrew in silence. The old man is heard singing +“utai” in the off-key voice. “Utai,” I think, is a +stunt which purposely makes a whole show a hard nut to crack by giving to it +difficult tunes, whereas one could better understand it by reading it. I cannot +fathom what is in the mind of the old man who groans over it every night +untired. But I’m not in a position to be fooling with “utai.” +Red Shirt said he would have my salary raised, and though I did not care much +about it, I accepted it because there was no use of leaving the money lying +around. But I cannot, for the love of Mike, be so inconsiderate as to skin the +salary of a fellow teacher who is being transferred against his will. What in +thunder do they mean by sending him away so far as Nobeoka when the fellow +prefers to remain in his old position? Even Dazai-no-Gonnosutsu did not have to +go farther than about Hakata; even Matagoro Kawai [11] stopped at Sagara. I +shall not feel satisfied unless I see Red Shirt and tell him I refuse the +raise. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Footnote 11: The persons in exile, well-known in Japanese history.] +</p> + +<p> +I dressed again and went to his house. The same younger brother of Red Shirt +again answered the bell, and looked at me with eyes which plainly said, +“You here again?” I will come twice or thrice or as many times as I +want to if there is business. I might rouse them out of their beds at +midnight;—it is possible, who knows. Don’t mistake me for one +coming to coax the head teacher. I was here to give back my salary. The younger +brother said that there is a visitor just now, and I told him the front door +will do; won’t take more than a minute, and he went in. Looking about my +feet, I found a pair of thin, matted wooden clogs, and I heard some one in the +house saying, “Now we’re banzai.” I noticed that the visitor +was Clown. Nobody but Clown could make such a squeaking voice and wear such +clogs as are worn by cheap actors. +</p> + +<p> +After a while Red Shirt appeared at the door with a lamp in his hand, and said, +“Come in; it’s no other than Mr. Yoshikawa.” +</p> + +<p> +“This is good enough,” I said, “it won’t take +long.” I looked at his face which was the color of a boiled lobster. He +seemed to have been drinking with Clown. +</p> + +<p> +“You told me that you would raise my salary, but I’ve changed my +mind, and have come here to decline the offer.” +</p> + +<p> +Red Shirt, thrusting out the lamp forward, and intently staring at me, was +unable to answer at the moment. He appeared blank. Did he think it strange that +here was one fellow, only one in the world, who does not want his salary +raised, or was he taken aback that I should come back so soon even if I wished +to decline it, or was it both combined, he stood there silent with his mouth in +a queer shape. +</p> + +<p> +“I accepted your offer because I understood that Mr. Koga was being +transferred by his own preference…….” +</p> + +<p> +“Mr. Koga is really going to be transferred by his own preference.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, Sir. He would like to stay here. He doesn’t mind his present +salary if he can stay.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have you heard it from Mr. Koga himself?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, not from him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then, from who?” +</p> + +<p> +“The old lady in my boarding house told me what she heard from the mother +of Mr. Koga.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then the old woman in your boarding house told you so?” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, that’s about the size of it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Excuse me, but I think you are wrong. According to what you say, it +seems as if you believe what the old woman in the boarding house tells you, but +would not believe what your head teacher tells you. Am I right to understand it +that way?” +</p> + +<p> +I was stuck. A Bachelor of Arts is confoundedly good in oratorical combat. He +gets hold of unexpected point, and pushes the other backward. My father used to +tell me that I am too careless and no good, and now indeed I look that way. I +ran out of the house on the moment’s impulse when I heard the story from +the old lady, and in fact I had not heard the story from either Hubbard Squash +or his mother. In consequence, when I was challenged in this Bachelor-of-Arts +fashion, it was a bit difficult to defend myself. +</p> + +<p> +I could not defend his frontal attack, but I had already declared in my mind a +lack of confidence on Red Shirt. The old lady in the boarding house may be +tight and a grabber, I do not doubt it, but she is a woman who tells no lie. +She is not double faced like Red Shirt. I was helpless, so I +answered. +</p> + +<p> +“What you say might be right,—anyway, I decline the raise.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s still funnier. I thought your coming here now was because +you had found a certain reason for which you could not accept the raise. Then +it is hard to understand to see you still insisting on declining the raise in +spite of the reason having been eradicated by my explanation.” +</p> + +<p> +“It may be hard to understand, but anyway I don’t want it.” +</p> + +<p> +“If you don’t like it so much, I wouldn’t force it on you. +But if you change your mind within two or three hours with no particular +reason, it would affect your credit in future.” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t care if it does affect it.” +</p> + +<p> +“That can’t be. Nothing is more important than credit for us. +Supposing, the boss of the boarding house…….” +</p> + +<p> +“Not the boss, but the old lady.” +</p> + +<p> +“Makes no difference,—suppose what the old woman in the boarding +house told you was true, the raise of your salary is not to be had by reducing +the income of Mr. Koga, is it? Mr. Koga is going to Nobeoka; his successor is +coming. He comes on a salary a little less than that of Mr. Koga, and we +propose to add the surplus money to your salary, and you need not be shy. Mr. +Koga will be promoted; the successor is to start on less pay, and if you could +be raised, I think everything be satisfactory to all concerned. If you +don’t like it, that’s all right, but suppose you think it over once +more at home?” +</p> + +<p> +My brain is not of the best stuff, and if another fellow flourishes his +eloquence like this, I usually think, “Well, perhaps I was wrong,” +and consider myself defeated, but not so to-night. From the time I came to this +town I felt prejudiced against Red Shirt. Once I had thought of him in a +different light, taking him for a fellow kind-hearted and feminished. His +kindness, however, began to look like anything but kindness, and as a result, I +have been getting sick of him. So no matter how he might glory himself in +logical grandiloquence, or how he might attempt to out-talk me in a +head-teacher-style, I don’t care a snap. One who shines in argument is +not necessarily a good fellow, while the other who is out-talked is not +necessarily a bad fellow, either. Red Shirt is very, very reasonable as far as +his reasoning goes, but however graceful he may appear, he cannot win my +respect. If money, authority or reasoning can command admiration, loansharks, +police officers or college professors should be liked best by all. I cannot be +moved in the least by the logic by so insignificant a fellow as the head +teacher of a middle school. Man works by preference, not by logic. +</p> + +<p> +“What you say is right, but I have begun to dislike the raise, so I +decline. It will be the same if I think it over. Good by.” And I left the +house of Red Shirt. The solitary milky way hung high in the sky. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap09"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p> +When I went to the school, in the morning of the day the farewell dinner party +was to be held, Porcupine suddenly spoke to me; +</p> + +<p> +“The other day I asked you to quit the Ikagins because Ikagin begged of +me to have you leave there as you were too tough, and I believed him. But I +heard afterward that Ikagin is a crook and often passes imitation of famous +drawings for originals. I think what he told me about you must be a lie. He +tried to sell pictures and curios to you, but as you shook him off, he told +some false stories on you. I did very wrong by you because I did not know his +character, and wish you would forgive me.” And he offered me a lengthy +apology. +</p> + +<p> +Without saying a word, I took up the one sen and a half which was lying on the +desk of Porcupine, and put it into my purse. He asked me in a wondering tone, +if I meant to take it back. I explained, “Yes. I didn’t like to +have you treat me and expected to pay this back at all hazard, but as I think +about it, I would rather have you treated me after all; so I’m going to +take it back.” +</p> + +<p> +Porcupine laughed heartily and asked me why I had not taken it back sooner. I +told him that I wanted to more than once, in fact, but somehow felt shy and +left it there. I was sick of that one sen and a half these days that I shunned +the sight of it when I came to the school, I said. He said “You’re +a deucedly unyielding sport,” and I answered “You’re +obstinate.” Then ensued the following give-and-take between us two; +</p> + +<p> +“Where were you born anyway?” +</p> + +<p> +“I’m a Yedo kid.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, a Yedo kid, eh? No wonder I thought you a pretty stiff neck.” +</p> + +<p> +“And you?” +</p> + +<p> +“I’m from Aizu.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ha, Aizu guy, eh? You’ve got reason to be obstinate. Going to the +farewell dinner to-day?” +</p> + +<p> +“Sure. You?” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course I am. I intend to go down to the beach to see Koga-san off +when he leaves.” +</p> + +<p> +“The farewell dinner should be a big blow-out. You come and see. +I’m going to get soused to the neck.” +</p> + +<p> +“You get loaded all you want. I quit the place right after I finish my +plates. Only fools fight booze.” +</p> + +<p> +“You’re a fellow who picks up a fight too easy. It shows up the +characteristic of the Yedo kid well.” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t care. Say, before you go to the farewell dinner, come to +see me. I want to tell you something.” +</p> + +<p> +Porcupine came to my room as promised. I had been in full sympathy with Hubbard +Squash these days, and when it came to his farewell dinner, my pity for him +welled up so much that I wished I could go to Nobeoka for him myself. I thought +of making a parting address of burning eloquence at the dinner to grace the +occasion, but my speech which rattles off like that of the excited spieler of +New York would not become the place. I planned to take the breath out of Red +Shirt by employing Porcupine who has a thunderous voice. Hence my invitation to +him before we started for the party. +</p> + +<p> +I commenced by explaining the Madonna affair, but Porcupine, needless to say, +knew more about it than I. Telling about my meeting Red Shirt on the Nozeri +river, I called him a fool. Porcupine then said; “You call everybody a +fool. You called me a fool to-day at the school. If I’m a fool, Red Shirt +isn’t,” and insisted that he was not in the same group with Red +Shirt. “Then Red Shirt may be a four-flusher,” I said and he +approved this new alias with enthusiasm. Porcupine is physically strong, but +when it comes to such terms, he knows less than I do. I guess all Aizu guys are +about the same. +</p> + +<p> +Then, when I disclosed to him about the raise of my salary and the advance hint +on my promotion by Red Shirt, Porcupine pished, and said, “Then he means +to discharge me.” “Means to discharge you? But you mean to get +discharged?” I asked. “Bet you, no. If I get fired, Red Shirt will +have to go with me,” he remarked with a lordly air. I insisted on knowing +how he was going to get Red Shirt kicked out with him, and he answered that he +had not thought so far yet. Yes, Porcupine looks strong, but seems to be +possessed of no abundance of brain power. I told him about my refusal of the +raise of my salary, and the Gov’nur was much pleased, praising me with +the remark, “That’s the stuff for Yedo kids.” +</p> + +<p> +“If Hubbard Squash does not like to go down to Nobeoka, why didn’t +you do something to enable him remain here,” I asked, and Porcupine said +that when he heard the story from Hubbard Squash, everything had been settled +already, but he had asked the principal twice and Red Shirt once to have the +transfer order cancelled, but to no purpose. Porcupine bitterly condemned +Hubbard Squash for being too good-natured. If Hubbard Squash, he said, had +either flatly refused or delayed the answer on the pretext of considering it, +when Red Shirt raised the question of transfer, it would have been better for +him. But he was fooled by the oily tongue of Red Shirt, had accepted the +transfer outright, and all efforts by Porcupine who was moved by the tearful +appeal of the mother, proved unavailing. +</p> + +<p> +I said; “The transfer of Koga is nothing but a trick of Red Shirt to cop +the Madonna by sending Hubbard Squash away.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” said Porcupine. “That must be. Red Shirt +looks gentle, +but plays nasty tricks. He is a sonovagun for when some one finds fault with +him, he has excuses prepared already. Nothing but a sound thumping will be +effective for fellows like him.” +</p> + +<p> +He rolled up his sleeves over his plump arms as he spoke. I asked him, by the +way, if he knew jiujitsu, because his arms looked powerful. Then he put force +in his forearm, and told me to touch it. I felt its swelled muscle which was +hard as the pumic stone in the public bathhouse. +</p> + +<p> +I was deeply impressed by his massive strength, and asked him if he could not +knock five or six of Red Shirt in a bunch. “Of course,” he said, +and as he extended and bent back the arm, the lumpy muscle rolled round and +round, which was very amusing. According to the statement of Porcupine himself, +this muscle, if he bends the arm back with force, would snap a paper-string +wound around it twice. I said I might do the same thing if it were a +paper-string, and he challenged me. “No, you can’t,” he said. +“See if you can.” As it would not look well if I failed, I did not +try. +</p> + +<p> +“Say, after you have drunk all you want to-night at the dinner, take a +fall out of Red Shirt and Clown, eh?” I suggested to him for fun. +Porcupine thought for a moment and said, “Not to-night, I guess.” I +wanted to know why, and he pointed out that it would be bad for Koga. +</p> + +<p> +“Besides, if I’m going to give it to them at all, I’ve to get +them red handed in their dirty scheme, or all the blame will be on me,” +he added discretely. Even Porcupine seems to have wiser judgment than I. +</p> + +<p> +“Then make a speech and praise Mr. Koga sky-high. My speech becomes sort +of jumpy, wanting dignity. And at any formal gathering, I get lumpy in my +throat, and can’t speak. So I leave it to you,” I said. +</p> + +<p> +“That’s a strange disease. Then you can’t speak in the +presence of other people? It would be awkward, I suppose,” he said, and I +told him not quite as much awkward as he might think. +</p> + +<p> +About then, the time for the farewell dinner party arrived, and I went to the +hall with Porcupine. The dinner party was to be held at Kashin-tei which is +said to be the leading restaurant in the town, but I had never been in the +house before. This restaurant, I understood, was formerly the private residence +of the chief retainer of the daimyo of the province, and its condition seemed +to confirm the story. The residence of a chief retainer transformed into a +restaurant was like making a saucepan out of warrior’s armor. +</p> + +<p> +When we two came there, about all of the guests were present. They formed two +or three groups in the spacious room of fifty mats. The alcove in this room, in +harmony with its magnificence, was very large. The alcove in the fifteen-mat +room which I occupied at Yamashiro-ya made a small showing beside it. I +measured it and found it was twelve feet wide. On the right, in the alcove, +there was a seto-ware flower vase, painted with red designs, in which was a +large branch of pine tree. Why the pine twigs, I did not know, except that they +are in no danger of withering for many a month to come, and are economical. I +asked the teacher of natural history where that seto-ware flower vase is made. +He told me it was not a seto-ware but an imari. Isn’t imari seto-ware? I +wondered audibly, and the natural history man laughed. I heard afterward that +we call it a seto-ware because it is made in Seto. I’m a Yedo kid, and +thought all china was seto-wares. In the center of the alcove was hung a panel +on which were written twenty eight letters, each letter as large as my face. It +was poorly written; so poorly indeed that I enquired of the teacher of +Confucius why such a poor work be hung in apparent show of pride. He explained +that it was written by Kaioku a famous artist in the writing, but Kaioku or +anyone else, I still declare the work poorly done. +</p> + +<p> +By and by, Kawamura, the clerk, requested all to be seated. I chose one in +front of a pillar so I could lean against it. Badger sat in front of the panel +of Kaioku in Japanese full dress. On his left sat Red Shirt similarly dressed, +and on his right Hubbard Squash, as the guest of honor, in the same kind of +dress. I was dressed in a European suit, and being unable to sit down, squatted +on my legs at once. The teacher of physical culture next to me, though in the +same kind of rags as mine, sat squarely in Japanese fashion. As a teacher of +his line he appeared to have well trained himself. Then the dinner trays were +served and the bottles placed beside them. The manager of the day stood up and +made a brief opening address. He was followed by Badger and Red Shirt. These +two made farewell addresses, and dwelt at length on Hubbard Squash being an +ideal teacher and gentleman, expressing their regret, saying his departure was +a great loss not only to the school but to them in person. They concluded that +it could not be helped, however, since the transfer was due to his own earnest +desire and for his own convenience. They appeared to be ashamed not in the +least by telling such a lie at a farewell dinner. Particularly, Red Shirt, of +these three, praised Hubbard Squash in lavish terms. He went so far as +to +declare that to lose this true friend was a great personal loss to him. +Moreover, his tone was so impressive in its same old gentle tone that one who +listens to him for the first time would be sure to be misled. Probably he won +the Madonna by this same trick. While Red Shirt was uttering his farewell +buncomb, Porcupine who sat on the other side across me, winked at me. As an +answer of this, I “snooked” at him. +</p> + +<p> +No sooner had Red Shirt sat down than Porcupine stood up, and highly rejoiced, +I clapped hands. At this Badger and others glanced at me, and I felt that I +blushed a little. +</p> + +<p> +“Our principal and other gentlemen,” he said, “particularly +the head teacher, expressed their sincere regret at Mr. Koga’s transfer. +I am of a different opinion, and hope to see him leave the town at the earliest +possible moment. Nobeoka is an out-of-the-way, backwoods town, and compared +with this town, it may have more material inconveniences, but according to what +I have heard, Nobeoka is said to be a town where the customs are simple and +untainted, and the teachers and students still strong in the straightforward +characteristics of old days. I am convinced that in Nobeoka there is not a +single high-collared guy who passes round threadbare remarks, or who with +smooth face, entraps innocent people. I am sure that a man like Mr. Koga, +gentle and honest, will surely be received with an enthusiastic welcome there. +I heartily welcome this transfer for the sake of Mr. Koga. In concluding, I +hope that when he is settled down at Nobeoka, he will find a lady qualified to +become his wife, and form a sweet home at an early date and incidentally let +the inconstant, unchaste sassy old wench die ashamed …… a’hum, +a’hum!” +</p> + +<p> +He coughed twice significantly and sat down. I thought of clapping my hands +again, but as it would draw attention, I refrained. When Porcupine finished his +speech, Hubbard Squash arose politely, slipped out of his seat, went to the +furthest end of the room, and having bowed to all in a most respectful manner, +acknowledged the compliments in the following way; +</p> + +<p> +“On the occasion of my going to Kyushu for my personal convenience, I am +deeply impressed and appreciate the way my friends have honored me with this +magnificent dinner……. The farewell addresses by our principal and other +gentlemen will be long held in my fondest recollection……. I am going far away +now, but I hope my name be included in the future as in the past in the list of +friends of the gentlemen here to-night.” +</p> + +<p> +Then again bowing, he returned to his seat. There was no telling how far the +“good-naturedness” of Hubbard Squash might go. He had respectfully +thanked the principal and the head teacher who had been fooling him. And it was +not a formal, cut-and-dried reply he made, either; by his manner, tone and +face, he appeared to have been really grateful from his heart. Badger and Red +Shirt should have blushed when they were addressed so seriously by so good a +man as Hubbard Squash, but they only listened with long faces. +</p> + +<p> +After the exchange of addresses, a sizzling sound was heard here and there, and +I too tried the soup which tasted like anything but soup. There was kamaboko in +the kuchitori dish, but instead of being snow white as it should be, it looked +grayish, and was more like a poorly cooked chikuwa. The sliced tunny was there, +but not having been sliced fine, passed the throat like so many pieces of +chopped raw tunny. Those around me, however, ate with ravenous appetite. They +have not tasted, I guess, the real Yedo dinner. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the bottles began passing round, and all became more or less +“jacked up.” Clown proceeded to the front of the principal and +submissively drank to his health. A beastly fellow, this! Hubbard Squash made a +round of all the guests, drinking to their health. A very onerous job, indeed. +When he came to me and proposed my health, I abandoned the squatting posture +and sat up straight. +</p> + +<p> +“Too bad to see you go away so soon. When are you going? I want to see +you off at the beach,” I said. +</p> + +<p> +“Thank you, Sir. But never mind that. You’re busy,” he +declined. He might decline, but I was determined to get excused for the day and +give him a rousing send-off. +</p> + +<p> +Within about an hour from this, the room became pretty lively. +</p> + +<p> +“Hey, have another, hic; ain’t goin’, hic, have one on +me?” One or two already in a pickled state appeared on the scene. I was +little tired, and going out to the porch, was looking at the old fashioned +garden by the dim star light, when Porcupine came. +</p> + +<p> +“How did you like my speech? Wasn’t it grand, though!” he +remarked in a highly elated tone. I protested that while I approved 99 per +cent. of his speech, there was one per cent. that I did not. +“What’s that one per cent?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, you said,…… there is not a single high-collared guy who with +smooth face entraps innocent people…….” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> + +<p> +“A ‘high-collared guy’ isn’t enough.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then what should I say?” +</p> + +<p> +“Better say,—‘a high-collared guy; swindler, bastard, +super-swanker, doubleface, bluffer, totempole, spotter, who looks like a dog as +he yelps.’” +</p> + +<p> +“I can’t get my tongue to move so fast. You’re eloquent. In +the first place, you know a great many simple words. Strange that you +can’t make a speech.” +</p> + +<p> +“I reserve these words for use when I chew the rag. If it comes to +speech-making, they don’t come out so smoothly.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is that so? But they simply come a-running. Repeat that again for +me.” +</p> + +<p> +“As many times as you like. Listen,—a high-collared guy, swindler, +bastard, super-swanker …” +</p> + +<p> +While I was repeating this, two shaky fellows came out of the room hammering +the floor. +</p> + +<p> +“Hey, you two gents, if won’t do to run away. Won’t let you +off while I’m here. Come and have a drink. Bastard? That’s fine. +Bastardly fine. Now, come on.” +</p> + +<p> +And they pulled Porcupine and me away. These two fellows really had come to the +lavatory, but soaked as they were, in booze bubbles, they apparently forgot to +proceed to their original destination, and were pulling us hard. All booze +fighters seem to be attracted by whatever comes directly under their eyes for +the moment and forget what they had been proposing to do. +</p> + +<p> +“Say, fellows, we’ve got bastards. Make them drink. Get them +loaded. You gents got to stay here.” +</p> + +<p> +And they pushed me who never attempted to escape against the wall. Surveying +the scene, I found there was no dish in which any edibles were left. Some one +had eaten all his share, and gone on a foraging expedition. The principal was +not there,—I did not know when he left. +</p> + +<p> +At that time, preceded by a coquetish voice, three or four geishas entered the +room. I was a bit surprised, but having been pushed against the wall, I had to +look on quietly. At the instant, Red Shirt who had been leaning against a +pillar with the same old amber pipe stuck into his mouth with some pride, +suddenly got up and started to leave the room. One of the geishas who was +advancing toward him smiled and courtesied at him as she passed by him. The +geisha was the youngest and prettiest of the bunch. They were some distance +away from me and I could not see very well, but it seemed that she might have +said “Good evening.” Red Shirt brushed past as if unconscious, and +never showed again. Probably he followed the principal. +</p> + +<p> +The sight of the geishas set the room immediately in a buzz and it became noisy +as they all raised howls of welcome. Some started the game of +“nanko” with a force that beat the sword-drawing practice. Others +began playing morra, and the way they shook their hands, intently absorbed in +the game, was a better spectacle than a puppet show. +</p> + +<p> +One in the corner was calling “Hey, serve me here,” but shaking the +bottle, corrected it to “Hey, fetch me more sake.” The whole room +became so infernally noisy that I could scarcely stand it. Amid this orgy, one, +like a fish out of water, sat down with his head bowed. It was Hubbard Squash. +The reason they have held this farewell dinner party was not in order to bid +him a farewell, but because they wanted to have a jolly good time for +themselves with John Barleycorn. He had come to suffer only. Such a dinner +party would have been better had it not been started at all. +</p> + +<p> +After a while, they began singing ditties in outlandish voices. One of the +geishas came in front of me, and taking up a samisen, asked me to sing +something. I told her I didn’t sing, but I’d like to hear, and she +droned out: +</p> + +<p> +“If one can go round and meet the one he wants, banging gongs and drums +…… bang, bang, bang, bang, bing, shouting after wandering Santaro, there is +some one I’d like to meet by banging round gongs and drums …… bang, bang, +bang, bang, b-i-n-g.” +</p> + +<p> +She dashed this off in two breaths, and sighed, “O, dear!” She +should have sung something easier. +</p> + +<p> +Clown who had come near us meanwhile, remarked in his flippant tone: +</p> + +<p> +“Hello, dear Miss Su-chan, too bad to see your beau go away so +soon.” The geisha pouted, “I don’t know.” Clown, +regardless, began imitating “gidayu” with a dismal +voice,—“What a luck, when she met her sweet heart by a rare +chance….” +</p> + +<p> +The geisha slapped the lap of Clown with a “Cut that out,” and +Clown gleefully laughed. This geisha is the one who made goo-goo eyes[J] at Red +Shirt. What a simpleton, to be pleased by the slap of a geisha, this Clown. He +said: +</p> + +<p> +“Say, Su-chan, strike up the string. I’m going to dance the +Kiino-kuni.” He seemed yet to dance. +</p> + +<p> +On other side of the room, the old man of Confucius, twisting round his +toothless mouth, had finished as far as “…… dear Dembei-san” and is +asking a geisha who sat in front of him to couch him for the rest. Old people +seem to need polishing up their memorizing system. One geisha is talking to the +teacher of natural history: +</p> + +<p> +“Here’s the latest. I’ll sing it. Just listen. +‘Margaret, the high-collared head with a white ribbon; she rides on a +bike, plays a violin, and talks in broken English,—I am glad to see +you.’” Natural history appears impressed, and says; +</p> + +<p> +“That’s an interesting piece. English in it too.” +</p> + +<p> +Porcupine called “geisha, geisha,” in a loud voice, and commanded; +“Bang your samisen; I’m going to dance a sword-dance.” +</p> + +<p> +His manner was so rough that the geishas were startled and did not answer. +Porcupine, unconcerned, brought out a cane, and began performing the +sword-dance in the center of the room. Then Clown, having danced the +Kii-no-kuni, the Kap-pore[K] and the Durhma-san on the Shelf, almost +stark-naked, with a palm-fibre broom, began turkey-trotting about the room, +shouting “The Sino-Japanese negotiations came to a break…….” The +whole was a crazy sight. +</p> + +<p> +I had been feeling sorry for Hubbard Squash, who up to this time had sat up +straight in his full dress. Even were this a farewell dinner held in his honor, +I thought he was under no obligation to look patiently in a formal dress at the +naked dance. So I went to him and persuaded him with “Say, Koga-san, +let’s go home.” Hubbard Squash said the dinner was in his honor, +and it would be improper for him to leave the room before the guests. He seemed +to be determined to remain. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you care!” I said, “If this is a farewell dinner, +make it like one. Look at those fellows; they’re just like the inmates of +a lunatic asylum. Let’s go.” +</p> + +<p> +And having forced hesitating Hubbard Squash to his feet, we were just leaving +the room, when Clown, marching past, brandishing the broom, saw us. +</p> + +<p> +“This won’t do for the guest of honor to leave before us,” he +hollered, “this is the Sino-Japanese negotiations. Can’t let you +off.” He enforced his declaration by holding the broom across our way. My +temper had been pretty well aroused for some time, and I felt impatient. +</p> + +<p> +“The Sino-Japanese negotiation, eh? Then you’re a Chink,” and +I whacked his head with a knotty fist. +</p> + +<p> +This sudden blow left Clown staring blankly speechless for a second or two; +then he stammered out: +</p> + +<p> +“This is going some! Mighty pity to knock my head. What a blow on this +Yoshikawa! This makes the Sino-Japanese negotiations the sure stuff.” +</p> + +<p> +While Clown was mumbling these incoherent remarks, Porcupine, believing some +kind of row had been started, ceased his sword-dance and came running toward +us. On seeing us, he grabbed the neck of Clown and pulled him back. +</p> + +<p> +“The Sino-Japane……ouch!……ouch! This is outrageous,” and Clown +writhed under the grip of Porcupine who twisted him sideways and threw him down +on the floor with a bang. I do not know the rest. I parted from Hubbard Squash +on the way, and it was past eleven when I returned home. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap10"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p> +The town is going to celebrate a Japanese victory to-day, and there is no +school. The celebration is to be held at the parade ground, and Badger is to +take out all the students and attend the ceremony. As one of the instructors, I +am to go with them. The streets are everywhere draped with flapping national +flags almost enough to dazzle the eyes. There were as many as eight hundred +students in all, and it was arranged, under the direction of the teacher of +physical culture to divide them into sections with one teacher or two to lead +them. The arrangement itself was quite commendable, but in its actual operation +the whole thing went wrong. All students are mere kiddies who, ever too fresh, +regard it as beneath their dignity not to break all regulations. This rendered +the provision of teachers among them practically useless. They would start +marching songs without being told to, and if they ceased the marching songs, +they would raise devilish shouts without cause. Their behavior would have done +credit to the gang of tramps parading the streets demanding work. When they +neither sing nor shout, they tee-hee and giggle. Why they cannot walk without +these disorder, passes my understanding, but all Japanese are born with their +mouths stuck out, and no kick will ever be strong enough to stop it. Their +chatter is not only of simple nature, but about the teachers when their back is +turned. What a degraded bunch! I made the students apologize to me on the +dormitory affair, and considered the incident closed. But I was mistaken. To +borrow the words of the old lady in the boarding house, I was surely wrong Mr. +Wright. The apology they offered was not prompted by repentance in their +hearts. They had kowtowed as a matter of form by the command of the principal. +Like the tradespeople who bow their heads low but never give up cheating the +public, the students apologize but never stop their mischiefs. Society is made +up, I think it probable, of people just like those students. One may be branded +foolishly honest if he takes seriously the apologies others might offer. We +should regard all apologies a sham and forgiving also as a sham; then +everything would be all right. If one wants to make another apologize from his +heart, he has to pound him good and strong until he begs for mercy from his +heart. +</p> + +<p> +As I walked along between the sections, I could hear constantly the voices +mentioning “tempura” or “dango.” And as there were so +many of them, I could not tell which one mentioned it. Even if I succeeded in +collaring the guilty one I was sure of his saying, “No, I didn’t +mean you in saying tempura or dango. I fear you suffer from nervousness and +make wrong inferences.” This dastardly spirit has been fostered from the +time of the feudal lords, and is deep-rooted. No amount of teaching or +lecturing will cure it. If I stay in a town like this for one year or so, I may +be compelled to follow their example, who knows,—clean and honest though +I have been. I do not propose to make a fool of myself by remaining quiet when +others attempt to play games on me, with all their excuses ready-made. They are +men and so am I—students or kiddies or whatever they may be. They are +bigger than I, and unless I get even with them by punishment, I would cut a +sorry figure. But in the attempt to get even, if I resort to ordinary means, +they are sure to make it a boomerang. If I tell them, “You’re +wrong,” they will start an eloquent defence, because they are never short +of the means of sidestepping. Having defended themselves, and made themselves +appear suffering martyrs, they would begin attacking me. As the incident would +have been started by my attempting to get even with them, my defence would not +be a defence until I can prove their wrong. So the quarrel, which they had +started, might be mistaken, after all, as one begun by me. But the more I keep +silent the more they would become insolent, which, speaking seriously, could +not be permitted for the sake of public morale. In consequence, I am obliged to +adopt an identical policy so they cannot catch men in playing it back on them. +If the situation comes to that, it would be the last day of the Yedo kid. Even +so, if I am to be subjected to these pin-pricking[L] tricks, I am a man and got +to risk losing off the last remnant of the honor of the Yedo kid. I became more +convinced of the advisability of returning to Tokyo quickly and living with +Kiyo. To live long in such a countrytown would be like degrading myself for a +purpose. Newspaper delivering would be preferable to being degraded so far as +that. +</p> + +<p> +I walked along with a sinking heart, thinking like this, when the head of our +procession became suddenly noisy, and the whole came to a full stop. I thought +something has happened, stepped to the right out of the ranks, and looked +toward the direction of the noise. There on the corner of Otemachi, turning to +Yakushimachi, I saw a mass packed full like canned sardines, alternately +pushing back and forth. The teacher of physical culture came down the line +hoarsely shouting to all to be quiet. I asked him what was the matter, and he +said the middle school and the normal had come to a clash at the corner. +</p> + +<p> +The middle school and the normal, I understood, are as much friendly as dogs +and monkeys. It is not explained why but their temper was hopelessly crossed, +and each would try to knock the chip off the shoulder of the other on all +occasions. I presume they quarrel so much because life gets monotonous in this +backwoods town. I am fond of fighting, and hearing of the clash, darted forward +to make the most of the fun. Those foremost in the line are jeering, “Get +out of the way, you country tax!”[12] while those in the rear are +hollowing “Push them out!” I passed through the students, and was +nearing the corner, when I heard a sharp command of “Forward!” and +the line of the normal school began marching on. The clash which had resulted +from contending for the right of way was settled, but it was settled by the +middle school giving way to the normal. From the point of school-standing the +normal is said to rank above the middle. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Footnote 12: The normal school in the province maintains the students mostly +on the advance-expense system, supported by the country tax.] +</p> + +<p> +The ceremony was quite simple. The commander of the local brigade read a +congratulatory address, and so did the governor, and the audience shouted +banzais. That was all. The entertainments were scheduled for the afternoon, and +I returned home once and started writing to Kiyo an answer which had been in my +mind for some days. Her request had been that I should write her a letter with +more detailed news; so I must get it done with care. But as I took up the +rolled letter-paper, I did not know with what I should begin, though I have +many things to write about. +</p> + +<p> +Should I begin with that? That is too much trouble. Or with this? It is not +interesting. Isn’t there something which will come out smoothly, I +reflected, without taxing my head too much, and which will interest Kiyo. There +seemed, however, no such item as I wanted. I grated the ink-cake, +wetted the +writing brush, stared at the letter-paper—stared at the letter-paper, +wetted the writing brush, grated the ink-cake—and, having repeated the +same thing several times, I gave up the letter writing as not in my line, and +covered the lid of the stationery box. To write a letter was a bother. It would +be much simpler to go back to Tokyo and see Kiyo. Not that I am unconcerned +about the anxiety of Kiyo, but to get up a letter to please the fancy of Kiyo +is a harder job than to fast for three weeks. +</p> + +<p> +I threw down the brush and letter-paper, and lying down with my bent arms as a +pillow, gazed at the garden. But the thought of the letter to Kiyo would come +back in my mind. Then I thought this way; If I am thinking of her from my +heart, even at such a distance, my sincerity would find responsive appreciation +in Kiyo. If it does find response, there is no need of sending letters. She +will regard the absence of letters from me as a sign of my being in good +health. If I write in case of illness or when something unusual happens, that +will be sufficient. +</p> + +<p> +The garden is about thirty feet square, with no particular plants worthy of +name. There is one orange tree which is so tall as to be seen above the board +fence from outside. Whenever I returned from the school I used to look at this +orange tree. For to those who had not been outside of Tokyo, oranges on the +tree are rather a novel sight. Those oranges now green will ripen by degrees +and turn to yellow, when the tree would surely be beautiful. There are some +already ripened. The old lady told me that they are juicy, sweet oranges. +“They will all soon be ripe, and then help yourself to all you +want,” she said. I think I will enjoy a few every day. They will be just +right in about three weeks. I do not think I will have to leave the town in so +short a time as three weeks. +</p> + +<p> +While my attention was centered on the oranges, Porcupine[M] came in. +</p> + +<p> +“Say, to-day being the celebration[N] of victory, I thought I would get +something good to eat with you, and bought some beef.” +</p> + +<p> +So saying, he took out a package covered with a bamboo-wrapper, and threw it +down in the center of the room. I had been denied the pleasure of patronizing +the noodle house or dango shop, on top of getting sick of the sweet potatoes +and tofu, and I welcomed the suggestion with “That’s fine,” +and began cooking it with a frying pan and some sugar borrowed from the old +lady. +</p> + +<p> +Porcupine, munching the beef to the full capacity of his mouth, asked me if I +knew Red Shirt having a favorite geisha. I asked if that was not one of the +geishas who came to our dinner the other night, and he answered, “Yes, I +got the wind of the fact only recently; you’re sharp.” +</p> + +<p> +“Red Shirt always speaks of refinement of character or of mental +consolation, but he is making a fool of himself by chasing round a geisha. What +a dandy rogue. We might let that go if he wouldn’t make fuss about others +making fools of themselves. I understand through the principal he stopped your +going even to noodle houses or dango shops as unbecoming to the dignity of the +school, didn’t he?” +</p> + +<p> +“According to his idea, running after a geisha is a mental consolation +but tempura or dango is a material pleasure, I guess. If that’s mental +consolation, why doesn’t the fool do it above board? You ought to see the +jacknape skipping out of the room when the geisha came into it the other +night,—I don’t like his trying to deceive us, but if one were to +point it out for him, he would deny it or say it was the Russian literature or +that the haiku is a half-brother of the new poetry, and expect to hush it up by +twaddling soft nonsense. A weak-knee like him is not a man. I believe he lived +the life of a court-maid in former life. Perhaps his daddy might have been a +kagema at Yushima in old days.” +</p> + +<p> +“What is a kagema?” +</p> + +<p> +“I suppose something very unmanly,—sort of emasculated chaps. Say, +that part isn’t cooked enough. It might give you tape worm.” +</p> + +<p> +“So? I think it’s all right. And, say, Red Shirt is said to +frequent Kadoya at the springs town and meet his geisha there, but he keeps it +in dark.” +</p> + +<p> +“Kadoya? That hotel?” +</p> + +<p> +“Also a restaurant. So we’ve got to catch him there with his geisha +and make it hot for him right to his face.” +</p> + +<p> +“Catch him there? Suppose we begin a kind of night watch?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, you know there is a rooming house called Masuya in front of Kadoya. +We’ll rent one room upstairs of the house, and keep peeping through a +loophole we could make in the shoji.” +</p> + +<p> +“Will he come when we keep peeping at him?” +</p> + +<p> +“He may. We will have to do it more than one night. Must expect to keep +it up for at least two weeks.” +</p> + +<p> +“Say, that would make one pretty well tired, I tell you. I sat up every +night for about one week attending my father when he died, and it left me +thoroughly down and out for some time afterward.” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t care if I do get tired some. A crook like Red Shirt should +not go unpunished that way for the honor of Japan, and I am going to administer +a chastisement in behalf of heaven.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hooray! If things are decided upon that way, I am game. And we are going +to start from to-night?” +</p> + +<p> +“I haven’t rented a room at Masuya yet, so can’t start it +to-night.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then when?” +</p> + +<p> +“Will start before long. I’ll let you know, and want you help +me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Right-O. I will help you any time. I am not much myself at scheming, but +I am IT when it comes to fighting.” +</p> + +<p> +While Porcupine and I were discussing the plan of subjugating Red Shirt, the +old lady appeared at the door, announcing that a student was wanting to see +Professor Hotta. The student had gone to his house, but seeing him out, had +come here as probable to find him. Porcupine went to the front door himself, +and returning to the room after a while, said: +</p> + +<p> +“Say, the boy came to invite us to go and see the entertainment of the +celebration. He says there is a big bunch of dancers from Kochi to dance +something, and it would be a long time before we could see the like of it +again. Let’s go.” +</p> + +<p> +Porcupine seemed enthusiastic over the prospect of seeing that dance, and +induced me to go with him. I have seen many kinds of dance in Tokyo. At the +annual festival of the Hachiman Shrine, moving stages come around the district, +and I have seen the Shiokumi and almost any other variety. I was +little +inclined to see that dance by the sturdy fellows from Tosa province, but as +Porcupine was so insistent, I changed my mind and followed him out. I did not +know the student who came to invite Porcupine, but found he was the younger +brother of Red Shirt. Of all students, what a strange choice for a messenger! +</p> + +<p> +The celebration ground was decorated, like the wrestling amphitheater at +Ryogoku during the season, or the annual festivity of the Hommonji temple, with +long banners planted here and there, and on the ropes that crossed and +recrossed in the mid-air were strung the colors of all nations, as if they were +borrowed from as many nations for the occasion and the large roof presented +unusually cheerful aspect. On the eastern corner there was built a temporary +stage upon which the dance of Koehi was to be performed. For about half a +block, with the stage on the right, there was a display of flowers and plant +settings arranged on shelves sheltered with reed screens. Everybody was looking +at the display seemingly much impressed, but it failed to impress me. If +twisted grasses or bamboos afforded so much pleasure, the gallantry of a +hunchback or the husband of a wrong pair should give as much pleasure to their +eyes. +</p> + +<p> +In the opposite direction, aerial bombs and fire works were steadily going on. +A balloon shot out on which was written “Long Live the Empire!” It +floated leisurely over the pine trees near the castle tower, and fell down +inside the compound of the barracks. Bang! A black ball shot up against the +serene autumn sky; burst open straight above my head, streams of luminous green +smoke ran down in an umbrella-shape, and finally faded. Then another balloon. +It was red with “Long Live the Army and Navy” in white. The wind +slowly carried it from the town toward the Aioi village. Probably it would fall +into the yard of Kwanon temple there. +</p> + +<p> +At the formal celebration this morning there were not quite so many as here +now. It was surging mass that made me wonder how so many people lived in the +place. There were not many attractive faces among the crowd, but as far as the +numerical strength went, it was a formidable one. In the meantime that dance +had begun. I took it for granted that since they call it a dance, it would be +something similar to the kind of dance by the Fujita troupe, but I was greatly +mistaken. +</p> + +<p> +Thirty fellows, dressed up in a martial style, in three rows of ten each, stood +with glittering drawn swords. The sight was an eye-opener, indeed. The space +between the rows measured about two feet, and that between the men might have +been even less. One stood apart from the group. He was similarly dressed but +instead of a drawn sword, he carried a drum hung about his chest. This fellow +drawled out signals the tone of which suggested a mighty easy-life, and then +croaking a strange song, he would strike the drum. The tune was outlandishly +unfamiliar. One might form the idea by thinking it a combination of the Mikawa +Banzai and the Fudarakuya. +</p> + +<p> +The song was drowsy, and like syrup in summer is dangling and slovenly. He +struck the drum to make stops at certain intervals. The tune was kept with +regular rhythmical order, though it appeared to have neither head nor tail. In +response to this tune, the thirty drawn swords flash, with such dexterity and +speed that the sight made the spectator almost shudder. With live men within +two feet of their position, the sharp drawn blades, each flashing them in the +same manner, they looked as if they might make a bloody mess unless they were +perfectly accurate in their movements. If it had been brandishing swords alone +without moving themselves, the chances of getting slashed or cut might have +been less, but sometimes they would turn sideways together, or clear around, or +bend their knees. Just one second’s difference in the movement, either +too quick or too late, on the part of the next fellow, might have meant +sloughing off a nose or slicing off the head of the next fellow. The drawn +swords moved in perfect freedom, but the sphere of action was limited to about +two feet square, and to cap it all, each had to keep moving with those in front +and back, at right and left, in the same direction at the same speed. This +beats me! The dance of the Shiokumi or the Sekinoto would make no show compared +with this! I heard them say the dance requires much training, and it could not +be an easy matter to make so many dancers move in a unison like this. +Particularly difficult part in the dance was that of the fellow with drum stuck +to his chest. The movement of feet, action of hands, or bending of knees of +those thirty fellows were entirely directed by the tune with which he kept them +going. To the spectators this fellow’s part appeared the easiest. He sang +in a lazy tune, but it was strange that he was the fellow who takes the +heaviest responsibility. +</p> + +<p> +While Porcupine and I, deeply impressed, were looking at the dance with +absorbing interest, a sudden hue and cry was raised about half a block off. A +commotion was started among those who had been quietly enjoying the sights and +all ran pell-mell in every direction. Some one was heard saying +“fight!” Then the younger brother of Red Shirt came running forward +through the crowd. +</p> + +<p> +“Please, Sir,” he panted, “a row again! The middles are going +to get even with the normals and have just begun fighting. Come quick, +Sir!” And he melted somewhere into the crowd. +</p> + +<p> +“What troublesome brats! So they’re at it again, eh? Why +can’t they stop it!” +</p> + +<p> +Porcupine, as he spoke, dashed forward, dodging among the running crowd. He +meant, I think, to stop the fight, because he could not be an idle spectator +once he was informed of the fact. I of course had no intention of turning tail, +and hastened on the heels of Porcupine. The fight was in its fiercest. There +were about fifty to sixty normals, and the middles numbered by some ninety. The +normals wore uniform, but the middles had discarded their uniform and put on +Japanese civilian clothes, which made the distinction between the two hostile +camps easy. But they were so mixed up, and wrangling with such violence, that +we did not know how and where we could separate them. +</p> + +<p> +Porcupine, apparently at a loss what to do, looked at the wild scene awhile, +then turned to me, saying: +</p> + +<p> +“Let’s jump in and separate them. It will be hell if cops get on +them.” +</p> + +<p> +I did not answer, but rushed to the spot where the scuffle appeared most +violent. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop there! Cut this out! You’re ruining the name of the school! +Stop this, dash you!” +</p> + +<p> +Shouting at the top of my voice, I attempted to penetrate the line which seemed +to separate the hostile sides, but this attempt did not succeed. When about ten +feet into the turmoil, I could neither advance nor retreat. Right in my front, +a comparatively large normal was grappling with a middle about sixteen years of +ago. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop that!” +</p> + +<p> +I grabbed the shoulder of the normal and tried to force them apart when some +one whacked my feet. On this sudden attack, I let go the normal and fell down +sideways. Some one stepped on my back with heavy shoes. With both hands and +knees upon the ground, I jumped up and the fellow on my back rolled off to my +right. I got up, and saw the big body of Porcupine about twenty feet away, +sandwiched between the students, being pushed back and forth, shouting, +“Stop the fight! Stop that!” +</p> + +<p> +“Say, we can’t do anything!” I hollered at him, but unable to +hear, I think, he did not answer. +</p> + +<p> +A pebble-stone whiffled through the air and hit squarely on my cheek bone; the +same moment some one banged my back with a heavy stick from behind. +</p> + +<p> +“Profs mixing in!” “Knock them down!” was shouted. +</p> + +<p> +“Two of them; big one and small. Throw stones at them!” Another +shout. +</p> + +<p> +“Drat you fresh jackanapes!” I cried as I wallopped the head of a +normal nearby. Another stone grazed my head, and passed behind me. I did not +know what had become of Porcupine, I could not find him. Well, I could not help +it but jumped into the teapot to stop the tempest. I wasn’t[O] a +Hottentot to skulk away on being shot at with pebble-stones. What did they +think I was anyway! I’ve been through all kinds of fighting in Tokyo, and +can take in all fights one may care to give me. I slugged, jabbed and banged +the stuffing out of the fellow nearest to me. Then some one cried, “Cops! +Cops! Cheese it! Beat it!” At that moment, as if wading through a pond of +molasses, I could hardly move, but the next I felt suddenly released and both +sides scampered off simultaneously. Even the country fellows do creditable work +when it comes to retreating, more masterly than General Kuropatkin, I might +say. +</p> + +<p> +I searched for Porcupine who, I found his overgown torn to shreds, was wiping +his nose. He bled considerably, and his nose having swollen was a sight. My +clothes were pretty well massed with dirt, but I had not suffered quite as much +damage as Porcupine. I felt pain in my cheek and as Porcupine said, it bled +some. +</p> + +<p> +About sixteen police officers arrived at the scene but, all the students having +beat it in opposite directions, all they were able to catch were Porcupine and +me. We gave them our names and explained the whole story. The officers +requested us to follow them to the police station which we did, and after +stating to the chief of police what had happened, we returned home. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap11"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p> +The next morning on awakening I felt pains all over my body, due, I thought, to +having had no fight for a long time. This is not creditable to my fame as +regards fighting, so I thought while in bed, when the old lady brought me a +copy of the Shikoku Shimbun. I felt so weak as to need some effort even +reaching for the paper. But what should be man so easily upset by such a +trifling affair,—so I forced myself to turn in bed, and, opening its +second page, I was surprised. There was the whole story of the fight of +yesterday in print. Not that I was surprised by the news of the fight having +been published, but it said that one teacher Hotta of the Middle School and one +certain saucy Somebody, recently from Tokyo, of the same institution, not only +started this trouble by inciting the students, but were actually present at the +scene of the trouble, directing the students and engaged themselves against the +students of the Normal School. On top of this, something of the following +effect was added. +</p> + +<p> +“The Middle School in this prefecture has been an object of admiration by +all other schools for its good and ideal behavior. But since this +long-cherished honor has been sullied by these two irresponsible persons, and +this city made to suffer the consequent indignity, we have to bring the +perpetrators to full account. We trust that before we take any step in this +matter, the authorities will have those ‘toughs’ properly punished, +barring them forever from our educational circles.” +</p> + +<p> +All the types were italicized, as if they meant to administer typographical +chastisement upon us. “What the devil do I care!” I shouted, and up +I jumped out of bed. Strange to say, the pain in my joints became tolerable. +</p> + +<p> +I rolled up the newspaper and threw it into the garden. Not satisfied, I took +that paper to the cesspool and dumped it there. Newspapers tell such reckless +lies. There is nothing so adept, I believe, as the newspaper in circulating +lies. It has said what I should have said. And what does it mean by “one +saucy Somebody who is recently from Tokyo?” Is there any one in this wide +world with the name of Somebody? Don’t forget, I have a family and +personal name of my own which I am proud of. If they want to look at my +family-record, they will bow before every one of my ancestors from Mitsunaka +Tada down. Having washed my face, my cheek began suddenly smarting. I asked the +old lady for a mirror, and she asked if I had read the paper of this morning. +“Yes,” I said, “and dumped it in the cesspool; go and pick it +up if you want it,”—and she withdrew with a startled look. Looking +in the mirror, I saw bruises on my cheek. Mine is a precious face to me. I get +my face bruised, and am called a saucy Somebody as if I were nobody. That is +enough. +</p> + +<p> +It will be a reflection on my honor to the end of my days if it is said that I +shunned the public gaze and kept out of the school on account of the write-up +in the paper. So, after the breakfast, I attended the school ahead of all. One +after the other, all coming to the school would grin at my face. What is there +to laugh about! This face is my own, gotten up, I am sure, without the least +obligation on their part. By and by, Clown appeared. +</p> + +<p> +“Ha, heroic action yesterday. Wounds of honor, eh?” +</p> + +<p> +He made this sarcastic remark, I suppose, in revenge for the knock he received +on his head from me at the farewell dinner. +</p> + +<p> +“Cut out nonsense; you get back there and suck your old drawing +brushes!” Then he answered “that was going some,” and +enquired if it pained much? +</p> + +<p> +“Pain or no pain, this is my face. That’s none of your +business,” I snapped back in a furious temper. Then Clown took his seat +on the other side, and still keeping his eye on me, whispered and laughed with +the teacher of history next to him. +</p> + +<p> +Then came Porcupine. His nose had swollen and was purple,—it was a +tempting object for a surgeon’s knife. His face showed far worse (is it +my conceit that make this comparison?) than mine. I and Porcupine are chums +with desks next to each other, and moreover, as ill-luck would have it, the +desks are placed right facing the door. Thus were two strange faces placed +together. The other fellows, when in want of something to divert them, would +gaze our way with regularity. They say “too bad,” but they are +surely laughing in their minds as “ha, these fools!” If that is not +so, there is no reason for their whispering together and grinning like that. In +the class room, the boys clapped their hands when I entered; two or three of +them banzaied. I could not tell whether it was an enthusiastic approval or open +insult. While I and Porcupine were thus being made the cynosures of the whole +school, Red Shirt came to me as usual. +</p> + +<p> +“Too bad, my friend; I am very sorry indeed for you gentlemen,” he +said in a semi-apologetic manner. “I’ve talked with the principal +in regard to the story in the paper, and have arranged to demand that the paper +retract the report, so you needn’t worry on that score. You were plunged +into the trouble because my brother invited Mr. Hotta, and I don’t know +how I can apologize you. I’m going to do my level best in this +matter; +you gentlemen please depend on that.” At the third hour recess the +principal came out of his room, and seemed more or less perturbed, saying, +“The paper made a bad mess of it, didn’t it? I hope the matter will +not become serious.” +</p> + +<p> +As to anxiety, I have none. If they propose to relieve me, I intend to tender +my resignation before I get fired,—that’s all. However, if I resign +with no fault on my part, I would be simply giving the paper advantage. I +thought it proper to make the paper take back what it had said, and stick to my +position. I was going to the newspaper office to give them a piece of my mind +on my way back but having been told that the school had already taken steps to +have the story retracted, I did not. +</p> + +<p> +Porcupine and I saw the principal and Red Shirt at a convenient hour, giving +them a faithful version of the incident. The principal and Red Shirt agreed +that the incident must have been as we said and that the paper bore some grudge +against the school and purposely published such a story. Red Shirt made a round +of personal visits on each teacher in the room, defending and explaining our +action in the affair. Particularly he dwelt upon the fact that his brother +invited Porcupine and it was his fault. All teachers denounced the paper as +infamous and agreed that we two deserved sympathy. +</p> + +<p> +On our way home, Porcupine warned me that Red Shirt smelt suspicious, and we +would be done unless we looked out. I said he had been smelling some +anyway,—it was not necessarily so just from to-day. Then he said that it +was his trick to have us invited and mixed in the fight +yesterday,—“Aren’t you on to that yet?” Well, I was +not. Porcupine was quite a Grobian but he was endowed, I was impressed, with a +better brain than I. +</p> + +<p> +“He made us mix into the trouble, and slipped behind and contrived to +have the paper publish the story. What a devil!” +</p> + +<p> +“Even the newspaper in the band wagon of Red Shirt? That surprises me. +But would the paper listen to Red Shirt so easily?” +</p> + +<p> +“Wouldn’t it, though. Darn easy thing if one has friends in the +paper.”[P] +</p> + +<p> +“Has he any?” +</p> + +<p> +“Suppose he hasn’t, still that’s easy. Just tell lies and say +such and such are facts, and the paper will take it up.” +</p> + +<p> +“A startling revelation, this. If that was really a trick of Red Shirt, +we’re likely to be discharged on account of this affair.” +</p> + +<p> +“Quite likely we may be discharged.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I’ll tender my resignation tomorrow, and back to Tokyo I go. +I am sick of staying in such a wretched hole.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your resignation wouldn’t make Red Shirt squeal.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s so. How can he be made to squeal?” +</p> + +<p> +“A wily guy like him always plots not to leave any trace behind, and it +would be difficult to follow his track.” +</p> + +<p> +“What a bore! Then we have to stand in a false light, eh? Damn it! I call +all kinds of god to witness if this is just and right!” +</p> + +<p> +“Let’s wait for two or three days and see how it turns out. And if +we can’t do anything else, we will have to catch him at the hot springs +town.” +</p> + +<p> +“Leaving this fight affair a separate case?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes. We’ll have to his hit weak spot with our own weapon.” +</p> + +<p> +“That may be good. I haven’t much to say in planning it out; I +leave it to you and will do anything at your bidding.” +</p> + +<p> +I parted from Porcupine then. If Red Shirt was really instrumental in bringing +us two into the trouble as Porcupine supposed, he certainly deserves to be +called down. Red Shirt outranks us in brainy work. And there is no other course +open but to appeal to physical force. No wonder we never see the end of war in +the world. Among individuals, it is, after all, the question of superiority of +the fist. +</p> + +<p> +Next day I impatiently glanced over the paper, the arrival of which I had been +waiting with eagerness, but not a correction of the news or even a line of +retraction could be found. I pressed the matter on Badger when I went to the +school, and he said it might probably appear tomorrow. On that +“tomorrow” a line of retraction was printed in tiny types. But the +paper did not make any correction of the story. I called the attention of +Badger to the fact, and he replied that that was about all that could be done +under the circumstance. The principal, with the face like a badger and always +swaggering, is surprisingly, wanting in influence. He has not even as much +power as to bring down a country newspaper, which had printed a false story. I +was so thoroughly indignant that I declared I would go alone to the office and +see the editor-in-chief on the subject, but Badger said no. +</p> + +<p> +“If you go there and have a blowup with the editor,” he continued, +“it would only mean of your being handed out worse stuff in the paper +again. Whatever is published in a paper, right or wrong, nothing can be done +with it.” And he wound up with a remark that sounded like a piece of +sermon by a Buddhist bonze that “We must be contented by speedily +despatching the matter from our minds and forgetting it.” +</p> + +<p> +If newspapers are of that character, it would be beneficial for us all to have +them suspended,—the sooner the better. The similarity of the unpleasant +sensation of being written-up in a paper and being bitten-down by a turtle +became plain for the first time by the explanation of Badger. +</p> + +<p> +About three days afterward, Porcupine came to me excited, and said that the +time has now come, that he proposes to execute that thing we had planned out. +Then I will do so, I said, and readily agreed to join him. But Porcupine jerked +his head, saying that I had better not. I asked him why, and he asked if I had +been requested by the principal to tender my resignation. No, I said, and asked +if he had. He told me that he was called by the principal who was very, very +sorry for him but under the circumstance requested him to decide to resign. +</p> + +<p> +“That isn’t fair. Badger probably had been pounding his belly-drum +too much and his stomach is upside down,” I said, “you and I went +to the celebration, looked at the glittering sword dance together, and jumped +into the fight together to stop it. Wasn’t it so? If he wants you to +tender your resignation, he should be impartial and should have asked me to +also. What makes everything in the country school so dull-head. This is +irritating!” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s wire-pulling by Red Shirt,” he said. “I and Red +Shirt cannot go along together, but they think you can be left as +harmless.” +</p> + +<p> +“I wouldn’t get along with that Red Shirt either. Consider me +harmless, eh? They’re getting too gay with me.” +</p> + +<p> +“You’re so simple and straight that they think they can handle you +in any old way.” +</p> + +<p> +“Worse still. I wouldn’t get along with him, I tell you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Besides, since the departure of Koga, his successor has not arrived. +Furthermore, if they fire me and you together, there will be blank spots in the +schedule hours at the school.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then they expect me to play their game. Darn the fellow! See if they can +make me.” +</p> + +<p> +On going to the school next day I made straightway for the room of the +principal and started firing; +</p> + +<p> +“Why don’t you ask me to put in my resignation?” I said. +</p> + +<p> +“Eh?” Badger stared blankly. +</p> + +<p> +“You requested Hotta to resign, but not me. Is that right?” +</p> + +<p> +“That is on account of the condition of the school……” +</p> + +<p> +“That condition is wrong, I dare say. If I don’t have to resign, +there should be no necessity for Hotta to resign either.” +</p> + +<p> +“I can’t offer a detailed explanation about that……as to Hotta, it +cannot be helped if he goes…… ……we see no need of your resigning.” +</p> + +<p> +Indeed, he is a badger. He jabbers something, dodging the point, but appears +complacent. So I had to say: +</p> + +<p> +“Then, I will tender my resignation. You might have thought that I would +remain peacefully while Mr. Hotta is forced to resign, but I cannot do +it.” +</p> + +<p> +“That leaves us in a bad fix. If Hotta goes away and you follow him, we +can’t teach mathematics here.” +</p> + +<p> +“None of my business if you can’t.” +</p> + +<p> +“Say, don’t be so selfish. You ought to consider the condition of +the school. Besides, if it is said that you resigned within one month of +starting a new job, it would affect your record in the future. You should +consider that point also.” +</p> + +<p> +“What do I care about my record. Obligation is more important than +record.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s right. What you say is right, but be good enough to take +our position into consideration. If you insist on resigning, then resign, but +please stay until we get some one to take your place. At any rate, think the +matter over once more, please.” +</p> + +<p> +The reason was so plain as to discourage any attempt to think it over, but as I +took some pity on Badger whose face reddened or paled alternately as he spoke, +I withdrew on the condition that I would think the matter over. I did not talk +with Red Shirt. If I have to land him one, it was better, I thought, to have it +bunched together and make it hot and strong. +</p> + +<p> +I acquainted Porcupine with the details of my meeting with Badger. He said he +had expected it to be about so, and added that the matter of resignation can be +left alone without causing me any embarrassment until the time comes. So I +followed his advice. Porcupine appears somewhat smarter than I, and I have +decided to accept whatever advices he may give. +</p> + +<p> +Porcupine finally tendered his resignation, and having bidden farewell of all +the fellow teachers, went down to Minato-ya on the beach. But he stealthily +returned to the hot springs town, and having rented a front room upstairs of +Masuya, started peeping through the hole he fingered out in the shoji. I am the +only person who knows of this. If Red Shirt comes round, it would be night +anyway, and as he is liable to be seen by students or some others during the +early part in the evening, it would surely be after nine. For the first two +nights, I was on the watch till about 11 o’clock, but no sight of Red +Shirt was seen. On the third night, I kept peeping through from nine to ten +thirty, but he did not come. Nothing made me feel more like a fool than +returning to the boarding house at midnight after a fruitless watch. In four or +five days, our old lady began worrying about me and advised me to quit night +prowling,—being married. My night prowling is different from that kind of +night prowling. Mine is that of administering a deserved chastisement. But +then, when no encouragement is in sight after one week, it becomes tiresome. I +am quick tempered, and get at it with all zeal when my interest is aroused, and +would sit up all night to work it out, but I have never shone in endurance. +However loyal a member of the heavenly-chastisement league I may be, I cannot +escape monotony. On the sixth night I was a little tired, and on the seventh +thought I would quit. Porcupine, however, stuck to it with bull-dog tenacity. +From early in the evening up to past twelve, he would glue his eye to the shoji +and keep steadily watching under the gas globe of Kadoya. He would surprise me, +when I come into the room, with figures showing how many patrons there were +to-day, how many stop-overs and how many women, etc. Red Shirt seems never to +be coming, I said, and he would fold his arms, audibly sighing, “Well, he +ought to.” If Red Shirt would not come just for once, Porcupine would be +deprived of the chance of handing out a deserved and just punishment. +</p> + +<p> +I left my boarding house about 7 o’clock on the eighth night and after +having enjoyed my bath, I bought eight raw eggs. This would counteract the +attack of sweet potatoes by the old lady. I put the eggs into my right and left +pockets, four in each, with the same old red towel hung over my shoulder, my +hands inside my coat, went to Masuya. I opened the shoji of the room and +Porcupine greeted me with his Idaten-like face suddenly radiant, saying: +</p> + +<p> +“Say, there’s hope! There’s hope!” Up to last night, he +had been downcast, and even I felt gloomy. But at his cheerful countenance, I +too became cheerful, and before hearing anything, I cried, “Hooray! +Hooray!” +</p> + +<p> +“About half past seven this evening,” he said, “that geisha +named Kosuzu has gone into Kadoya.” +</p> + +<p> +“With Red Shirt?” +</p> + +<p> +“No.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s no good then.” +</p> + +<p> +“There were two geishas……seems to me somewhat hopeful.” +</p> + +<p> +“How?” +</p> + +<p> +“How? Why, the sly old fox is likely to send his girls ahead[Q], and +sneak round behind later.” +</p> + +<p> +“That may be the case. About nine now, isn’t it?” +</p> + +<p> +“About twelve minutes past nine,” said he, pulling out a watch with +a nickel case, “and, say put out the light. It would be funny to have two +silhouettes of bonze heads on the shoji. The fox is too ready to +suspect.” +</p> + +<p> +I blew out the lamp which stood upon the lacquer-enameled table. The shoji +alone was dimly plain by the star light. The moon has not come up yet. I and +Porcupine put our faces close to the shoji, watching almost breathless. A wall +clock somewhere rang half past nine. +</p> + +<p> +“Say, will he come to-night, do you think? If he doesn’t show up, I +quit.” +</p> + +<p> +“I’m going to keep this up while my money lasts.” +</p> + +<p> +“Money? How much have you?” +</p> + +<p> +“I’ve paid five yen and sixty sen up to to-day for eight days. I +pay my bill every night, so I can jump out anytime.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s well arranged. The people of this hotel must have been +rather put out, I suppose.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s all right with the hotel; only I can’t take my mind +off the house.” +</p> + +<p> +“But you take some sleep in daytime.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I take a nap, but it’s nuisance because I can’t go +out.” +</p> + +<p> +“Heavenly chastisement is a hard job, I’m sure,” I said. +“If he gives us the slip after giving us such trouble, it would have been +a thankless task.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I’m sure he will come to-night…—… Look, look!” +His voice changed to whisper and I was alert in a moment. A fellow with a black +hat looked up at the gas light of Kadoya and passed on into the darkness. No, +it was not Red Shirt. Disappointing, this! Meanwhile the clock at the office +below merrily tinkled off ten. It seems to be another bum watch to-night. +</p> + +<p> +The streets everywhere had become quiet. The drum playing in the tenderloin +reached our ears distinctively. The moon had risen from behind the hills of the +hot springs. It is very light outside. Then voices were heard below. We could +not poke our heads out of the window, so were unable to see the owners of the +voices, but they were evidently coming nearer. The dragging of komageta (a kind +of wooden footwear) was heard. They approached so near we could see their +shadows. +</p> + +<p> +“Everything is all right now. We’ve got rid of the stumbling +block.” It was undoubtedly the voice of Clown. +</p> + +<p> +“He only glories in bullying but has no tact.” This from Red Shirt. +</p> + +<p> +“He is like that young tough, isn’t he? Why, as to that young +tough, he is a winsome, sporty Master Darling.” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t want my salary raised, he says, or I want to tender +resignation,—I’m sure something is wrong with his nerves.” +</p> + +<p> +I was greatly inclined to open the window, jump out of the second story and +make them see more stars than they cared to, but I restrained myself with some +effort. The two laughed, and passed below the gas light, and into Kadoya. +</p> + +<p> +“Say.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well.” +</p> + +<p> +“He’s here.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, he has come at last.” +</p> + +<p> +“I feel quite easy now.” +</p> + +<p> +“Damned Clown called me a sporty Master Darling.” +</p> + +<p> +“The stumbling[R] block means me. Hell!” +</p> + +<p> +I and Porcupine had to waylay them on their return. But we knew no more than +the man in the moon when they would come out. Porcupine went down to the hotel +office, notifying them to the probability of our going out at midnight, and +requesting them to leave the door unfastened so we could get out anytime. As I +think about it now, it is wonderful how the hotel people complied with our +request. In most cases, we would have been taken for burglars. +</p> + +<p> +It was trying to wait for the coming of Red Shirt, but it was still more trying +to wait for his coming out again. We could not go to sleep, nor could we remain +with our faces stuck to the shoji all the time our minds constantly in a state +of feverish agitation. In all my life, I never passed such fretful, mortifying +hours. I suggested that we had better go right into his room and catch him but +Porcupine rejected the proposal outright. If we get in there at this time of +night, we are likely to be prevented from preceding much further, he said, and +if we ask to see him, they will either answer that he is not there or will take +us into a different room. Supposing we do break into a room, we cannot tell of +all those many rooms, where we can find him. There is no other way but to wait +for him to come out, however tiresome it may be. So we sat up till five in the +morning. +</p> + +<p> +The moment we saw them emerging from Kadoya, I and Porcupine followed them. It +was some time before the first train started and they had to walk up to town. +Beyond the limit of the hot springs town, there is a road for about one block +running through the rice fields, both sides of which are lined with cedar +trees. Farther on are thatch-roofed farm houses here and there, and then one +comes upon a dyke leading straight to the town through the fields. We can catch +them anywhere outside the town, but thinking it would be better to get them, if +possible, on the road lined with cedar trees where we may not be seen by +others, we followed them cautiously. Once out of the town limit, we darted on a +double-quick time, and caught up with them. Wondering what was coming after +them, they turned back, and we grabbed their shoulders. We cried, +“Wait!” Clown, greatly rattled, attempted to escape, but I stepped +in front of him to cut off his retreat. +</p> + +<p> +“What makes one holding the job of a head teacher stay over night at +Kadoya!” Porcupine directly fired the opening gun. +</p> + +<p> +“Is there any rule that a head teacher should not stay over night at +Kadoya?” Red Shirt met the attack in a polite manner. He looked a little +pale. +</p> + +<p> +“Why the one who is so strict as to forbid others from going even to +noodle house or dango shop as unbecoming to instructors, stayed over night at a +hotel with a geisha!” +</p> + +<p> +Clown was inclined to run at the first opportunity; so kept I before him. +</p> + +<p> +“What’s that Master Darling of a young tough!” I roared. +</p> + +<p> +“I didn’t mean you. Sir. No, Sir, I didn’t mean you, +sure.” He insisted on this brazen excuse. I happened to notice at that +moment that I had held my pockets with both hands. The eggs in both pockets +jerked so when I ran, that I had been holding them. I thrust my hand +into the +pocket, took out two and dashed them on the face of Clown. The eggs crushed, +and from the tip of his nose the yellow streamed down. Clown was taken +completely surprised, and uttering a hideous cry, he fell down on the ground +and begged for mercy. I had bought those eggs to eat, but had not carried them +for the purpose of making “Irish Confetti” of them. Thoroughly +roused, in the moment of passion, I had dashed them at him before I knew what I +was doing. But seeing Clown down and finding my hand grenade successful, I +banged the rest of the eggs on him, intermingled with “Darn you, you +sonovagun!” The face of Clown was soaked in yellow. +</p> + +<p> +While I was bombarding Clown with the eggs, Porcupine was firing at Red[S] +Shirt. +</p> + +<p> +“Is there any evidence that I stayed there over night with a +geisha?” +</p> + +<p> +“I saw your favorite old chicken go there early in the evening, and am +telling you so. You can’t fool me!” +</p> + +<p> +“No need for us of fooling anybody. I stayed there with Mr. Yoshikawa, +and whether any geisha had gone there early in the evening or not, that’s +none of my business.” +</p> + +<p> +“Shut up!” Porcupine wallopped him one. Red Shirt tottered. +</p> + +<p> +“This is outrageous! It is rough to resort to force before deciding the +right or wrong of it!” +</p> + +<p> +“Outrageous indeed!” Another clout. “Nothing but wallopping +will be effective on you scheming guys.” The remark was followed by a +shower of blows. I soaked Clown at the same time, and made him think he saw the +way to the Kingdom-Come. Finally the two crawled and crouched at the foot of a +cedar tree, and either from inability to move or to see, because their eyes had +become hazy, they did not even attempt to break away. +</p> + +<p> +“Want more? If so, here goes some more!” With that we gave him more +until he cried enough. “Want more? You?” we turned to Clown, and he +answered “Enough, of course.” +</p> + +<p> +“This is the punishment of heaven on you grovelling wretches. Keep this +in your head and be more careful hereafter. You can never talk down +justice.” +</p> + +<p> +The two said nothing. They were so thoroughly cowed that they could not speak. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m going to neither run away nor hide. You’ll find +me at +Minato-ya on the beach up to five this evening. Bring police officers or any +old thing you want,” said Porcupine. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m not going to run away or hide either. Will wait for you at the +same place with Hotta. Take the case to the police station if you like, or do +as you damn please,” I said, and we two walked our own way. +</p> + +<p> +It was a little before seven when I returned to my room. I started packing as +soon as I was in the room, and the astonished old lady asked me what I was +trying to do. I’m going to Tokyo to fetch my Madam, I said, and paid my +bill. I boarded a train and came to Minato-ya on the beach and found Porcupine +asleep upstairs. I thought of writing my resignation, but not knowing how, just +scribbled off that “because of personal affairs, I have to resign and +return, to Tokyo. Yours truly,” and addressed and mailed it to the +principal. +</p> + +<p> +The steamer leaves the harbor at six in the evening. Porcupine and I, tired +out, slept like logs, and when we awoke it was two o’clock. We asked the +maid if the police had called on us, and she said no. Red Shirt and Clown had +not taken it to the police, eh? We laughed. +</p> + +<p> +That night I and Porcupine left the town. The farther the vessel steamed away +from the shore, the more refreshed we felt. From Kobe to Tokyo we boarded a +through train and when we made Shimbashi, we breathed as if we were once more +in congenial human society. I parted from Porcupine at the station, and have +not had the chance of meeting him since. +</p> + +<p> +I forgot to tell you about Kiyo. On my arrival at Tokyo, I rushed into her +house swinging my valise, before going to a hotel, with “Hello, Kiyo, +I’m back!” +</p> + +<p> +“How good of you to return so soon!” she cried and hot tears +streamed down her cheeks. I was overjoyed, and declared that I would not go to +the country any more but would start housekeeping with Kiyo in Tokyo. +</p> + +<p> +Some time afterward, some one helped me to a job as assistant engineer at the +tram car office. The salary was 25 yen a month, and the house rent six. +Although the house had not a magnificent front entrance, Kiyo seemed quite +satisfied, but, I am sorry to say, she was a victim of pneumonia and died in +February this year. On the day preceding her death, she asked me to bedside, +and said, “Please, Master Darling, if Kiyo is dead, bury me in the temple +yard of Master Darling. I will be glad to wait in the grave for my Master +Darling.” +</p> + +<p> +So Kiyo’s grave is in the Yogen temple at Kobinata. +</p> + +<p class="fs4 sp2">—(THE END)—</p> + +<p class="sp2"> +[A: Insitent]<br/> + +[B: queershaped]<br/> + +[C: The original just had the Japanese character, Unicode U+5927, sans +description]<br/> + +[D: aweinspiring]<br/> + +[E: about about]<br/> + +[F: atomosphere]<br/> + +[G: Helloo]<br/> + +[H: you go]<br/> + +[I: goo-goo eyes]<br/> + +[J: proper hyphenation unknown]<br/> + +[K: pin-princking]<br/> + +[L: Procupine]<br/> + +[M: celabration]<br/> + +[N: wans’t]<br/> + +[O: paper.]<br/> + +[P: girl shead]<br/> + +[Q: stumblieg]<br/> + +[R: Rad] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4e96894 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #8868 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8868) diff --git a/old/8868.txt b/old/8868.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1338756 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8868.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5120 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Botchan (Master Darling), by Kin-nosuke Natsume + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Botchan (Master Darling) + +Author: Kin-nosuke Natsume + +Translator: Yasotaro Morri + +Posting Date: October 14, 2012 [EBook #8868] +Release Date: September, 2005 +First Posted: August 17, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) + +By The Late Mr. Kin-nosuke Natsume + +TRANSLATED By Yasotaro Morri + +Revised by J. R. KENNEDY + +1919 + + + +A NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR + +No translation can expect to equal, much less to excel, the original. +The excellence of a translation can only be judged by noting how far it +has succeeded in reproducing the original tone, colors, style, the +delicacy of sentiment, the force of inert strength, the peculiar +expressions native to the language with which the original is written, +or whatever is its marked characteristic. The ablest can do no more, and +to want more than this will be demanding something impossible. Strictly +speaking, the only way one can derive full benefit or enjoyment from a +foreign work is to read the original, for any intelligence at +second-hand never gives the kind of satisfaction which is possible only +through the direct touch with the original. Even in the best translated +work is probably wanted the subtle vitality natural to the original +language, for it defies an attempt, however elaborate, to transmit all +there is in the original. Correctness of diction may be there, but +spontaneity is gone; it cannot be helped. + +The task of the translator becomes doubly hazardous in case of +translating a European language into Japanese, or vice versa. Between +any of the European languages and Japanese there is no visible kinship +in word-form, significance, grammatical system, rhetorical arrangements. +It may be said that the inspiration of the two languages is totally +different. A want of similarity of customs, habits, traditions, national +sentiments and traits makes the work of translation all the more +difficult. A novel written in Japanese which had attained national +popularity might, when rendered into English, lose its captivating +vividness, alluring interest and lasting appeal to the reader. + +These remarks are made not in way of excuse for any faulty dictions that +may be found in the following pages. Neither are they made out of +personal modesty nor of a desire to add undue weight to the present +work. They are made in the hope that whoever is good enough to go +through the present translation will remember, before he may venture to +make criticisms, the kind and extent of difficulties besetting him in +his attempts so as not to judge the merit of the original by this +translation. Nothing would afford the translator a greater pain than any +unfavorable comment on the original based upon this translation. If +there be any deserving merits in the following pages the credit is due +to the original. Any fault found in its interpretation or in the English +version, the whole responsibility is on the translator. + +For the benefit of those who may not know the original, it must be +stated that "Botchan" by the late Mr. K. Natsume was an epoch-making +piece of work. On its first appearance, Mr. Natsume's place and name as +the foremost in the new literary school were firmly established. He had +written many other novels of more serious intent, of heavier thoughts +and of more enduring merits, but it was this "Botchan" that secured him +the lasting fame. Its quaint style, dash and vigor in its narration +appealed to the public who had become somewhat tired of the stereotyped +sort of manner with which all stories had come to be handled. + +In its simplest understanding, "Botchan" may be taken as an episode in +the life of a son born in Tokyo, hot-blooded, simple-hearted, pure as +crystal and sturdy as a towering rock, honest and straight to a fault, +intolerant of the least injustice and a volunteer ever ready to champion +what he considers right and good. Children may read it as a "story of +man who tried to be honest." It is a light, amusing and, at the name +time, instructive story, with no tangle of love affairs, no scheme of +blood-curdling scenes or nothing startling or sensational in the plot or +characters. The story, however, may be regarded as a biting sarcasm on a +hypocritical society in which a gang of instructors of dark character at +a middle school in a backwoods town plays a prominent part. The hero of +the story is made a victim of their annoying intrigues, but finally +comes out triumphant by smashing the petty red tapism, knocking down the +sham pretentions and by actual use of the fist on the Head Instructor +and his henchman. + +The story will be found equally entertaining as a means of studying the +peculiar traits of the native of Tokyo which are characterised by their +quick temper, dashing spirit, generosity and by their readiness to +resist even the lordly personage if convinced of their own justness, or +to kneel down even to a child if they acknowledge their own wrong. +Incidently the touching devotion of the old maid servant Kiyo to the +hero will prove a standing reproach to the inconstant, unfaithful +servants of which the number is ever increasing these days in Tokyo. The +story becomes doubly interesting by the fact that Mr. K. Natsume, when +quite young, held a position of teacher of English at a middle school +somewhere about the same part of the country described in the story, +while he himself was born and brought up in Tokyo. + +It may be added that the original is written in an autobiographical +style. It is profusely interladed with spicy, catchy colloquials patent +to the people of Tokyo for the equals of which we may look to the +rattling speeches of notorious Chuck Conners of the Bowery of New York. +It should be frankly stated that much difficulty was experienced in +getting the corresponding terms in English for those catchy expressions. +Strictly speaking, some of them have no English equivalents. Care has +been exercised to select what has been thought most appropriate in the +judgment or the translator in converting those expressions into English +but some of them might provoke disapproval from those of the "cultured" +class with "refined" ears. The slangs in English in this translation +were taken from an American magazine of world-wide reputation editor of +which was not afraid to print of "damn" when necessary, by scorning the +timid, conventional way of putting it as "d--n." If the propriety of +printing such short ugly words be questioned, the translator is sorry to +say that no means now exists of directly bringing him to account for he +met untimely death on board the Lusitania when it was sunk by the German +submarine. + +Thanks are due to Mr. J. R. Kennedy, General Manager, and Mr. Henry +Satoh, Editor-in-Chief, both of the Kokusai Tsushin-sha (the +International News Agency) of Tokyo and a host of personal friends of +the translator whose untiring assistance and kind suggestions have made +the present translation possible. Without their sympathetic interests, +this translation may not have seen the daylight. + +Tokyo, September, 1918. + + + +BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) + + +CHAPTER I + +Because of an hereditary recklessness, I have been playing always a +losing game since my childhood. During my grammar school days, I was +once laid up for about a week by jumping from the second story of the +school building. Some may ask why I committed such a rash act. There was +no particular reason for doing such a thing except I happened to be +looking out into the yard from the second floor of the newly-built +school house, when one of my classmates, joking, shouted at me; "Say, +you big bluff, I'll bet you can't jump down from there! O, you +chicken-heart, ha, ha!" So I jumped down. The janitor of the school had +to carry me home on his back, and when my father saw me, he yelled +derisively, "What a fellow you are to go and get your bones dislocated +by jumping only from a second story!" + +"I'll see I don't get dislocated next time," I answered. + +One of my relatives once presented me with a pen-knife. I was showing it +to my friends, reflecting its pretty blades against the rays of the sun, +when one of them chimed in that the blades gleamed all right, but seemed +rather dull for cutting with. + +"Rather dull? See if they don't cut!" I retorted. + +"Cut your finger, then," he challenged. And with "Finger nothing! Here +goes!" I cut my thumb slant-wise. Fortunately the knife was small and +the bone of the thumb hard enough, so the thumb is still there, but the +scar will be there until my death. + +About twenty steps to the east edge of our garden, there was a +moderate-sized vegetable yard, rising toward the south, and in the +centre of which stood a chestnut tree which was dearer to me than life. +In the season when the chestnuts were ripe, I used to slip out of the +house from the back door early in the morning to pick up the chestnuts +which had fallen during the night, and eat them at the school. On the +west side of the vegetable yard was the adjoining garden of a pawn shop +called Yamashiro-ya. This shopkeeper's son was a boy about 13 or 14 +years old named Kantaro. Kantaro was, it happens, a mollycoddle. +Nevertheless he had the temerity to come over the fence to our yard and +steal my chestnuts. + +One certain evening I hid myself behind a folding-gate of the fence and +caught him in the act. Having his retreat cut off he grappled with me in +desperation. He was about two years older than I, and, though +weak-kneed, was physically the stronger. While I wallopped him, he +pushed his head against my breast and by chance it slipped inside my +sleeve. As this hindered the free action of my arm, I tried to shake him +loose, though, his head dangled the further inside, and being no longer +able to stand the stifling combat, he bit my bare arm. It was painful. I +held him fast against the fence, and by a dexterous foot twist sent him +down flat on his back. Kantaro broke the fence and as the ground +belonging to Yamashiro-ya was about six feet lower than the vegetable +yard, he fell headlong to his own territory with a thud. As he rolled +off he tore away the sleeve in which his head had been enwrapped, and my +arm recovered a sudden freedom of movement. That night when my mother +went to Yamashiro-ya to apologize, she brought back that sleeve. + +Besides the above, I did many other mischiefs. With Kaneko of a +carpenter shop and Kaku of a fishmarket, I once ruined a carrot patch of +one Mosaku. The sprouts were just shooting out and the patch was covered +with straws to ensure their even healthy growth. Upon this straw-covered +patch, we three wrestled for fully half a day, and consequently +thoroughly smashed all the sprouts. Also I once filled up a well which +watered some rice fields owned by one Furukawa, and he followed me with +kicks. The well was so devised that from a large bamboo pole, sunk deep +into the ground, the water issued and irrigated the rice fields. +Ignorant of the mechanical side of this irrigating method at that time, +I stuffed the bamboo pole with stones and sticks, and satisfied that no +more water came up, I returned home and was eating supper when Furukawa, +fiery red with anger, burst into our house with howling protests. I +believe the affair was settled on our paying for the damage. + +Father did not like me in the least, and mother always sided with my big +brother. This brother's face was palish white, and he had a fondness for +taking the part of an actress at the theatre. + +"This fellow will never amount to much," father used to remark when +he saw me. + +"He's so reckless that I worry about his future," I often heard mother +say of me. Exactly; I have never amounted to much. I am just as you see +me; no wonder my future used to cause anxiety to my mother. I am living +without becoming but a jailbird. + +Two or three days previous to my mother's death, I took it into my head +to turn a somersault in the kitchen, and painfully hit my ribs against +the corner of the stove. Mother was very angry at this and told me not +to show my face again, so I went to a relative to stay with. While +there, I received the news that my mother's illness had become very +serious, and that after all efforts for her recovery, she was dead. I +came home thinking that I should have behaved better if I had known the +conditions were so serious as that. Then that big brother of mine +denounced me as wanting in filial piety, and that I had caused her +untimely death. Mortified at this, I slapped his face, and thereupon +received a sound scolding from father. + +After the death of mother, I lived with father and brother. Father did +nothing, and always said "You're no good" to my face. What he meant by +"no good" I am yet to understand. A funny dad he was. My brother was to +be seen studying English hard, saying that he was going to be a +businessman. He was like a girl by nature, and so "sassy" that we two +were never on good terms, and had to fight it out about once every ten +days. When we played a chess game one day, he placed a chessman as a +"waiter,"--a cowardly tactic this,--and had hearty laugh on me by seeing +me in a fix. His manner was so trying that time that I banged a chessman +on his forehead which was injured a little bit and bled. He told all +about this to father, who said he would disinherit me. + +Then I gave up myself for lost, and expected to be really disinherited. +But our maid Kiyo, who had been with us for ten years or so, interceded +on my behalf, and tearfully apologized for me, and by her appeal my +father's wrath was softened. I did not regard him, however, as one to be +afraid of in any way, but rather felt sorry for our Kiyo. I had heard +that Kiyo was of a decent, well-to-do family, but being driven to +poverty at the time of the Restoration, had to work as a servant. So she +was an old woman by this time. This old woman,--by what affinity, as +the Buddhists say, I don't know,--loved me a great deal. Strange, +indeed! She was almost blindly fond of me,--me, whom mother, became +thoroughly disgusted with three days before her death; whom father +considered a most aggravating proposition all the year round, and whom +the neighbors cordially hated as the local bully among the youngsters. I +had long reconciled myself to the fact that my nature was far from being +attractive to others, and so didn't mind if I were treated as a piece of +wood; so I thought it uncommon that Kiyo should pet me like that. +Sometimes in the kitchen, when there was nobody around, she would praise +me saying that I was straightforward and of a good disposition. What she +meant by that exactly, was not clear to me, however. If I were of so +good a nature as she said, I imagined those other than Kiyo should +accord me a better treatment. So whenever Kiyo said to me anything of +the kind, I used to answer that I did not like passing compliments. Then +she would remark; "That's the very reason I say you are of a good +disposition," and would gaze at me with absorbing tenderness. She seemed +to recreate me by her own imagination, and was proud of the fact. I felt +even chilled through my marrow at her constant attention to me. + +After my mother was dead, Kiyo loved me still more. In my simple +reasoning, I wondered why she had taken such a fancy to me. Sometimes I +thought it quite futile on her part, that she had better quit that sort +of thing, which was bad for her. But she loved me just the same. Once +in, a while she would buy, out of her own pocket, some cakes or +sweetmeats for me. When the night was cold, she would secretly buy some +noodle powder, and bring all unawares hot noodle gruel to my bed; or +sometimes she would even buy a bowl of steaming noodles from the +peddler. Not only with edibles, but she was generous alike with socks, +pencils, note books, etc. And she even furnished me,--this happened some +time later,--with about three yen, I did not ask her for the money; she +offered it from her own good will by bringing it to my room, saying that +I might be in need of some cash. This, of course, embarrassed me, but as +she was so insistent I consented to borrow it. I confess I was really +glad of the money. I put it in a bag, and carried it in my pocket. While +about the house, I happened to drop the bag into a cesspool. Helpless, I +told Kiyo how I had lost the money, and at once she fetched a bamboo +stick, and said she will get it for me. After a while I heard a +splashing sound of water about our family well, and going there, saw +Kiyo washing the bag strung on the end of the stick. I opened the bag +and found the edict of the three one-yen bills turned to faint yellow +and designs fading. Kiyo dried them at an open fire and handed them over +to me, asking if they were all right. I smelled them and said; "They +stink yet." + +"Give them to me; I'll get them changed." She took those three bills, +and,--I do not know how she went about it,--brought three yen in silver. +I forget now upon what I spent the three yen. "I'll pay you back soon," +I said at the time, but didn't. I could not now pay it back even if I +wished to do so with ten times the amount. + +When Kiyo gave me anything she did so always when both father and +brother were out. Many things I do not like, but what I most detest is +the monopolizing of favors behind some one else's back. Bad as my +relations were with my brother, still I did not feel justified in +accepting candies or color-pencils from Kiyo without my brother's +knowledge. "Why do you give those things only to me and not to my +brother also?" I asked her once, and she answered quite unconcernedly +that my brother may be left to himself as his father bought him +everything. That was partiality; father was obstinate, but I am sure he +was not a man who would indulge in favoritism. To Kiyo, however, he +might have looked that way. There is no doubt that Kiyo was blind to the +extent of her undue indulgence with me. She was said to have come from a +well-to-do family, but the poor soul was uneducated, and it could not be +helped. All the same, you cannot tell how prejudice will drive one to +the extremes. Kiyo seemed quite sure that some day I would achieve high +position in society and become famous. Equally she was sure that my +brother, who was spending his hours studiously, was only good for his +white skin, and would stand no show in the future. Nothing can beat an +old woman for this sort of thing, I tell you. She firmly believed that +whoever she liked would become famous, while whoever she hated would +not. I did not have at that time any particular object in my life. But +the persistency with which Kiyo declared that I would be a great man +some day, made me speculate myself that after all I might become one. +How absurd it seems to me now when I recall those days. I asked her once +what kind of a man I should be, but she seemed to have formed no +concrete idea as to that; only she said that I was sure to live in a +house with grand entrance hall, and ride in a private rikisha. + +And Kiyo seemed to have decided for herself to live with me when I +became independent and occupy my own house. "Please let me live with +you,"--she repeatedly asked of me. Feeling somewhat that I should +eventually be able to own a house, I answered her "Yes," as far as such +an answer went. This woman, by the way, was strongly imaginative. She +questioned me what place I liked,--Kojimachi-ku or Azabu-ku?--and +suggested that I should have a swing in our garden, that one room be +enough for European style, etc., planning everything to suit her own +fancy. I did not then care a straw for anything like a house; so neither +Japanese nor European style was much of use to me, and I told her to +that effect. Then she would praise me as uncovetous and clean of heart. +Whatever I said, she had praise for me. + +I lived, after the death of mother, in this fashion for five or six +years. I had kicks from father, had rows with brother, and had candies +and praise from Kiyo. I cared for nothing more; I thought this was +enough. I imagined all other boys were leading about the same kind of +life. As Kiyo frequently told me, however, that I was to be pitied, and +was unfortunate, I imagined that that might be so. There was nothing +that particularly worried me except that father was too tight with my +pocket money, and this was rather hard on me. + +In January of the 6th year after mother's death, father died of +apoplexy. In April of the same year, I graduated from a middle school, +and two months later, my brother graduated from a business college. Soon +he obtained a job in the Kyushu branch of a certain firm and had to go +there, while I had to remain in Tokyo and continue my study. He proposed +the sale of our house and the realization of our property, to which I +answered "Just as you like it." I had no intention of depending upon him +anyway. Even were he to look after me, I was sure of his starting +something which would eventually end in a smash-up as we were prone to +quarrel on the least pretext. It was because in order to receive his +protection that I should have to bow before such a fellow, that I +resolved that I would live by myself even if I had to do milk delivery. +Shortly afterwards he sent for a second-hand dealer and sold for a song +all the bric-a-bric which had been handed down from ages ago in our +family. Our house and lot were sold, through the efforts of a middleman +to a wealthy person. This transaction seemed to have netted a goodly sum +to him, but I know nothing as to the detail. + +For one month previous to this, I had been rooming in a boarding house +in Kanda-ku, pending a decision as to my future course. Kiyo was greatly +grieved to see the house in which she had lived so many years change +ownership, but she was helpless in the matter. + +"If you were a little older, you might have inherited this house," she +once remarked in earnest. + +If I could have inherited the house through being a little older, I +ought to have been able to inherit the house right then. She knew +nothing, and believed the lack of age only prevented my coming into the +possession of the house. + +Thus I parted from my brother, but the disposal of Kiyo was a difficult +proposition. My brother was, of course, unable to take her along, nor +was there any danger of her following him so far away as Kyushu, while I +was in a small room of a boarding house, and might have to clear out +anytime at that. There was no way out, so I asked her if she intended to +work somewhere else. Finally she answered me definitely that she would +go to her nephew's and wait until I started my own house and get +married. This nephew was a clerk in the Court of Justice, and being +fairly well off, had invited Kiyo before more than once to come and live +with him, but Kiyo preferred to stay with us, even as a servant, since +she had become well used to our family. But now I think she thought it +better to go over to her nephew than to start a new life as servant in a +strange house. Be that as it may, she advised me to have my own +household soon, or get married, so she would come and help me in +housekeeping. I believe she liked me more than she did her own kin. + +My brother came to me, two days previous to his departure for Kyushu, +and giving me 600 yen, said that I might begin a business with it, or go +ahead with my study, or spend it in any way I liked, but that that would +be the last he could spare. It was a commendable act for my brother. +What! about only 600 yen! I could get along without it, I thought, but +as this unusually simple manner appealed to me, I accepted the offer +with thanks. Then he produced 50 yen, requesting me to give it to Kiyo +next time I saw her, which I readily complied with. Two days after, I +saw him off at the Shimbashi Station, and have not set my eyes on him +ever since. + +Lying in my bed, I meditated on the best way to spend that 600 yen. A +business is fraught with too much trouble, and besides it was not my +calling. Moreover with only 600 yen no one could open a business worth +the name. Were I even able to do it, I was far from being educated, and +after all, would lose it. Better let investments alone, but study more +with the money. Dividing the 600 yen into three, and by spending 200 yen +a year, I could study for three years. If I kept at one study with +bull-dog tenacity for three years, I should be able to learn something. +Then the selection of a school was the next problem. By nature, there is +no branch of study whatever which appeals to my taste. Nix on languages +or literature! The new poetry was all Greek to me; I could not make out +one single line of twenty. Since I detested every kind of study, any +kind of study should have been the same to me. Thinking thus, I happened +to pass front of a school of physics, and seeing a sign posted for the +admittance of more students, I thought this might be a kind of +"affinity," and having asked for the prospectus, at once filed my +application for entrance. When I think of it now, it was a blunder due +to my hereditary recklessness. + +For three years I studied about as diligently as ordinary fellows, but +not being of a particularly brilliant quality, my standing in the class +was easier to find by looking up from the bottom. Strange, isn't it, +that when three years were over, I graduated? I had to laugh at myself, +but there being no reason for complaint, I passed out. + +Eight days after my graduation, the principal of the school asked me to +come over and see him. I wondered what he wanted, and went. A middle +school in Shikoku was in need of a teacher of mathematics for forty yen +a month, and he sounded me to see if I would take it. I had studied for +three years, but to tell the truth, I had no intention of either +teaching or going to the country. Having nothing in sight, however, +except teaching, I readily accepted the offer. This too was a blunder +due to hereditary recklessness. + +I accepted the position, and so must go there. The three years of my +school life I had seen confined in a small room, but with no kick coming +or having no rough house. It was a comparatively easy going period in my +life. But now I had to pack up. Once I went to Kamakura on a picnic with +my classmates while I was in the grammar school, and that was the first +and last, so far, that I stepped outside of Tokyo since I could +remember. This time I must go darn far away, that it beats Kamakura by a +mile. The prospective town is situated on the coast, and looked the size +of a needle-point on the map. It would not be much to look at anyway. I +knew nothing about the place or the people there. It did not worry me or +cause any anxiety. I had simply to travel there and that was the +annoying part. + +Once in a while, since our house was no more, I went to Kiyo's +nephew's to see her. Her nephew was unusually good-natured, and +whenever I called upon her, he treated me well if he happened to be at +home. Kiyo would boost me sky-high to her nephew right to my face. She +went so far once as to say that when I had graduated from school, I +would purchase a house somewhere in Kojimachi-ku and get a position in +a government office. She decided everything in her own way, and talked +of it aloud, and I was made an unwilling and bashful listener. I do +not know how her nephew weighed her tales of self-indulgence on me. +Kiyo was a woman of the old type, and seemed, as if it was still the +days of Feudal Lords, to regard her nephew equally under obligation to +me even as she was herself. + +After settling about my new position, I called upon her three days +previous to my departure. She was sick abed in a small room, but, on +seeing me she got up and immediately inquired; + +"Master Darling, when do you begin housekeeping?" + +She evidently thought as soon as a fellow finishes school, money comes +to his pocket by itself. But then how absurd to call such a "great man" +"Darling." I told her simply that I should let the house proposition go +for some time, as I had to go to the country. She looked greatly +disappointed, and blankly smoothed her gray-haired sidelocks. I felt +sorry for her, and said comfortingly; "I am going away but will come +back soon. I'll return in the vacation next summer, sure." Still as she +appeared not fully satisfied, I added; + +"Will bring you back a surprise. What do you like?" + +She wished to eat "sasa-ame"[1] of Echigo province. I had never heard of +"sasa-ame" of Echigo. To begin with, the location is entirely different. + +[Footnote 1: Sasa-ame is a kind of rice-jelly wrapped with sasa, or the +bamboo leaves, well-known as a product of Echigo province.] + +"There seems to be no 'sasa-ame' in the country where I'm going," I +explained, and she rejoined; "Then, in what direction?" I answered +"westward" and she came back with "Is it on the other side of Hakone?" +This give-and-take conversation proved too much for me. + +On the day of my departure, she came to my room early in the morning and +helped me to pack up. She put into my carpet-bag tooth powder, +tooth-brush and towels which she said she had bought at a dry goods +store on her way. I protested that I did not want them, but she was +insistent.[A] We rode in rikishas to the station. Coming up the +platform, she gazed at me from outside the car, and said in a low voice; + +"This may be our last good-by. Take care of yourself." + +Her eyes were full of tears. I did not cry, but was almost going to. +After the train had run some distance, thinking it would be all right +now, I poked my head out of the window and looked back. She was still +there. She looked very small. + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +With a long, sonorous whistle the steamer which I was aboard came to a +standstill, and a boat was seen making toward us from the shore. The man +rowing the boat was stark naked, except for a piece of red cloth girt +round his loins. A barbarous place, this! though he may have been +excused for it in such hot weather as it was. The sun's rays were strong +and the water glimmered in such strange colors as to dazzle one's sight +if gazed at it for long. I had been told by a clerk of the ship that I +was to get off here. The place looked like a fishing village about the +size of Omori. Great Scott! I wouldn't stay in such a hole, I thought, +but I had to get out. So, down I jumped first into the boat, and I think +five or six others followed me. After loading about four large boxes +besides, the red-cloth rowed us ashore. When the boat struck the sand, I +was again the first to jump out, and right away I accosted a skinny +urchin standing nearby, asking him where the middle school was. The kid +answered blankly that he did not know. Confound the dull-head! Not to +know where the middle school was, living in such a tiny bit of a town. +Then a man wearing a rig with short, queer shaped sleeves approached me +and bade me follow. I walked after him and was taken to an inn called +Minato-ya. The maids of the inn, who gave me a disagreeable impression, +chorused at sight of me; "Please step inside." This discouraged me in +proceeding further, and I asked them, standing at the door-way, to show +me the middle school. On being told that the middle school was about +four miles away by rail, I became still more discouraged at putting up +there. I snatched my two valises from the man with queer-shaped [B] +sleeves who had guided me so far, and strode away. The people of the inn +looked after me with a dazed expression. + +The station was easily found, and a ticket bought without any fuss. The +coach I got in was about as dignified as a match-box. The train rambled +on for about five minutes, and then I had to get off. No wonder the fare +was cheap; it cost only three sen. I then hired a rikisha and arrived at +the middle school, but school was already over and nobody was there. The +teacher on night-duty was out just for a while, said the janitor,--the +night-watch was taking life easy, sure. I thought of visiting the +principal, but being tired, ordered the rikishaman to take me to a +hotel. He did this with much alacrity and led me to a hotel called +Yamashiro-ya. I felt it rather amusing to find the name Yamashiro-ya the +same as that of Kantaro's house. + +They ushered me to a dark room below the stairway. No one could stay in +such a hot place! I said I did not like such a warm room, but the maid +dumped my valises on the floor and left me, mumbling that all the other +rooms were occupied. So I took the room though it took some resolution +to stand the weltering heat. After a while the maid said the bath was +ready, and I took one: On my way back from the bathroom, I peeped about, +and found many rooms, which looked much cooler than mine, vacant. +Sunnovagun! They had lied. By'm-by, she fetched my supper. Although the +room was hot, the meal was a deal better than the kind I used to have in +my boarding house. While waiting on me, she questioned me where I was +from, and I said, "from Tokyo." Then she asked; "Isn't Tokyo a nice +place?" and I shot back, "Bet 'tis." About the time the maid had reached +the kitchen, loud laughs were heard. There was nothing doing, so I went +to bed, but could not sleep. Not only was it hot, but noisy,--about five +times noisier than my boarding house. While snoozing, I dreamed of Kiyo. +She was eating "sasa-ame" of Echigo province without taking off the +wrapper of bamboo leaves. I tried to stop her, saying bamboo leaves may +do her harm, but she replied, "O, no, these leaves are very helpful for +the health," and ate them with much relish. Astounded, I laughed "Ha, +ha, ha!"--and so awoke. The maid was opening the outside shutters. The +weather was just as clear as the previous day. + +I had heard once before that when travelling, one should give "tea +money" to the hotel or inn where he stops; that unless this "tea +money" is given, the hostelry would accord him rather rough treatment. +It must have been on account of my being slow in the fork over of this +"tea money" that they had huddled me into such a narrow, dark room. +Likewise my shabby clothes and the carpet bags and satin umbrella must +have been accountable for it. Took me for a piker, eh? those hayseeds! +I would give them a knocker with "tea money." I left Tokyo with about +30 yen in my pocket, which remained from my school expenses. Taking +off the railway and steamship fare, and other incidental expenses, I +had still about 14 yen in my pocket. I could give them all I +had;--what did I care, I was going to get a salary now. All country +folk are tight-wads, and one 5-yen bill would hit them square. Now +watch and see. Having washed myself, I returned to my room and waited, +and the maid of the night before brought in my breakfast. Waiting on +me with a tray, she looked at me with a sort of sulphuric smile. Rude! +Is any parade marching on my face? I should say. Even my face is far +better than that of the maid. I intended of giving "tea money" after +breakfast, but I became disgusted, and taking out one 5-yen bill told +her to take it to the office later. The face of the maid became then +shy and awkward. After the meal, I left for the school. The maid did +not have my shoes polished. + +I had had vague idea of the direction of the school as I rode to it the +previous day, so turning two or three corners, I came to the front gate. +From the gate to the entrance the walk was paved with granite. When I +had passed to the entrance in the rikisha, this walk made so +outlandishly a loud noise that I had felt coy. On my way to the school, +I met a number of the students in uniforms of cotton drill and they all +entered this gate. Some of them were taller than I and looked much +stronger. When I thought of teaching fellows of this ilk, I was +impressed with a queer sort of uneasiness. My card was taken to the +principal, to whose room I was ushered at once. With scant mustache, +dark-skinned and big-eyed, the principal was a man who looked like a +badger. He studiously assumed an air of superiority, and saying he would +like to see me do my best, handed the note of appointment, stamped big, +in a solemn manner. This note I threw away into the sea on my way back +to Tokyo. He said he would introduce me to all my fellow teachers, and I +was to show to each one of them the note of appointment. What a bother! +It would be far better to stick this note up in the teachers' room for +three days instead of going through such a monkey process. + +The teachers would not be all in the room until the bugle for the first +hour was sounded. There was plenty of time. The principal took out his +watch, and saying that he would acquaint me particularly with the school +by-and-bye, he would only furnish me now with general matters, and +started a long lecture on the spirit of education. For a while I +listened to him with my mind half away somewhere else, but about half +way through his lecture, I began to realize that I should soon be in a +bad fix. I could not do, by any means, all he expected of me. He +expected that I should make myself an example to the students, should +become an object of admiration for the whole school or should exert my +moral influence, besides teaching technical knowledge in order to +become a real educator, or something ridiculously high-sounding. No man +with such admirable qualities would come so far away for only 40 yen a +month! Men are generally alike. If one gets excited, one is liable to +fight, I thought, but if things are to be kept on in the way the +principal says, I could hardly open my mouth to utter anything, nor take +a stroll around the place. If they wanted me to fill such an onerous +post, they should have told all that before. I hate to tell a lie; I +would give it up as having been cheated, and get out of this mess like a +man there and then. I had only about 9 yen left in my pocket after +tipping the hotel 5 yen. Nine yen would not take me back to Tokyo. I had +better not have tipped the hotel; what a pity! However, I would be able +to manage it somehow. I considered it better to run short in my return +expenses than to tell a lie. + +"I cannot do it the way you want me to. I return this appointment." + +I shoved back the note. The principal winked his badger-like eyes and +gazed at me. Then he said; + +"What I have said just now is what I desire of you. I know well that you +cannot do all I want, So don't worry." + +And he laughed. If he knew it so well already, what on earth did he +scare me for? + +Meanwhile the bugle sounded, being followed by bustling noises in the +direction of the class rooms. All the teachers would be now ready, I was +told, and I followed the principal to the teachers' room. In a spacious +rectangular room, they sat each before a table lined along the walls. +When I entered the room, they all glanced at me as if by previous +agreement. Did they think my face was for a show? Then, as per +instructions, I introduced myself and showed the note to each one of +them. Most of them left their chairs and made a slight bow of +acknowledgment. But some of the more painfully polite took the note and +read it and respectfully returned it to me, just like the cheap +performances at a rural show! When I came to the fifteenth, who was the +teacher of physical training, I became impatient at repeating the same +old thing so often. The other side had to do it only once, but my side +had to do it fifteen times. They ought to have had some sympathy. + +Among those I met in the room there was Mr. Blank who was head teacher. +Said he was a Bachelor of Arts. I suppose he was a great man since he +was a graduate from Imperial University and had such a title. He talked +in a strangely effeminate voice like a woman. But what surprised me most +was that he wore a flannel shirt. However thin it might be, flannel is +flannel and must have been pretty warm at that time of the year. What +painstaking dress is required which will be becoming to a B.A.! And it +was a red shirt; wouldn't that kill you! I heard afterwards that he +wears a red shirt all the year round. What a strange affliction! +According to his own explanation, he has his shirts made to order for +the sake of his health as the red color is beneficial to the physical +condition. Unnecessary worry, this, for that being the case, he should +have had his coat and hakama also in red. And there was one Mr. Koga, +teacher of English, whose complexion was very pale. Pale-faced people +are usually thin, but this man was pale and fat. When I was attending +grammar school, there was one Tami Asai in our class, and his father was +just as pale as this Koga. Asai was a farmer, and I asked Kiyo if one's +face would become pale if he took up farming. Kiyo said it was not so; +Asai ate always Hubbard squash of "uranari" [2] and that was the reason. +Thereafter when I saw any man pale and fat, I took it for granted that +it was the result of his having eaten too much of squash of "uranari." +This English teacher was surely subsisting upon squash. However, what +the meaning of "uranari" is, I do not know. I asked Kiyo once, but she +only laughed. Probably she did not know. Among the teachers of +mathematics, there was one named Hotta. This was a fellow of massive +body, with hair closely cropped. He looked like one of the old-time +devilish priests who made the Eizan temple famous. I showed him the note +politely, but he did not even look at it, and blurted out; + +"You're the man newly appointed, eh? Come and see me sometime, +ha, ha, ha!" + +[Footnote 2: Means the last crop.] + +Devil take his "Ha, ha, ha!" Who would go to see a fellow so void of the +sense of common decency! I gave this priest from this time the nickname +of Porcupine. + +The Confucian teacher was strict in his manner as becoming to his +profession. "Arrived yesterday? You must be tired. Start teaching +already? Working hard, indeed!"--and so on. He was an old man, quite +sociable and talkative. + +The teacher of drawing was altogether like a cheap actor. He wore a +thin, flappy haori of sukiya, and, toying with a fan, he giggled; "Where +from? eh? Tokyo? Glad to hear that. You make another of our group. I'm a +Tokyo kid myself." + +If such a fellow prided himself on being a Tokyo kid, I wished I had +never been born in Tokyo. I might go on writing about each one of +them, for there are many, but I stop here otherwise there will be no +end to it. + +When my formal introduction was over, the principal said that I might go +for the day, but I should make arrangements as to the class hours, etc., +with the head teacher of mathematics and begin teaching from the day +after the morrow. Asked who was the head teacher of mathematics, I found +that he was no other than that Porcupine. Holy smokes! was I to serve +under him? I was disappointed. + +"Say, where are you stopping? Yamashiro-ya? Well, I'll come and +talk it over." + +So saying, Porcupine, chalk in hand, left the room to his class. That +was rather humiliating for a head-teacher to come over and see his +subordinate, but it was better than to call me over to him. + +After leaving the school, I thought of returning straight to the hotel, +but as there was nothing to do, I decided to take in a little of the +town, and started walking about following my nose. I saw prefectural +building; it was an old structure of the last century. Also I saw the +barracks; they were less imposing than those of the Azabu Regiment, +Tokyo. I passed through the main street. The width of the street is +about one half that of Kagurazaka, and its aspect is inferior. What +about a castle-town of 250,000-koku Lord! Pity the fellows who get +swell-headed in such a place as a castle-town! + +While I walked about musing like this, I found myself in front of +Yamashiro-ya. The town was much narrower than I had been led to believe. + +"I think I have seen nearly all. Guess I'll return and eat." And I +entered the gate. The mistress of the hotel who was sitting at the +counter, jumped out of her place at my appearance and with "Are you +back, Sire!" scraped the floor with her forehead. When I took my shoes +off and stepped inside, the maid took me to an upstairs room that had +became vacant. It was a front room of 15 mats (about 90 square feet). I +had never before lived in so splendid a room as this. As it was quite +uncertain when I should again be able to occupy such a room in future, I +took off my European dress, and with only a single Japanese summer coat +on, sprawled in the centre of the room in the shape of the Japanese +letter "big" (arms stretched out and legs spread wide[D]). I found it +very refreshing. + +After luncheon I at once wrote a letter to Kiyo. I hate most to write +letters because I am poor at sentence-making and also poor in my stock +of words. Neither did I have any place to which to address my letters. +However, Kiyo might be getting anxious. It would not do to let her worry +lest she think the steamer which I boarded had been wrecked and I was +drowned,--so I braced up and wrote a long one. The body of the letter +was as follows: + + "Arrived yesterday. A dull place. Am sleeping in a room of 15 mats. + Tipped the hotel five yen as tea money. The house-wife of the hotel + scraped the floor with her forehead. Couldn't sleep last night. + Dreamed Kiyo eat sasa-ame together with the bamboo-leaf wrappers. Will + return next summer. Went to the school to-day, and nicknamed all the + fellows. 'Badger' for the principal, 'Red Shirt' for the head-teacher, + 'Hubbard Squash' for the teacher of English, 'Porcupine' the teacher + of mathematics and 'Clown' for that of drawing. Will write you many + other things soon. Good bye." + +When I finished writing the letter, I felt better and sleepy. So I slept +in the centre of the room, as I had done before, in the letter "big" +shape ([D]). No dream this time, and I had a sound sleep. + +"Is this the room?"--a loud voice was heard,--a voice which woke me up, +and Porcupine entered. + +"How do you do? What you have to do in the school----" he began talking +shop as soon as I got up and rattled me much. On learning my duties in +the school, there seemed to be no difficulty, and I decided to accept. +If only such were what was expected of me, I would not be surprised were +I told to start not only two days hence but even from the following day. +The talk on business over, Porcupine said that he did not think it was +my intention to stay in such a hotel all the time, that he would find a +room for me in a good boarding house, and that I should move. + +"They wouldn't take in another from anybody else but I can do it +right away. The sooner the better. Go and look at the room to-day, +move tomorrow and start teaching from the next day. That'll be all +nice and settled." + +He seemed satisfied by arranging all by himself. Indeed, I should not be +able to occupy such a room for long. I might have to blow in all of my +salary for the hotel bill and yet be short of squaring it. It was pity +to leave the hotel so soon after I had just shone with a 5-yen tip. +However, it being decidedly convenient to move and get settled early if +I had to move at all, I asked Porcupine to get that room for me. He told +me then to come over with him and see the house at any rate, and I did. +The house was situated mid-way up a hill at the end of the town, and was +a quiet. The boss was said to be a dealer in antique curios, called +Ikagin, and his wife was about four years his senior. I learned the +English word "witch" when I was in middle school, and this woman looked +exactly like one. But as she was another man's wife, what did I care if +she was a witch. Finally I decided to live in the house from the next +day. On our way back Porcupine treated me to a cup of ice-water. When I +first met him in the school, I thought him a disgustingly overbearing +fellow, but judging by the way he had looked after me so far, he +appeared not so bad after all. Only he seemed, like me, impatient by +nature and of quick-temper. I heard afterward that he was liked most by +all the students in the school. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +My teaching began at last. When I entered the class-room and stepped +upon the platform for the first time, I felt somewhat strange. While +lecturing, I wondered if a fellow like me could keep up the profession +of public instructor. The students were noisy. Once in a while, they +would holler "Teacher!" "Teacher,"--it was "going some." I had been +calling others "teacher" every day so far, in the school of physics, but +in calling others "teacher" and being called one, there is a wide gap of +difference. It made me feel as if some one was tickling my soles. I am +not a sneakish fellow, nor a coward; only--it's a pity--I lack audacity. +If one calls me "teacher" aloud, it gives me a shock similar to that of +hearing the noon-gun in Marunouchi when I was hungry. The first hour +passed away in a dashing manner. And it passed away without encountering +any knotty questions. As I returned to the teachers' room, Porcupine +asked me how it was. I simply answered "well," and he seemed satisfied. + +When I left the teachers' room, chalk in hand, for the second hour +class, I felt as if I was invading the enemy's territory. On entering +the room, I found the students for this hour were all big fellows. I am +a Tokyo kid, delicately built and small, and did not appear very +impressive even in my elevated position. If it comes to a scraping, I +can hold my own even with wrestlers, but I had no means of appearing +awe-inspiring[E], merely by the aid of my tongue, to so many as forty +such big chaps before me. Believing, however, that it would set a bad +precedent to show these country fellows any weakness, I lectured rather +loudly and in brusque tone. During the first part the students were +taken aback and listened literally with their mouths open. "That's one +on you!" I thought. Elated by my success, I kept on in this tone, when +one who looked the strongest, sitting in the middle of the front row, +stood up suddenly, and called "Teacher!" There it goes!--I thought, and +asked him what it was. + +"A-ah sa-ay, you talk too quick. A-ah ca-an't you make it a leetle slow? +A-ah?" "A-ah ca-an't you?" "A-ah?" was altogether dull. + +"If I talk too fast, I'll make it slow, but I'm a Tokyo fellow, and +can't talk the way you do. If you don't understand it, better wait +until you do." + +So I answered him. In this way the second hour was closed better than I +had expected. Only, as I was about to leave the class, one of the +students asked me, "A-ah say, won't you please do them for me?" and +showed me some problems in geometry which I was sure I could not solve. +This proved to be somewhat a damper on me. But, helpless, I told him I +could not make them out, and telling him that I would show him how next +time, hastily got out of the room. And all of them raised "Whee--ee!" +Some of them were heard saying "He doesn't know much." Don't take a +teacher for an encyclopaedia! If I could work out such hard questions as +these easily, I would not be in such a backwoods town for forty yen a +month. I returned to the teachers' room. + +"How was it this time?" asked Porcupine. I said "Umh." But not satisfied +with "Umh" only, I added that all the students in this school were +boneheads. He put up a whimsical face. + +The third and the fourth hour and the first hour in the afternoon were +more or less the same. In all the classes I attended, I made some kind +of blunder. I realised that the profession of teaching not quite so easy +a calling as might have appeared. My teaching for the day was finished +but I could not get away. I had to wait alone until three o'clock. I +understood that at three o'clock the students of my classes would finish +cleaning up the rooms and report to me, whereupon I would go over the +rooms. Then I would run through the students' roll, and then be free to +go home. Outrageous, indeed, to keep on chained to the school, staring +at the empty space when he had nothing more to do, even though he was +"bought" by a salary! Other fellow teachers, however, meekly submitted +to the regulation, and believing it not well for me,--a new comer--to +fuss about it, I stood it. On my way home, I appealed to Porcupine as to +the absurdity of keeping me there till three o'clock regardless of my +having nothing to do in the school. He said "Yes" and laughed. But he +became serious and in an advisory manner told me not to make many +complaints about the school. + +"Talk to me only, if you want to. There are some queer guys around." + +As we parted at the next corner, I did not have time to hear more from +him. + +On reaching my room, the boss of the house came to me saying, "Let me +serve you tea." I expected he was going to treat me to some good tea +since he said "Let me serve you," but he simply made himself at home +and drank my own tea. Judging by this, I thought he might be +practising "Let me serve you" during my absence. The boss said that he +was fond of antique drawings and curios and finally had decided to +start in that business. + +"You look like one quite taken about art. Suppose you begin patronizing +my business just for fun as er--connoisseur of art?" + +It was the least expected kind of solicitation. Two years ago, I went to +the Imperial Hotel (Tokyo) on an errand, and I was taken for a +locksmith. When I went to see the Daibutsu at Kamakura, haying wrapped +up myself from head to toe with a blanket, a rikisha man addressed me as +"Gov'ner." I have been mistaken on many occasions for as many things, +but none so far has counted on me as a probable connoisseur of art. One +should know better by my appearance. Any one who aspires to be a patron +of art is usually pictured,--you may see in any drawing,--with either a +hood on his head, or carrying a tanzaku[3] in his hand. The fellow who +calls me a connoisseur of art and pretends to mean it, may be surely as +crooked as a dog's hind legs. I told him I did not like such art-stuff, +which is usually favored by retired people. He laughed, and remarking +that that nobody liked it at first, but once in it, will find it so +fascinating that he will hardly get over it, served tea for himself and +drank it in a grotesque manner. I may say that I had asked him the night +before to buy some tea for me, but I did not like such a bitter, heavy +kind. One swallow seemed to act right on my stomach. I told him to buy a +kind not so bitter as that, and he answered "All right, Sir," and drank +another cup. The fellow seemed never to know of having enough of +anything so long as it was another man's. After he left the room, I +prepared for the morrow and went to bed. + +[Footnote 3: A tanzaku is a long, narrow strip of stiff paper on which a +Japanese poem is written.] + +Everyday thereafter I attended at the school and worked as per +regulations. Every day on my return, the boss came to my room with the +same old "Let me serve you tea." In about a week I understood the school +in a general way, and had my own idea as to the personality of the boss +and his wife. I heard from one of my fellow teachers that the first week +to one month after the receipt of the appointment worried them most as +to whether they had been favorably received among the students. I never +felt anything on that score. Blunders in the class room once in a while +caused me chagrin, but in about half an hour everything would clear out +of my head. I am a fellow who, by nature, can't be worrying long +about[F] anything even if I try to. I was absolutely indifferent as how +my blunders in the class room affected the students, or how much further +they affected the principal or the head-teacher. As I mentioned before, +I am not a fellow of much audacity to speak of, but I am quick to give +up anything when I see its finish. + +I had resolved to go elsewhere at once if the school did not suit me. In +consequence, neither Badger nor Red Shirt wielded any influence over me. +And still less did I feel like coaxing or coddling the youngsters in the +class room. + +So far it was O.K. with the school, but not so easy as that at my +boarding house. I could have stood it if it had been only the boss +coming to my room after my tea. But he would fetch many things to my +room. First time he brought in seals.[4] He displayed about ten of them +before me and persuaded me to buy them for three yen, which was very +cheap, he said. Did he take me for a third rate painter making a round +of the country? I told him I did not want them. Next time he brought in +a panel picture of flowers and birds, drawn by one Kazan or somebody. He +hung it against the wall of the alcove and asked me if it was not well +done, and I echoed it looked well done. Then he started lecturing about +Kazan, that there are two Kazans, one is Kazan something and the other +is Kazan anything, and that this picture was the work of that Kazan +something. After this nonsensical lecture, he insisted that he would +make it fifteen yen for me to buy it. I declined the offer saying that I +was shy of the money. + +[Footnote 4: Artists have several seals of stone with which to stamp on +the picture they draw as a guarantee of their personal work or for +identification. The shape and kind of seals are quite a hobby among +artists, and sales or exchange are of common occurrence.] + +"You can pay any time." He was insistent. I settled him by telling him +of my having no intention of purchasing it even if I had the necessary +money. Again next time, he yanked in a big writing stone slab about the +size of a ridge-tile. + +"This is a tankei,"[5] he said. As he "tankeied" two or three times, I +asked for fun what was a tankei. Right away he commenced lecturing on +the subject. "There are the upper, the middle and the lower stratum in +tankei," he said. "Most of tankei slabs to-day are made from the upper +stratum," he continued, "but this one is surely from the middle +stratum. Look at this 'gan.'[6] 'Tis certainly rare to have three +'gans' like this. The ink-cake grates smoothly on it. Try it, +sir,"--and he pushed it towards me. I asked him how much, and he +answered that on account of its owner having brought it from China and +wishing to sell if as soon as possible, he would make it very cheap, +that I could have it for thirty yen. I was sure he was a fool. I seemed +to be able to get through the school somehow, but I would soon give out +if this "curio siege" kept on long. + +[Footnote 5: Tankei is the name of a place in China where a certain kind +of stone suitable for writing purposes was produced.] + +[Footnote 6: "Gan" may be understood as a kind of natural mark on the +stone peculiar to the stone from Tankei.] + +Shortly afterwards, I began to get sick of the school. One certain +night, while I was strolling about a street named Omachi, I happened to +notice a sign of noodles below of which was annotated "Tokyo" in the +house next to the post office. I am very fond of noodles. While I was in +Tokyo, if I passed by a noodle house and smelled the seasoning spices, I +felt uncontrollable temptation to go inside at any cost. Up to this time +I had forgotten the noodle on account of mathematics and antique curios, +but since I had seen thus the sign of noodles, I could hardly pass it by +unnoticed. So availing myself of this opportunity, I went in. It was not +quite up to what I had judged by the sign. Since it claimed to follow +the Tokyo style, they should have tidied up a little bit about the room. +They did not either know Tokyo or have the means,--I did not know which, +but the room was miserably dirty. The floor-mats had all seen better +days and felt shaggy with sandy dust. The sootcovered walls defied the +blackest black. The ceiling was not only smoked by the lamp black, but +was so low as to force one involuntarily bend down his neck. Only the +price-list, on which was glaringly written "Noodles" and which was +pasted on the wall, was entirely new. I was certain that they bought an +old house and opened the business just two or three days before. At the +head of the price-list appeared "tempura" (noodles served with shrimp +fried in batter). + +"Say, fetch me some tempura," I ordered in a loud voice. Then three +fellows who had been making a chewing noise together in a corner, looked +in my direction. As the room was dark I did not notice them at first. +But when we looked at each other, I found them all to be boys in our +school. They "how d'ye do'd" me and I acknowledged it. That night, +having come across the noodle after so long a time, it tasted so fine +that I ate four bowls. + +The next day as I entered the class room quite unconcernedly, I saw on +the black board written in letters so large as to take up the whole +space; "Professor Tempura." The boys all glanced at my face and made +merry hee-haws at my cost. It was so absurd that I asked them if it was +in any way funny for me to eat tempura noodle. Thereupon one of them +said,--"But four bowls is too much." What did they care if I ate four +bowls or five as long as I paid it with my own money,--and speedily +finishing up my class, I returned to the teachers' room. After ten +minutes' recess, I went to the next class, and there on the black board +was newly written quite as large as before; "Four bowls of tempura +noodles, but don't laugh." + +The first one did not arouse any ill-temper in me, but this time it made +me feel irritating mad. A joke carried too far becomes mischievous. It +is like the undue jealousy of some women who, like coal, look black and +suggest flames. Nobody likes it. These country simpletons, unable to +differentiate upon so delicate a boundary, would seem to be bent on +pushing everything to the limit. As they lived in such a narrow town +where one has no more to see if he goes on strolling about for one hour, +and as they were capable of doing nothing better, they were trumpeting +aloud this tempura incident in quite as serious a manner as the +Russo-Japanese war. What a bunch of miserable pups! It is because they +are raised in this fashion from their boyhood that there are many punies +who, like the dwarf maple tree in the flower pot, mature gnarled and +twisted. I have no objection to laugh myself with others over innocent +jokes. But how's this? Boys as they are, they showed a "poisonous +temper." Silently erasing off "tempura" from the board, I questioned +them if they thought such mischief interesting, that this was a cowardly +joke and if they knew the meaning of "cowardice." Some of them answered +that to get angry on being laughed at over one's own doing, was +cowardice. What made them so disgusting as this? I pitied myself for +coming from far off Tokyo to teach such a lot. + +"Keep your mouth shut, and study hard," I snapped, and started the +class. In the next class again there was written: "When one eats tempura +noodles it makes him drawl nonsense." There seemed no end to it. I was +thoroughly aroused with anger, and declaring that I would not teach such +sassies, went home straight. The boys were glad of having an unexpected +holiday, so I heard. When things had come to this pass, the antique +curious seemed far more preferable to the school. + +My return home and sleep over night greatly rounded off my rugged temper +over the tempura affair. I went to the school, and they were there also. +I could not tell what was what. The three days thereafter were pacific, +and on the night of the fourth day, I went to a suburb called Sumida and +ate "dango" (small balls made of glutinous rice, dressed with +sugar-paste). Sumida is a town where there are restaurants, hot-springs +bath houses and a park, and in addition, the "tenderloin." The dango +shop where I went was near the entrance to the tenderloin, and as the +dango served there was widely known for its nice taste, I dropped in on +my way back from my bath. As I did not meet any students this time, I +thought nobody knew of it, but when I entered the first hour class next +day, I found written on the black board; "Two dishes of dango--7 sen." +It is true that I ate two dishes and paid seven sen. Troublesome kids! I +declare. I expected with certainty that there would be something at the +second hour, and there it was; "The dango in the tenderloin taste fine." +Stupid wretches! + +No sooner I thought, the dango incident closed than the red towel became +the topic for widespread gossip. Inquiry as to the story revealed it to +be something unusually absurd. Since, my arrival here, I had made it a +part of my routine to take in the hot springs bath every day. While +there was nothing in this town which compared favorably with Tokyo, the +hot springs were worthy of praise. So long as I was in the town, I +decided that I would have a dip every day, and went there walking, +partly for physical exercise, before my supper. And whenever I went +there I used to carry a large-size European towel dangling from my hand. +Added to somewhat reddish color the towel had acquired by its having +been soaked in the hot-springs, the red color on its border, which was +not fast enough, streaked about so that the towel now looked as if it +were dyed red. This towel hung down from my hand on both ways whether +afoot or riding in the train. For this reason, the students nicknamed me +Red Towel. Honest, it is exasperating to live in a little town. + +There is some more. The bath house I patronized was a newly built +three-story house, and for the patrons of the first class the house +provided a bath-robe, in addition to an attendant, and the cost was only +eight sen. On top of that, a maid would serve tea in a regular polite +fashion. I always paid the first class. Then those gossipy spotters +started saying that for one who made only forty yen a month to take a +first class bath every day was extravagant. Why the devil should they +care? It was none of their business. + +There is still some more. The bath-tub,--or the tank in this case,--was +built of granite, and measured about thirty square feet. Usually there +were thirteen or fourteen people in the tank, but sometimes there was +none. As the water came up clear to the breast, I enjoyed, for athletic +purposes, swimming in the tank. I delighted in swimming in this +30-square feet tank, taking chances of the total absence of other +people. Once, going downstairs from the third story with a light heart, +and peeping through the entrance of the tank to see if I should be able +to swim, I noticed a sign put up in which was boldly written: "No +swimming allowed in the tank." As there may not have been many who swam +in the tank, this notice was probably put up particularly for my sake. +After that I gave up swimming. But although I gave up swimming, I was +surprised, when I went to the school, to see on the board, as usual, +written: "No swimming allowed in the tank." It seemed as if all the +students united in tracking me everywhere. They made me sick. I was not +a fellow to stop doing whatever I had started upon no matter what +students might say, but I became thoroughly disgusted when I meditated +on why I had come to such a narrow, suffocating place. And, then, when I +returned home, the "antique curio siege" was still going on. + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +For us teachers there was a duty of night watch in the school, and we +had to do it in turn. But Badger and Red Shirt were not in it. On +asking why these two were exempt from this duty, I was told that they +were accorded by the government treatment similar to officials of +"Sonin" rank. Oh, fudge! They were paid more, worked less, and were +then excused from this night watch. It was not fair. They made +regulations to suit their convenience and seemed to regard all this as +a matter of course. How could they be so brazen faced as this! I was +greatly dissatisfied relative to this question, but according to the +opinion of Porcupine, protests by a single person, with what insistency +they may be made, will not be heard. They ought to be heard whether +they are made by one person or by two if they are just. Porcupine +remonstrated with me by quoting "Might is right" in English. I did not +catch his point, so I asked him again, and he told me that it meant the +right of the stronger. If it was the right of the stronger I had known +it for long, and did not require Porcupine explain that to me at this +time. The right of the stronger was a question different from that of +the night watch. Who would agree that Badger and Red Shirt were the +stronger? But argument or no argument, the turn of this night watch at +last fell upon me. Being quite fastidious, I never enjoyed sound sleep +unless I slept comfortably in my own bedding. From my childhood, I +never stayed out overnight. When I did not find sleeping under the roof +of my friends inviting, night watch in the school, you may be sure, was +still worse. However repulsive, if this was a part of the forty yen a +month, there was no alternative. I had to do it. + +To remain alone in the school after the faculty and students had gone +home, was something particularly awkward. The room for the night watch +was in the rear of the school building at the west end of the dormitory. +I stepped inside to see how it was, and finding it squarely facing the +setting sun, I thought I would melt. In spite of autumn having already +set in, the hot spell still lingered, quite in keeping with the +dilly-dally atmosphere of the country. I ordered the same kind of meal +as served for the students, and finished my supper. The meal was +unspeakably poor. It was a wonder they could subsist on such miserable +stuff and keep on "roughing it" in that lively fashion. Not only that, +they were always hungry for supper, finishing it at 4.30 in the +afternoon. They must be heroes in a sense. I had thus my supper, but the +sun being still high, could not go to bed yet. I felt like going to the +hot-springs. I did not know the wrong or right of night watch going out, +but it was oppressively trying to stand a life akin to heavy +imprisonment. When I called at the school the first time and inquired +about night watch, I was told by the janitor that he had just gone out +and I thought it strange. But now by taking the turn of night watch +myself, I could fathom the situation; it was right for any night watch +to go out. I told the janitor that I was going out for a minute. He +asked me "on business?" and I answered "No," but to take a bath at the +hot springs, and went out straight. It was too bad that I had left my +red towel at home, but I would borrow one over there for to-day. + +I took plenty of time in dipping in the bath and as it became dark at +last, I came to the Furumachi Station on a train. It was only about four +blocks to the school; I could cover it in no time. When I started +walking schoolwards, Badger was seen coming from the opposite direction. +Badger, I presumed, was going to the hot springs by this train. He came +with brisk steps, and as we passed by, I nodded my courtesy. Then +Badger, with a studiously owlish countenance, asked: + +"Am I wrong to understand that you are night watch?" + +Chuck that "Am-I-wrong-to-understand"! Two hours ago, did he not say to +me "You're on first night watch to-night. Now, take care of yourself?" +What makes one use such a roundabout, twisted way of saying anything +when he becomes a principal? I was far from smiling. + +"Yes, Sir," I said, "I'm night watch to-night, and as I am night watch I +will return to the school and stay there overnight, sure." With this +parting shot, I left him where we met. Coming then to the cross-streets +of Katamachi, I met Porcupine. This is a narrow place, I tell you. +Whenever one ventures out, he is sure to come across some familiar face. + +"Say, aren't you night watch?" he hallooed, and I said "Yes, I am." "Tis +wrong for night watch to leave his post at his pleasure," he added, and +to this I blurted out with a bold front; "Nothing wrong at all. It is +wrong not to go out." + +"Say, old man, your slap-dash is going to the limit. Wouldn't look well +for the principal or the head teacher to see you out like this." + +The submissive tone of his remark was contrary to Porcupine as I had +known him so far, so I cut him short by saying: + +"I have met the principal just now. Why, he approved my taking a stroll +about the town. Said it would be hard on night watch unless he took a +walk when it is hot." Then I made a bee-line for the school. + +Soon it was night. I called the janitor to my room and had a chat for +about two hours. I grew tired of this, and thought I would get into bed +anyway, even if I could not sleep. I put on my night shirt, lifted the +mosquito-net, rolled off the red blanket and fell down flat on my back +with a bang. The making of this bumping noise when I go to bed is my +habit from my boyhood. "It is a bad habit," once declared a student of a +law school who lived on the ground floor, and I on the second, when I +was in the boarding house at Ogawa-machi, Kanda-ku, and who brought +complaints to my room in person. Students of law schools, weaklings as +they are, have double the ability of ordinary persons when it comes to +talking. As this student of law dwelt long on absurd accusations, I +downed him by answering that the noise made when I went to bed was not +the fault of my hip, but that of the house which was not built on a +solid base, and that if he had any fuss to make, make it to the house, +not to me. This room for night watch was not on the second floor, so +nobody cared how much I banged. I do not feel well-rested unless I go to +bed with the loudest bang I can make. + +"This is bully!" and I straightened out my feet, when something jumped +and clung to them. They felt coarse, and seemed not to be fleas. I was a +bit surprised, and shook my feet inside the blanket two or three times. +Instantly the blamed thing increased,--five or six of them on my legs, +two or three on the thighs, one crushed beneath my hip and another clear +up to my belly. The shock became greater. Up I jumped, took off the +blanket, and about fifty to sixty grasshoppers flew out. I was more or +less uneasy until I found out what they were, but now I saw they were +grasshoppers, they set me on the war path. "You insignificant +grasshoppers, startling a man! See what's coming to you!" With this I +slapped them with my pillow twice or thrice, but the objects being so +small, the effect was out of proportion to the force with which the +blows were administered. I adopted a different plan. In the manner of +beating floor-mats with rolled matting at house-cleaning, I sat up in +bed and began beating them with the pillow. Many of them flew up by the +force of the pillow; some desperately clung on or shot against my nose +or head. I could not very well hit those on my head with the pillow; I +grabbed such, and dashed them on the floor. What was more provoking was +that no matter how hard I dashed them, they landed on the mosquito-net +where they made a fluffy jerk and remained, far from being dead. At +last, in about half an hour the slaughter of the grasshoppers was ended. +I fetched a broom and swept them out. The janitor came along and asked +what was the matter. + +"Damn the matter! Where in thunder are the fools who keep grasshoppers +in bed! You pumpkinhead!" + +The janitor answered by explaining that he did not know anything about +it. "You can't get away with Did-not-know," and I followed this +thundering by throwing away the broom. The awe-struck janitor shouldered +the broom and faded away. + +At once I summoned three of the students to my room as the +"representatives," and six of them reported. Six or ten made no +difference; I rolled up the sleeves of my night-shirt and fired away. + +"What do you mean by putting grasshoppers in my bed!" + +"Grasshoppers? What are they?" said one in front, in a tone disgustingly +quiet. In this school, not only the principal, but the students as well, +were addicted to using twisted-round expressions. + +"Don't know grasshoppers! You shall see!" To my chagrin, there was none; +I had swept them all out. I called the janitor again and told him to +fetch those grasshoppers he had taken away. The janitor said he had +thrown them into the garbage box, but that he would pick them out again. +"Yes, hurry up," I said, and he sped away. After a while he brought back +about ten grasshoppers on a white paper, remarking: + +"I'm sorry, Sir. It's dark outside and I can't find out more. I'll find +some tomorrow." All fools here, down to the janitor. I showed one +grasshopper to the students. + +"This is a grasshopper. What's the matter for as big idiots as you not +to know a grasshopper." Then the one with a round face sitting on the +left saucily shot back: + +"A-ah say, that's a locust, a-ah----." + +"Shut up. They're the same thing. In the first place, what do you +mean by answering your teacher 'A-ah say'? Ah-Say or Ah-Sing is a +Chink's name!" + +For this counter-shot, he answered: + +"A-ah say and Ah-Sing is different,--A-ah say." They never got rid of +"A-ah say." + +"Grasshoppers or locusts, why did you put them into my bed? When I +asked you to?" + +"Nobody put them in." + +"If not, how could they get into the bed?" + +"Locusts are fond of warm places and probably they got in there +respectfully by themselves." + +"You fools! Grasshoppers getting into bed respectfully! I should smile +at them getting in there respectfully! Now, what's the reason for doing +this mischief? Speak out." + +"But there is no way to explain it because we didn't do it." + +Shrimps! If they were afraid of making a clean breast of their own deed, +they should not have done it at all. They looked defiant, and appeared +to insist on their innocence as long as no evidence was brought up. I +myself did some mischief while in the middle school, but when the +culprit was sought after, I was never so cowardly, not even once, to +back out. What one has done, has been done; what he has not, has not +been,--that's the black and white of it. I, for one have been game and +square, no matter how much mischief I might have done. If I wished to +dodge the punishment, I would not start it. Mischief and punishment are +bound to go together. We can enjoy mischief-making with some show of +spirit because it is accompanied by certain consequences. Where does one +expect to see the dastardly spirit which hungers for mischief-making +without punishment, in vogue? The fellows who like to borrow money but +not pay it back, are surely such as these students here after they are +graduated. What did these fellows come to this middle school for, +anyway? They enter a school, tattle round lies, play silly jokes behind +some one by sneaking and cheating and get wrongly swell-headed when they +finish the school thinking they have received an education. A common lot +of jackasses they are. + +My hatred of talking with these scamps became intense, so I dismissed +them by saying: + +"If you fellows have nothing to say, let it go at that. You deserve +pity for not knowing the decent from the vulgar after coming to a +middle school." + +I am not very decent in my own language or manner, but am sure that my +moral standard is far more decent than that of these gangs. Those six +boys filed out leisurely. Outwardly they appeared more dignified than I +their teacher, it was the more repulsive for their calm behavior. I have +no temerity equal to theirs. Then I went to bed again, and found the +inside of the net full of merry crowds of mosquitoes. I could not bother +myself to burn one by one with a candle flame. So I took the net off the +hooks, folded it the lengthwise, and shook it crossways, up and down the +room. One of the rings of the net, flying round, accidentally hit the +back of my hand, the effect of which I did not soon forget. When I went +to bed for the third time, I cooled off a little, but could not sleep +easily. My watch showed it was half past ten. Well, as I thought it +over, I realized myself as having come to a dirty pit. If all teachers +of middle schools everywhere have to handle fellows like these in this +school, those teachers have my sympathy. It is wonderful that teachers +never run short. I believe there are many boneheads of extraordinary +patience; but me for something else. In this respect, Kiyo is worthy of +admiration. She is an old woman, with neither education nor social +position, but as a human, she does more to command our respect. Until +now, I have been a trouble to her without appreciating her goodness, but +having come alone to such a far-off country, I now appreciated, for the +first time, her kindness. If she is fond of sasa-ame of Echigo province, +and if I go to Echigo for the purpose of buying that sweetmeat to let +her eat it, she is fully worth that trouble. Kiyo has been praising me +as unselfish and straight, but she is a person of sterling qualities far +more than I whom she praises. I began to feel like meeting her. + +While I was thus meditating about Kiyo, all of a sudden, on the floor +above my head, about thirty to forty people, if I guess by the number, +started stamping the floor with bang, bang, bang that well threatened to +bang down the floor. This was followed by proportionately loud whoops. +The noise surprised me, and I popped up. The moment I got up I became +aware that the students were starting a rough house to get even with me. +What wrong one has committed, he has to confess, or his offence is never +atoned for. They are just to ask for themselves what crimes they have +done. It should be proper that they repent their folly after going to +bed and to come and beg me pardon the next morning. Even if they could +not go so far as to apologize they should have kept quiet. Then what +does this racket mean? Where we keeping hogs in our dormitory? + +"This crazy thing got to stop. See what you get!" + +I ran out of the room in my night shirt, and flew upstairs in three and +half steps. Then, strange to say, thunderous rumbling, of which I was +sure of hearing in the act, was hushed. Not only a whisper but even +footsteps were not heard. This was funny. The lamp was already blown +out and although I could not see what was what in the dark, nevertheless +could tell by instinct whether there was somebody around or not. In the +long corridor running from the east to the west, there was not hiding +even a mouse. From other end of the corridor the moonlight flooded in +and about there it was particularly light. The scene was somewhat +uncanny. I have had the habit from my boyhood of frequently dreaming and +of flying out of bed and of muttering things which nobody understood, +affording everybody a hearty laugh. One night, when I was sixteen or +seventeen, I dreamed that I picked up a diamond, and getting up, +demanded of my brother who was sleeping close to me what he had done +with that diamond. The demand was made with such force that for about +three days all in the house chaffed me about the fatal loss of precious +stone, much to my humiliation. Maybe this noise which I heard was but a +dream, although I was sure it was real. I was wondering thus in the +middle of the corridor, when at the further end where it was moonlit, a +roar was raised, coming from about thirty or forty throats, "One, two, +three,--Whee-ee!" The roar had hardly subsided, when, as before, the +stamping of the floor commenced with furious rhythm. Ah, it was not a +dream, but a real thing! + +"Quit making the noise! 'Tis midnight!" + +I shouted to beat the band, and started in their direction. My passage +was dark; the moonlight yonder was only my guide. About twelve feet +past, I stumbled squarely against some hard object; ere the "Ouch!" has +passed clear up to my head, I was thrown down. I called all kinds of +gods, but could not run. My mind urged me on to hurry up, but my leg +would not obey the command. Growing impatient, I hobbled on one foot, +and found both voice and stamping already ceased and perfectly quiet. +Men can be cowards but I never expected them capable of becoming such +dastardly cowards as this. They challenged hogs. + +Now the situation having developed to this pretty mess, I would not give +it up until I had dragged them out from hiding and forced them to +apologize. With this determination, I tried to open one of the doors and +examine inside, but it would not open. It was locked or held fast with a +pile of tables or something; to my persistent efforts the door stood +unyielding. Then I tried one across the corridor on the northside, but +it was also locked. While this irritating attempt at door-opening was +going on, again on the east end of the corridor the whooping roar and +rhythmic stamping of feet were heard. The fools at both ends were bent +on making a goose of me. I realized this, but then I was at a loss what +to do. I frankly confess that I have not quite as much tact as dashing +spirit. In such a case I am wholly at the mercy of swaying circumstances +without my own way of getting through it. Nevertheless, I do not expect +to play the part of underdog. If I dropped the affair then and there, it +would reflect upon my dignity. It would be mortifying to have them think +that they had one on the Tokyo-kid and that Tokyo-kid was wanting in +tenacity. To have it on record that I had been guyed by these +insignificant spawn when on night watch, and had to give in to their +impudence because I could not handle them,--this would be an indelible +disgrace on my life. Mark ye,--I am descendant of a samurai of the +"hatamato" class. The blood of the "hatamoto" samurai could be traced to +Mitsunaka Tada, who in turn could claim still a nobler ancestor. I am +different from, and nobler than, these manure-smelling louts. The only +pity is that I am rather short of tact; that I do not know what to do in +such a case. That is the trouble. But I would not throw up the sponge; +not on your life! I only do not know how because I am honest. Just +think,--if the honest does not win, what else is there in this world +that will win? If I cannot beat them to-night, I will tomorrow; if not +tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow. If not the day after tomorrow, I +will sit down right here, get my meals from my home until I beat them. + +Thus resolved, I squatted in the middle of the corridor and waited for +the dawn. Myriads of mosquitoes swarmed about me, but I did not mind +them. I felt my leg where I hit it a while ago; it seemed bespattered +with something greasy. I thought it was bleeding. Let it bleed all it +cares! Meanwhile, exhausted by these unwonted affairs, I fell asleep. +When I awoke, up I jumped with a curse. The door on my right was half +opened, and two students were standing in front of me. The moment I +recovered my senses from the drowsy lull, I grabbed a leg of one of them +nearest to me, and yanked it with all my might. He fell down prone. Look +at what you're getting now! I flew at the other fellow, who was much +confused; gave him vigorous shaking twice or thrice, and he only kept +open his bewildering eyes. + +"Come up to my room." Evidently they were mollycoddles, for they obeyed +my command without a murmur. The day had become already clear. + +I began questioning those two in my room, but,--you cannot pound out the +leopard's spots no matter how you may try,--they seemed determined to +push it through by an insistent declaration of "not guilty," that they +would not confess. While this questioning was going on, the students +upstairs came down, one by one, and began congregating in my room. I +noticed all their eyes were swollen from want of sleep. + +"Blooming nice faces you got for not sleeping only one night. And you +call yourselves men! Go, wash your face and come back to hear what I've +got to tell you." + +I hurled this shot at them, but none of them went to wash his face. For +about one hour, I had been talking and back-talking with about fifty +students when suddenly Badger put in his appearance. I heard afterward +that the janitor ran to Badger for the purpose of reporting to him that +there was a trouble in the school. What a weak-knee of the janitor to +fetch the principal for so trifling an affair as this! No wonder he +cannot see better times than a janitor. + +The principal listened to my explanation, and also to brief remarks from +the students. "Attend school as usual till further notice. Hurry up with +washing your face and breakfast; there isn't much time left." So the +principal let go all the students. Decidedly slow way of handling, this. +If I were the principal, I would expel them right away. It is because +the school accords them such luke-warm treatment that they get "fresh" +and start "guying" the night watch. + +He said to me that it must have been trying on my nerves, and that +I might be tired, and also that I need not teach that day. To this +I replied: + +"No, Sir, no worrying at all. Such things may happen every night, +but it would not disturb me in the least as long as I breathe. I +will do the teaching. If I were not able to teach on account of lack +of sleep for only one single night, I would make a rebate of my +salary to the school." + +I do not know how this impressed him, but he gazed at me for a while, +and called my attention to the fact that my face was rather swollen. +Indeed, I felt it heavy. Besides, it itched all over. I was sure the +mosquitoes must have stung me there to their hearts' content. I +further added: + +"My face may be swollen, but I can talk all right; so I will teach;" +thus scratching my face with some warmth. The principal smiled and +remarked, "Well, you have the strength." To tell the truth, he did not +intend remark to be a compliment, but, I think, a sneer. + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +"Won't you go fishing?" asked Red Shirt He talks in a strangely womanish +voice. One would not be able to tell whether he was a man or a woman. As +a man he should talk like one. Is he not a college graduate? I can talk +man-like enough, and am a graduate from a school of physics at that. It +is a shame for a B.A. to have such a squeak. + +I answered with the smallest enthusiasm, whereupon he further asked me +an impolite question if I ever did fishing. I told him not much, that I +once caught three gibels when I was a boy, at a fishing game pond at +Koume, and that I also caught a carp about eight inches long, at a +similar game at the festival of Bishamon at Kagurazaka;--the carp, just +as I was coaxing it out of the water, splashed back into it, and when I +think of the incident I feel mortified at the loss even now. Red Shirt +stuck out his chin and laughed "ho, ho." Why could he not laugh just +like an ordinary person? "Then you are not well acquainted with the +spirit of the game," he cried. "I'll show you if you like." He seemed +highly elated. + +Not for me! I take it this way that generally those who are fond of +fishing or shooting have cruel hearts. Otherwise, there is no reason why +they could derive pleasure in murdering innocent creatures. Surely, fish +and birds would prefer living to getting killed. Except those who make +fishing or shooting their calling, it is nonsense for those who are well +off to say that they cannot sleep well unless they seek the lives of +fish or birds. This was the way I looked at the question, but as he was +a B. A. and would have a better command of language when it came to +talking, I kept mum, knowing he would beat me in argument. Red Shirt +mistook my silence for my surrender, and began to induce me to join him +right away, saying he would show me some fish and I should come with him +if I was not busy, because he and Mr. Yoshikawa were lonesome when +alone. Mr. Yoshikawa is the teacher of drawing whom I had nicknamed +Clown. I don't know what's in the mind of this Clown, but he was a +constant visitor at the house of Red Shirt, and wherever he went, Clown +was sure to be trailing after him. They appeared more like master and +servant than two fellow teachers. As Clown used to follow Red Shirt like +a shadow, it would be natural to see them go off together now, but when +those two alone would have been well off, why should they invite +me,--this brusque, unaesthetic fellow,--was hard to understand. +Probably, vain of his fishing ability, he desired to show his skill, but +he aimed at the wrong mark, if that was his intention, as nothing of the +kind would touch me. I would not be chagrined if he fishes out two or +three tunnies. I am a man myself and poor though I may be in the art, I +would hook something if I dropped a line. If I declined his invitation, +Red Shirt would suspect that I refused not because of my lack of +interest in the game but because of my want of skill of fishing. I +weighed the matter thus, and accepted his invitation. After the school, +I returned home and got ready, and having joined Red Shirt and Clown at +the station, we three started to the shore. There was only one boatman +to row; the boat was long and narrow, a kind we do not have in Tokyo. I +looked for fishing rods but could find none. + +"How can we fish without rods? How are we going to manage it?" I asked +Clown and he told me with the air of a professional fisherman that no +rods were needed in the deep-sea fishing, but only lines. I had better +not asked him if I was to be talked down in this way. + +The boatman was rowing very slowly, but his skill was something +wonderful. We had already come far out to sea, and on turning back, saw +the shore minimized, fading in far distance. The five-storied pagoda of +Tosho Temple appeared above the surrounding woods like a needle-point. +Yonder stood Aoshima (Blue Island). Nobody was living on this island +which a closer view showed to be covered with stones and pine trees. No +wonder no one could live there. Red Shirt was intently surveying about +and praising the general view as fine. Clown also termed it "an +absolutely fine view." I don't know whether it is so fine as to be +absolute, but there was no doubt as to the exhilarating air. I realized +it as the best tonic to be thus blown by the fresh sea breeze upon a +wide expanse of water. I felt hungry. + +"Look at that pine; its trunk is straight and spreads its top branches +like an umbrella. Isn't it a Turnersque picture?" said Red Shirt. "Yes, +just like Turner's," responded Clown, "Isn't the way it curves just +elegant? Exactly the touch of Turner," he added with some show of pride. +I didn't know what Turner was, but as I could get along without knowing +it, I kept silent. The boat turned to the left with the island on the +right. The sea was so perfectly calm as to tempt one to think he was not +on the deep sea. The pleasant occasion was a credit to Red Shirt. As I +wished, if possible, to land on the island, I asked the boatman if our +boat could not be made to it. Upon this Red Shirt objected, saying that +we could do so but it was not advisable to go too close the shore for +fishing. I kept still for a while. Then Clown made the unlooked-for +proposal that the island be named Turner Island. "That's good; We shall +call it so hereafter," seconded Red Shirt. If I was included in that +"We," it was something I least cared for. Aoshima was good enough for +me. "By the way, how would it look," said Clown, "if we place Madonna by +Raphael upon that rock? It would make a fine picture." + +"Let's quit talking about Madonna, ho, ho, ho," and Red Shirt emitted a +spooky laugh. + +"That's all right. Nobody's around," remarked Clown as he glanced at me, +and turning his face to other direction significantly, smiled +devilishly. I felt sickened. + +As it was none of my business whether it was a Madonna or a kodanna +(young master), they let pose there any old way, but it was vulgar to +feign assurance that one's subject is in no danger of being understood +so long as others did not know the subject. Clown claims himself as a +Yedo kid. I thought that the person called Madonna was no other than a +favorite geisha of Red Shirt. I should smile at the idea of his gazing +at his tootsy-wootsy standing beneath a pine tree. It would be better +if Clown would make an oil painting of the scene and exhibit it for +the public. + +"This will be about the best place." So saying the boatman stopped +rowing the boat and dropped an anchor. + +"How deep is it?" asked Red Shirt, and was told about six fathoms. + +"Hard to fish sea-breams in six fathoms," said Red Shirt as he dropped a +line into the water. The old sport appeared to expect to fetch some +bream. Bravo! + +"It wouldn't be hard for you. Besides it is calm," Clown fawningly +remarked, and he too dropped a line. The line had only a tiny bit of +lead that looked like a weight. It had no float. To fish without a float +seemed as nearly reasonable as to measure the heat without a +thermometer, which was something impossible for me. So I looked on. They +then told me to start, and asked me if I had any line. I told them I had +more than I could use, but that I had no float. + +"To say that one is unable to fish without a float shows that he is a +novice," piped up Clown. + +"See? When the line touches the bottom, you just manage it with your +finger on the edge. If a fish bites, you could tell in a minute. There +it goes," and Red Shirt hastily started taking out the line. I wondered +what he had got, but I saw no fish, only the bait was gone. Ha, good for +you, Gov'nur! + +"Wasn't it too bad! I'm sure it was a big one. If you miss that way, +with your ability, we would have to keep a sharper watch to-day. But, +say, even if we miss the fish, it's far better than staring at a float, +isn't it? Just like saying he can't ride a bike without a brake." Clown +has been getting rather gay, and I was almost tempted to swat him. I'm +just as good as they are. The sea isn't leased by Red Shirt, and there +might be one obliging bonito which might get caught by my line. I +dropped my line then, and toyed it with my finger carelessly. + +After a while something shook my line with successive jerks. I thought +it must be a fish. Unless it was something living, it would not give +that tremulous shaking. Good! I have it, and I commenced drawing in the +line, while Clown jibed me "What? Caught one already? Very remarkable, +indeed!" I had drawn in nearly all the line, leaving only about five +feet in the water. I peeped over and saw a fish that looked like a gold +fish with stripes was coming up swimming to right and left. It was +interesting. On taking it out of the water, it wriggled and jumped, and +covered my face with water. After some effort, I had it and tried to +detach the hook, but it would not come out easily. My hands became +greasy and the sense was anything but pleasing. I was irritated; I swung +the line and banged the fish against the bottom of the boat. It speedily +died. Red Shirt and Clown watched me with surprise. I washed my hands in +the water but they still smelled "fishy." No more for me! I don't care +what fish I might get, I don't want to grab a fish. And I presume the +fish doesn't want to be grabbed either. I hastily rolled up the line. + +"Splendid for the first honor, but that's goruki," Clown again made a +"fresh" remark. + +"Goruki sounds like the name of a Russian literator," said Red Shirt. +"Yes, just like a Russian literator," Clown at once seconded Red Shirt. +Gorky for a Russian literator, Maruki a photographer of Shibaku, and +komeno-naruki (rice) a life-giver, eh? This Red Shirt has a bad hobby of +marshalling before anybody the name of foreigners. Everybody has his +specialty. How could a teacher of mathematics like me tell whether it is +a Gorky or shariki (rikishaman). Red Shirt should have been a little +more considerate. And if he wants to mention such names at all, let him +mention "Autobiography of Ben Franklin," or "Pushing to the Front," or +something we all know. Red Shirt has been seen once in a while bringing +a magazine with a red cover entitled Imperial Literature to the school +and poring over it with reverence. I heard it from Porcupine that Red +Shirt gets his supply of all foreign names from that magazine. Well, I +should say! + +For some time, Red Shirt and Clown fished assiduously and within about +an hour they caught about fifteen fish. The funny part of it was that +all they caught were goruki; of sea-bream there was not a sign. + +"This is a day of bumper crop of Russian literature," Red Shirt said, +and Clown answered: + +"When one as skilled as you gets nothing but goruki, it's natural for me +to get nothing else." + +The boatman told me that this small-sized fish goruki has too many +tiny bones and tastes too poor to be fit for eating, but they could be +used for fertilising. So Red Shirt and Clown were fishing fertilisers +with vim and vigor. As for me, one goruki was enough and I laid down +myself on the bottom, and looked up at the sky. This was far more +dandy than fishing. + +Then the two began whispering. I could not hear well, nor did I care to. +I was looking up at the sky and thinking about Kiyo. If I had enough of +money, I thought, and came with Kiyo to such a picturesque place, how +joyous it would be. No matter how picturesque the scene might be, it +would be flat in the company of Clown or of his kind. Kiyo is a poor +wrinkled woman, but I am not ashamed to take her to any old place. Clown +or his likes, even in a Victoria or a yacht, or in a sky-high position, +would not be worthy to come within her shadow. If I were the head +teacher, and Red Shirt I, Clown would be sure to fawn on me and jeer at +Red Shirt. They say Yedo kids are flippant. Indeed, if a fellow like +Clown was to travel the country and repeatedly declare "I am a Yedo +kid," no wonder the country folk would decide that the flippant are Yedo +kids and Yedo kids are flippant. While I was meditating like this, I +heard suppressed laughter. Between their laughs they talked something, +but I could not make out what they were talking about. "Eh? I don't +know......" "...... That's true ...... he doesn't know ...... isn't it +pity, though ......." "Can that be......." "With grasshoppers ...... +that's a fact." + +I did not listen to what they were talking, but when I heard Clown say +"grasshoppers," I cocked my ear instinctively. Clown emphasized, for +what reason I do not know the word "grasshopers" so that it would be +sure to reach my ear plainly, and he blurred the rest on purpose. I did +not move, and kept on listening. "That same old Hotta," "that may be the +case...." "Tempura ...... ha, ha, ha ......" "...... incited ......" +"...... dango also? ......" + +The words were thus choppy, but judging by their saying "grasshoppers," +"tempura" or "dango," I was sure they were secretly talking something +about me. If they wanted to talk, they should do it louder. If they +wanted to discuss something secret, why in thunder did they invite me? +What damnable blokes! Grasshoppers or glass-stoppers, I was not in the +wrong; I have kept quiet to save the face of Badger because the +principle asked me to leave the matter to him. Clown has been making +unnecessary criticisms; out with your old paint-brushes there! Whatever +concerns me, I will settle it myself sooner or later, and they had just +to keep off my toes. But remarks such as "the same old Hotta" or "...... +incited ......" worried me a bit. I could not make out whether they +meant that Hotta incited me to extend the circle of the trouble, or that +he incited the students to get at me. As I gazed at the blue sky, the +sunlight gradually waned and chilly winds commenced stirring. The clouds +that resembled the streaky smokes of joss sticks were slowly extending +over a clear sky, and by degrees they were absorbed, melted and changed +to a faint fog. + +"Well, let's be going," said Red Shirt suddenly. "Yes, this is the time +we were going. See your Madonna to-night?" responded Clown. "Cut out +nonsense ...... might mean a serious trouble," said Red Shirt who was +reclining against the edge of the boat, now raising himself. "O, that's +all right if he hears.......," and when Clown, so saying, turned himself +my way, I glared squarely in his face. Clown turned back as if to keep +away from a dazzling light, and with "Ha, this is going some," shrugged +his shoulders and scratched his head. + +The boat was now being rowed shore-ward over the calm sea. "You don't +seem much fond of fishing," asked Red Shirt. "No, I'd rather prefer +lying and looking at the sky," I answered, and threw the stub of +cigarette I had been smoking into the water; it sizzled and floated on +the waves parted by the oar. + +"The students are all glad because you have come. So we want you do your +best." Red Shirt this time started something quite alien to fishing. "I +don't think they are," I said. "Yes; I don't mean it as flattery. They +are, sure. Isn't it so, Mr. Yoshikawa?" + +"I should say they are. They're crazy over it," said Clown with an +unctuous smile. Strange that whatever Clown says, it makes me itching +mad. "But, if you don't look out, there is danger," warned Red Shirt. + +"I am fully prepared for all dangers," I replied. In fact, I had made up +my mind either to get fired or to make all the students in the dormitory +apologize to me. + +"If you talk that way, that cuts everything out. Really, as a head +teacher, I've been considering what is good for you, and wouldn't like +you to mistake it." + +"The head teacher is really your friend. And I'm doing what I can for +you, though mighty little, because you and I are Yedo kids, and I would +like to have you stay with us as long as possible and we can help each +other." So said Clown and it sounded almost human. I would sooner hang +myself than to get helped by Clown. + +"And the students are all glad because you had come, but there are many +circumstances," continued Red Shirt. "You may feel angry sometimes but +be patient for the present, and I will never do anything to hurt your +interests." + +"You say 'many circumstances'; what are they?" + +"They're rather complicated. Well, they'll be clear to you by and by. +You'll understand them naturally without my talking them over. What do +you say, Mr. Yoshikawa?" + +"Yes, they're pretty complicated; hard to get them cleared up in a +jiffy. But they'll become clear by-the-bye. Will be understood naturally +without my explaining them," Clown echoed Red Shirt. + +"If they're such a bother, I don't mind not hearing them. I only asked +you because you sprang the subject." + +"That's right. I may seem irresponsible in not concluding the thing I +had started. Then this much I'll tell you. I mean no offense, but you +are fresh from school, and teaching is a new experience. And a school is +a place where somewhat complicated private circumstances are common and +one cannot do everything straight and simple". + +"If can't get it through straight and simple, how does it go?" + +"Well, there you are so straight as that. As I was saying, you're short +of experience........" + +"I should be. As I wrote it down in my record-sheet, I'm 23 years and +four months." + +"That's it. So you'd be done by some one in unexpected quarter." + +"I'm not afraid who might do me as long as I'm honest." + +"Certainly not. No need be afraid, but I do say you look sharp; your +predecessor was done." + +I noticed Clown had become quiet, and turning round, saw him at the +stern talking with the boatman. Without Clown, I found our conversation +running smoothly. + +"By whom was my predecessor done?" + +"If I point out the name, it would reflect on the honor of that person, +so I can't mention it. Besides there is no evidence to prove it and I +may be in a bad fix if I say it. At any rate, since you're here, my +efforts will prove nothing if you fail. Keep a sharp look-out, please." + +"You say look-out, but I can't be more watchful than I'm now. If I don't +do anything wrong, after all, that's all right isn't it?" + +Red Shirt laughed. I did not remember having said anything provocative +of laughter. Up to this very minute, I have been firm in my conviction +that I'm right. When I come to consider the situation, it appears that a +majority of people are encouraging others to become bad. They seem to +believe that one must do wrong in order to succeed. If they happen to +see some one honest and pure, they sneer at him as "Master Darling" or +"kiddy." What's the use then of the instructors of ethics at grammar +schools or middle schools teaching children not to tell a lie or to be +honest. Better rather make a bold departure and teach at schools the +gentle art of lying or the trick of distrusting others, or show pupils +how to do others. That would be beneficial for the person thus taught +and for the public as well. When Red Shirt laughed, he laughed at my +simplicity. My word! what chances have the simple-hearted or the pure in +a society where they are made objects of contempt! Kiyo would never +laugh at such a time; she would listen with profound respect. Kiyo is +far superior to Red Shirt. + +"Of course, that't all right as long as you don't do anything wrong. But +although you may not do anything wrong, they will do you just the same +unless you can see the wrong of others. There are fellows you have got +to watch,--the fellows who may appear off-hand, simple and so kind as to +get boarding house for you...... Getting rather cold. 'Tis already +autumn, isn't it. The beach looks beer-color in the fog. A fine view. +Say, Mr. Yoshikawa, what do you think of the scene along the +beach?......" This in a loud voice was addressed to Clown. + +"Indeed, this is a fine view. I'd get a sketch of it if I had time. +Seems a pity to leave it there," answered Clown. + +A light was seen upstairs at Minato-ya, and just as the whistle of a +train was sounded, our boat pushed its nose deep into the sand. "Well, +so you're back early," courtesied the wife of the boatman as she stepped +upon the sand. I stood on the edge of the boat; and whoop! I jumped out +to the beach. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +I heartily despise Clown. It would be beneficial for Japan if such a +fellow were tied to a quernstone and dumped into the sea. As to Red +Shirt, his voice did not suit my fancy. I believe he suppresses his +natural tones to put on airs and assume genteel manner. He may put on +all kinds of airs, but nothing good will come of it with that type of +face. If anything falls in love with him, perhaps the Madonna will be +about the limit. As a head-teacher, however, he is more serious than +Clown. As he did not say definitely, I cannot get to the point, but it +appears that he warned me to look-out for Porcupine as he is crooked. If +that was the case, he should have declared it like a man. And if +Porcupine is so bad a teacher as that, it would be better to discharge +him. What a lack of backbone for a head teacher and a Bachelor of Arts! +As he is a fellow so cautious as to be unable to mention the name of the +other even in a whisper, he is surely a mollycoddle. All mollycoddles +are kind, and that Red Shirt may be as kind as a woman. His kindness is +one thing, and his voice quite another, and it would be wrong to +disregard his kindness on account of his voice. But then, isn't this +world a funny place! The fellow I don't like is kind to me, and the +friend whom I like is crooked,--how absurd! Probably everything here +goes in opposite directions as it is in the country, the contrary holds +in Tokyo. A dangerous place, this. By degrees, fires may get frozen and +custard pudding petrified. But it is hardly believable that Porcupine +would incite the students, although he might do most anything he wishes +as he is best liked among them. Instead of taking in so roundabout a +way, in the first place, it would have saved him a lot of trouble if he +came direct to me and got at me for a fight. If I am in his way, he had +better tell me so, and ask me to resign because I am in his way. There +is nothing that cannot be settled by talking it over. If what he says +sounds reasonable, I would resign even tomorrow. This is not the only +town where I can get bread and butter; I ought not to die homeless +wherever I go. I thought Porcupine was a better sport. + +When I came here, Porcupine was the first to treat me to ice water. To +be treated by such a fellow, even if it is so trifling a thing as ice +water, affects my honor. I had only one glass then and had him pay only +one sen and a half. But one sen or half sen, I shall not die in peace if +I accept a favor from a swindler. I will pay it back tomorrow when I go +to the school. I borrowed three yen from Kiyo. That three yen is not +paid yet to-day, though it is five years since. Not that I could not +pay, but that I did not want to. Kiyo never looks to my pocket thinking +I shall pay it back by-the-bye. Not by any means. I myself do not expect +to fulfill cold obligation like a stranger by meditating on returning +it. The more I worry about paying it back, the more I may be doubting +the honest heart of Kiyo. It would be the same as traducing her pure +mind. I have not paid her back that three yen not because I regard her +lightly, but because I regard her as part of myself. Kiyo and Porcupine +cannot be compared, of course, but whether it be ice water or tea, the +fact that I accept another's favor without saying anything is an act of +good-will, taking the other on his par value, as a decent fellow. +Instead of chipping in my share, and settling each account, to receive +munificence with grateful mind is an acknowledgment which no amount of +money can purchase. I have neither title nor official position but I am +an independent fellow, and to have an independent fellow kowtow to you +in acknowledgment of the favor you extend him should be considered as +far more than a return acknowledgment with a million yen. I made +Porcupine blow one sen and a half, and gave him my gratitude which is +more costly than a million yen. He ought to have been thankful for that. +And then what an outrageous fellow to plan a cowardly action behind my +back! I will give him back that one sen and a half tomorrow, and all +will be square. Then I will land him one. When I thought thus far, I +felt sleepy and slept like a log. The next day, as I had something in my +mind, I went to the school earlier than usual and waited for Porcupine, +but he did not appear for a considerable time. "Confucius" was there, so +was Clown, and finally Red Shirt, but for Porcupine there was a piece of +chalk on his desk but the owner was not there. I had been thinking of +paying that one sen and a half as soon as I entered the room, and had +brought the coppers to the school grasped in my hand. My hands get +easily sweaty, and when I opened my hand, I found them wet. Thinking +that Porcupine might say something if wet coins were given him, I placed +them upon my desk, and cooled them by blowing in them. Then Red Shirt +came to me and said he was sorry to detain me yesterday, thought I have +been annoyed. I told him I was not annoyed at all, only I was hungry. +Thereupon Red Shirt put his elbows upon the desk, brought his +sauce-pan-like face close to my nose, and said; "Say, keep dark what I +told you yesterday in the boat. You haven't told it anybody, have you?" +He seems quite a nervous fellow as becoming one who talks in a feminish +voice. It was certain that I had not told it to anybody, but as I was in +the mood to tell it and had already one sen and a half in my hand, I +would be a little rattled if a gag was put on me. To the devil with Red +Shirt! Although he had not mentioned the name "Porcupine," he had given +me such pointers as to put me wise as to who the objective was, and now +he requested me not to blow the gaff!--it was an irresponsibility least +to be expected from a head teacher. In the ordinary run of things, he +should step into the thick of the fight between Porcupine and me, and +side with me with all his colors flying. By so doing, he might be worthy +the position of the head teacher, and vindicate the principle of wearing +red shirts. + +I told the head teacher that I had not divulged the secret to anybody +but was going to fight it out with Porcupine. Red Shirt was greatly +perturbed, and stuttered out; "Say, don't do anything so rash as that. I +don't remember having stated anything plainly to you about Mr. +Hotta....... if you start a scrimmage here, I'll be greatly +embarrassed." And he asked the strangely outlandish question if I had +come to the school to start trouble? Of course not, I said, the school +would not stand for my making trouble and pay me salary for it. Red +Shirt then, perspiring, begged me to keep the secret as mere reference +and never mention it. "All right, then," I assured him, "this robs me +shy, but since you're so afraid of it, I'll keep it all to myself." "Are +you sure?" repeated Red Shirt. There was no limit to his womanishness. +If Red Shirt was typical of Bachelors of Arts, I did not see much in +them. He appeared composed after having requested me to do something +self-contradictory and wanting logic, and on top of that suspects my +sincerity. + +"Don't you mistake," I said to myself, "I'm a man to the marrow, and +haven't the idea of breaking my own promises; mark that!" + +Meanwhile the occupants of the desks on both my sides came to the room, +and Red Shirt hastily withdrew to his own desk. Red Shirt shows some air +even in his walk. In stepping about the room, he places down his shoes +so as to make no sound. For the first time I came to know that making no +sound in one's walk was something satisfactory to one's vanity. He was +not training himself for a burglar, I suppose. He should cut out such +nonsense before it gets worse. Then the bugle for the opening of classes +was heard. Porcupine did not appear after all. There was no other way +but to leave the coins upon the desk and attend the class. + +When I returned to the room a little late after the first hour class, +all the teachers were there at their desks, and Porcupine too was +there. The moment Porcupine saw my face, he said that he was late on +my account, and I should pay him a fine. I took out that one sen and a +half, and saying it was the price of the ice water, shoved it on his +desk and told him to take it. "Don't josh me," he said, and began +laughing, but as I appeared unusually serious, he swept the coins back +to my desk, and flung back, "Quit fooling." So he really meant to +treat me, eh? + +"No fooling; I mean it," I said. "I have no reason to accept your treat, +and that's why I pay you back. Why don't you take it?" + +"If you're so worried about that one sen and a half, I will take it, but +why do you pay it at this time so suddenly?" + +"This time or any time, I want to pay it back. I pay it back because I +don't like you treat me." + +Porcupine coldly gazed at me and ejaculated "H'm." If I had not been +requested by Red Shirt, here was the chance to show up his cowardice and +make it hot for him. But since I had promised not to reveal the secret, +I could do nothing. What the deuce did he mean by "H'm" when I was red +with anger. + +"I'll take the price of the ice water, but I want you leave your +boarding house." + +"Take that coin; that's all there is to it. To leave or not,--that's my +pleasure." + +"But that is not your pleasure. The boss of your boarding house came to +me yesterday and wanted me to tell you leave the house, and when I heard +his explanation, what he said was reasonable. And I dropped there on my +way here this morning to hear more details and make sure of everything." + +What Porcupine was trying to get at was all dark to me. + +"I don't care a snap what the boss was damn well pleased to tell you," I +cried. "What do you mean by deciding everything by yourself! If there is +any reason, tell me first. What's the matter with you, deciding what the +boss says is reasonable without hearing me." + +"Then you shall hear," he said. "You're too tough and been regarded +a nuisance over there. Say, the wife of a boarding house is a wife, +not a maid, and you've been such a four-flusher as to make her wipe +your feet." + +"When did I make her wipe my feet?" I asked. + +"I don't know whether you did or did not, but anyway they're pretty sore +about you. He said he can make ten or fifteen yen easily if he sell a +roll of panel-picture." + +"Damn the chap! Why did he take me for a boarder then!" + +"I don't know why. They took you but they want you leave because they +got tired of you. So you'd better get out." + +"Sure, I will. Who'd stay in such a house even if they beg me on their +knees. You're insolent to have induced me to go to such a false accuser +in the first place." + +"Might be either I'm insolent or you're tough." Porcupine is no less +hot-tempered than I am, and spoke with equally loud voice. All the other +teachers in the room, surprised, wondering what has happened, looked in +our direction and craned their necks. I was not conscious of having done +anything to be ashamed of, so I stood up and looked around. Clown alone +was laughing amused. The moment he met my glaring stare as if to say +"You too want to fight?" he suddenly assumed a grave face and became +serious. He seemed to be a little cowed. Meanwhile the bugle was heard, +and Porcupine and I stopped the quarrel and went to the class rooms. + +In the afternoon, a meeting of the teachers was going to be held to +discuss the question of punishment of those students in the dormitory +who offended me the other night. This meeting was a thing I had to +attend for the first time in my life, and I was totally ignorant about +it. Probably it was where the teachers gathered to blow about their own +opinions and the principal bring them to compromise somehow. To +compromise is a method used when no decision can be delivered as to the +right or wrong of either side. It seemed to me a waste of time to hold a +meeting over an affair in which the guilt of the other side was plain as +daylight. No matter who tried to twist it round, there was no ground for +doubting the facts. It would have been better if the principal had +decided at once on such a plain case; he is surely wanting in decision. +If all principals are like this, a principal is a synonym of a +"dilly-dally." + +The meeting hall was a long, narrow room next to that of the principal, +and was used for dining room. About twenty chairs, with black leather +seat, were lined around a narrow table, and the whole scene looked like +a restaurant in Kanda. At one end of the table the principal took his +seat, and next to him Red Shirt. All the rest shifted for themselves, +but the gymnasium teacher is said always to take the seat farthest down +out of modesty. The situation was new to me, so I sat down between the +teachers of natural history and of Confucius. Across the table sat +Porcupine and Clown. Think how I might, the face of Clown was a +degrading type. That of Porcupine was far more charming, even if I was +now on bad terms with him. The panel picture which hung in the alcove of +the reception hall of Yogen temple where I went to the funeral of my +father, looked exactly like this Porcupine. A priest told me the picture +was the face of a strange creature called Idaten. To-day he was pretty +sore, and frequently stared at me with his fiery eyes rolling. "You +can't bulldoze me with that," I thought, and rolled my own in defiance +and stared back at him. My eyes are not well-shaped but their large size +is seldom beaten by others. Kiyo even once suggested that I should make +a fine actor because I had big eyes. + +"All now here?" asked the principal, and the clerk named Kawamura +counted one, two, three and one was short. "Just one more," said the +clerk, and it ought to be; Hubbard Squash was not there. I don't know +what affinity there is between Hubbard Squash and me, but I can never +forget his face. When I come to the teachers' room, his face attracts me +first; while walking out in the street, his manners are recalled to my +mind. When I go to the hot springs, sometimes I meet him with a +pale-face in the bath, and if I hallooed to him, he would raise his +trembling head, making me feel sorry for him. In the school there is no +teacher so quiet as he. He seldom, if ever, laughs or talks. I knew the +word "gentleman" from books, and thought it was found only in the +dictionary, but not a thing alive. But since I met Hubbard Squash, I was +impressed for the first time that the word represented a real substance. + +As he is a man so attached to me, I had noticed his absence as soon as I +entered the meeting hall. To tell the truth, I came to the hall with the +intention of sitting next to him. The principal said that the absentee +may appear shortly, and untied a package he had before him, taking out +some hectograph sheets and began reading them. Red Shirt began polishing +his amber pipe with a silk handkerchief. This was his hobby, which was +probably becoming to him. Others whispered with their neighbors. Still +others were writing nothings upon the table with the erasers at the end +of their pencils. Clown talked to Porcupine once in a while, but he was +not responsive. He only said "Umh" or "Ahm," and stared at me with +wrathful eyes. I stared back with equal ferocity. + +Then the tardy Hubbard Squash apologetically entered, and politely +explained that he was unavoidably detained. "Well, then the meeting is +called to order," said Badger. On these sheets was printed, first the +question of the punishment of the offending students, second that of +superintending the students, and two or three other matters. Badger, +putting on airs as usual, as if he was an incarnation of education, +spoke to the following effect. + +"Any misdeeds or faults among the teachers or the students in this +school are due to the lack of virtues in my person, and whenever +anything happens, I inwardly feel ashamed that a man like me could hold +his position. Unfortunately such an affair has taken place again, and I +have to apologize from my heart. But since it has happened, it cannot be +helped; we must settle it one way or other. The facts are as you already +know, and I ask you gentlemen to state frankly the best means by which +the affair may be settled." + +When I heard the principal speak, I was impressed that indeed the +principal, or Badger, was saying something "grand." If the principal was +willing to assume all responsibilities, saying it was his fault or his +lack of virtues, it would have been better stop punishing the students +and get himself fired first. Then there will be no need of holding such +thing as a meeting. In the first place, just consider it by common +sense. I was doing my night duty right, and the students started +trouble. The wrong doer is neither the principal nor I. If Porcupine +incited them, then it would be enough to get rid of the students and +Porcupine. Where in thunder would be a peach of damfool who always +swipes other people's faults and says "these are mine?" It was a stunt +made possible only by Badger. Having made such an illogical statement, +he glanced at the teachers in a highly pleased manner. But no one opened +his mouth. The teacher of natural history was gazing at the crow which +had hopped on the roof of the nearby building. The teacher of Confucius +was folding and unfolding the hectograph sheet. Porcupine was still +staring at me. If a meeting was so nonsensical an affair as this, I +would have been better absent taking a nap at home. + +I became irritated, and half raised myself, intending to make a +convincing speech, but just then Red Shirt began saying something and I +stopped. I saw him say something, having put away his pipe, and wiping +his face with a striped silk handkerchief. I'm sure he copped that +handkerchief from the Madonna; men should use white linen. He said: + +"When I heard of the rough affairs in the dormitory, I was greatly +ashamed as the head teacher of my lack of discipline and influence. When +such an affair takes place there is underlying cause somewhere. Looking +at the affair itself, it may seem that the students were wrong, but in a +closer study of the facts, we may find the responsibility resting with +the School. Therefore, I'm afraid it might affect us badly in the future +if we administer too severe a punishment on the strength of what has +been shown on the surface. As they are youngsters, full of life and +vigor, they might half-consciously commit some youthful pranks, without +due regard as to their good or bad. As to the mode of punishment itself, +I have no right to suggest since it is a matter entirely in the hand of +the principal, but I should ask, considering these points, that some +leniency be shown toward the students." + +Well, as Badger, so was Red Shirt. He declares the "Rough Necks" among +the students is not their fault but the fault of the teachers. A crazy +person beats other people because the beaten are wrong. Very grateful, +indeed. If the students were so full of life and vigor, shovel them out +into the campus and let them wrestle their heads off. Who would have +grasshoppers put into his bed unconsciously! If things go on like this, +they may stab some one asleep, and get freed as having done the deed +unconsciously. + +Having figured it out in this wise, I thought I would state my own views +on the matter, but I wanted to give them an eloquent speech and fairly +take away their breath. I have an affection of the windpipe which clog +after two or three words when I am excited. Badger and Red Shirt are +below my standing in their personality, but they were skilled in +speech-making, and it would not do to have them see my awkwardness. I'll +make a rough note of composition first, I thought, and started mentally +making a sentence, when, to my surprise, Clown stood up suddenly. It was +unusual for Clown to state his opinion. He spoke in his flippant tone: + +"Really the grasshopper incident and the whoop-la affair are peculiar +happenings which are enough to make us doubt our own future. We teachers +at this time must strive to clear the atmosphere of the school. And +what the principal and the head teacher have said just now are fit and +proper. I entirely agree with their opinions. I wish the punishment be +moderate." + +In what Clown had said there were words but no meaning. It was a +juxtaposition of high-flown words making no sense. All that I understood +was the words, "I entirely agree with their opinions." + +Clown's meaning was not clear to me, but as I was thoroughly angered, I +rose without completing my rough note. + +"I am entirely opposed to......." I said, but the rest did not come at +once. ".......I don't like such a topsy-turvy settlement," I added and +the fellows began laughing. "The students are absolutely wrong from the +beginning. It would set a bad precedent if we don't make them apologize +....... What do we care if we kick them all out ....... darn the kids +trying to guy a new comer......." and I sat down. Then the teacher of +natural history who sat on my right whined a weak opinion, saying "The +students may be wrong, but if we punish them too severely, they may +start a reaction and would make it rather bad. I am for the moderate +side, as the head teacher suggested." The teacher of Confucius on my +left expressed his agreement with the moderate side, and so did the +teacher of history endorse the views of the head teacher. Dash those +weak-knees! Most of them belonged to the coterie of Red Shirt. It would +make a dandy school if such fellows run it. I had decided in my mind +that it must be either the students apologize to me or I resign, and if +the opinion of Red Shirt prevailed, I had determined to return home and +pack up. I had no ability of out-talking such fellows, or even if I had, +I was in no humor to keeping their company for long. Since I don't +expect to remain in the school, the devil may take care of the rest. If +I said anything, they would only laugh; so I shut my mouth tight. + +Porcupine, who up to this time had been listening to the others, stood +up with some show of spirit. Ha, the fellow was going to endorse the +views of Red Shirt, eh? You and I got to fight it out anyway, I thought, +so do any way you darn please. Porcupine spoke in a thunderous voice: + +"I entirely differ from the opinions of the head teacher and other +gentlemen. Because, viewed from whatever angle, this incident cannot be +other than an attempt by those fifty students in the dormitory to make +a fool of a new teacher. The head teacher seems to trace the cause of +the trouble to the personality of that teacher himself, but, begging +his pardon, I think he is mistaken. The night that new teacher was on +night duty was not long after his arrival, not more than twenty days +after he had come into contact with the students. During those short +twenty days, the students could have no reason to criticise his +knowledges or his person. If he was insulted for some cause which +deserved insult, there may be reasons in our considering the act of the +students, but if we show undue leniency toward the frivolous students +who would insult a new teacher without cause, it would affect the +dignity of this school. The spirit of education is not only in +imparting technical knowledges, but also in encouraging honest, +ennobling and samurai-like virtues, while eliminating the evil tendency +to vulgarity and roughness. If we are afraid of reaction or further +trouble, and satisfy ourselves with make-shifts, there is no telling +when we can ever get rid of this evil atmosphere[G]. We are here to +eradicate this very evil. If we mean to countenance it, we had better +not accepted our positions here. For these reasons, I believe it proper +to punish the students in the dormitory to the fullest extent and also +make them apologize to that teacher in the open." + +All were quiet. Red Shirt again began polishing his pipe. I was greatly +elated. He spoke almost what I had wanted to. I'm such a simple-hearted +fellow that I forgot all about the bickerings with Porcupine, and looked +at him with a grateful face, but he appeared to take no notice of me. + +After a while, Porcupine again stood up, and said. "I forgot to mention +just now, so I wish to add. The teacher on night duty that night seems +to have gone to the hot springs during his duty hours, and I think it a +blunder. It is a matter of serious misconduct to take the advantage of +being in sole charge of the school, to slip out to a hot springs. The +bad behavior of the students is one thing; this blunder is another, and +I wish the principal to call attention of the responsible person to +that matter." + +A strange fellow! No sooner had he backed me up than he began talking me +down. I knew the other night watch went out during his duty hours, and +thought it was a custom, so I went as far out as to the hot springs +without considering the situation seriously. But when it was pointed out +like this, I realised that I had been wrong. Thereupon I rose again and +said; "I really went to the hot springs. It was wrong and I apologize." +Then all again laughed. Whatever I say, they laugh. What a lot of boobs! +See if you fellows can make a clean breast of your own fault like this! +You fellows laugh because you can't talk straight. + +After that the principal said that since it appeared that there will be +no more opinions, he will consider the matter well and administer what +he may deem a proper punishment. I may here add the result of the +meeting. The students in the dormitory were given one week's +confinement, and in addition to that, apologized to me. If they had not +apologized, I intended to resign and go straight home, but as it was it +finally resulted in a bigger and still worse affair, of which more +later. The principal then at the meeting said something to the effect +that the manners of the students should be directed rightly by the +teachers' influence, and as the first step, no teacher should patronize, +if possible, the shops where edibles and drinks were served, excepting, +however, in case of farewell party or such social gatherings. He said he +would like no teacher to go singly to eating houses of lower kind--for +instance, noodle-house or dango shop.... And again all laughed. Clown +looked at Porcupine, said "tempura" and winked his eyes, but Porcupine +regarded him in silence. Good! + +My "think box" is not of superior quality, so things said by Badger were +not clear to me, but I thought if a fellow can't hold the job of teacher +in a middle school because he patronizes a noodle-house or dango shop, +the fellow with bear-like appetite like me will never be able to hold +it. If it was the case, they ought to have specified when calling for a +teacher one who does not eat noodle and dango. To give an appointment +without reference to the matter at first, and then to proclaim that +noodle or dango should not be eaten was a blow to a fellow like me who +has no other petty hobby. Then Red Shirt again opened his mouth. + +"Teachers of the middle school belong to the upper class of society and +they should not be looking after material pleasures only, for it would +eventually have effect upon their personal character. But we are human, +and it would be intolerable in a small town like this to live without +any means of affording some pleasure to ourselves, such as fishing, +reading literary products, composing new style poems, or haiku +(17-syllable poem). We should seek mental consolation of higher order." + +There seemed no prospect that he would quit the hot air. If it was a +mental consolation to fish fertilisers on the sea, have goruki for +Russian literature, or to pose a favorite geisha beneath pine tree, it +would be quite as much a mental consolation to eat dempura noodle and +swallow dango. Instead of dwelling on such sham consolations, he would +find his time better spent by washing his red shirts. I became so +exasperated that I asked; "Is it also a mental consolation to meet the +Madonna?" No one laughed this time and looked at each other with queer +faces, and Red Shirt himself hung his head, apparently embarrassed. Look +at that! A good shot, eh? Only I was sorry for Hubbard Squash who, +having heard the remark, became still paler. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +That very night I left the boarding house. While I was packing up, the +boss came to me and asked if there was anything wrong in the way I was +treated. He said he would be pleased to correct it and suit me if I was +sore at anything. This beats me, sure. How is it possible for so many +boneheads to be in this world! I could not tell whether they wanted me +to stay or get out. They're crazy. It would be disgrace for a Yedo kid +to fuss about with such a fellow; so I hired a rikishaman and speedily +left the house. + +I got out of the house all right, but had no place to go. The rikishaman +asked me where I was going. I told him to follow me with his mouth shut, +then he shall see and I kept on walking. I thought of going to +Yamashiro-ya to avoid the trouble of hunting up a new boarding house, +but as I had no prospect of being able to stay there long, I would have +to renew the hunt sooner or later, so I gave up the idea. If I continued +walking this way, I thought I might strike a house with the sign of +"boarders taken" or something similar, and I would consider the first +house with the sign the one provided for me by Heaven. I kept on going +round and round through the quiet, decent part of the town when I found +myself at Kajimachi. This used to be former samurai quarters where one +had the least chance of finding any boarding house, and I was going to +retreat to a more lively part of the town when a good idea occurred to +me. Hubbard Squash whom I respected lived in this part of the town. He +is a native of the town, and has lived in the house inherited from his +great grandfather. He must be, I thought, well informed about nearly +everything in this town. If I call on him for his help, he will perhaps +find me a good boarding house. Fortunately, I called at his house once +before, and there was no trouble in finding it out. I knocked at the +door of a house, which I knew must be his, and a woman about fifty years +old with an old fashioned paper-lantern in hand, appeared at the door. I +do not despise young women, but when I see an aged woman, I feel much +more solicitous. This is probably because I am so fond of Kiyo. This +aged lady, who looked well-refined, was certainly mother of Hubbard +Squash whom she resembled. She invited me inside, but I asked her to +call him out for me. When he came I told him all the circumstances, and +asked him if he knew any who would take me for a boarder. Hubbard Squash +thought for a moment in a sympathetic mood, then said there was an old +couple called Hagino, living in the rear of the street, who had asked +him sometime ago to get some boarders for them as there are only two in +the house and they had some vacant rooms. Hubbard Squash was kind enough +to go along with me and find out if the rooms were vacant. They were. + +From that night I boarded at the house of the Haginos. What surprised me +was that on the day after I left the house of Ikagin, Clown stepped in +and took the room I had been occupying. Well used to all sorts of tricks +and crooks as I might have been, this audacity fairly knocked me off my +feet. It was sickening. + +I saw that I would be an easy mark for such people unless I brace up +and try to come up, or down, to their level. It would be a high time +indeed for me to be alive if it were settled that I would not get three +meals a day without living on the spoils of pick pockets. Nevertheless, +to hang myself,--healthy and vigorous as I am,--would be not only +inexcusable before my ancestors but a disgrace before the public. Now I +think it over, it would have been better for me to have started +something like a milk delivery route with that six hundred yen as +capital, instead of learning such a useless stunt as mathematics at the +School of Physics. If I had done so, Kiyo could have stayed with me, +and I could have lived without worrying about her so far a distance +away. While I was with her I did not notice it, but separated thus I +appreciated Kiyo as a good-natured old woman. One could not find a +noble natured woman like Kiyo everywhere. She was suffering from a +slight cold when I left Tokyo and I wondered how she was getting on +now? Kiyo must have been pleased when she received the letter from me +the other day. By the way, I thought it was the time I was in receipt +of answer from her. I spent two or three days with things like this in +my mind. I was anxious about the answer, and asked the old lady of the +house if any letter came from Tokyo for me, and each time she would +appear sympathetic and say no. The couple here, being formerly of +samurai class, unlike the Ikagin couple, were both refined. The old +man's recital of "utai" in a queer voice at night was somewhat telling +on my nerves, but it was much easier on me as he did not frequent my +room like Ikagin with the remark of "let me serve you tea." + +The old lady once in a while would come to my room and chat on many +things. She questioned me why I had not brought my wife with me. I asked +her if I looked like one married, reminding her that I was only twenty +four yet. Saying "it is proper for one to get married at twenty four" as +a beginning, she recited that Mr. Blank married when he was twenty, that +Mr. So-and-So has already two children at twenty two, and marshalled +altogether about half a dozen examples,--quite a damper on my youthful +theory. I will then get marred at twenty four, I said, and requested her +to find me a good wife, and she asked me if I really meant it. + +"Really? You bet! I can't help wanting to get married." + +"I should suppose so. Everybody is just like that when young." This +remark was a knocker; I could not say anything to that. + +"But I'm sure you have a Madam already. I have seen to that with my +own eyes." + +"Well, they are sharp eyes. How have you seen it?" + +"How? Aren't you often worried to death, asking if there's no letter +from Tokyo?" + +"By Jupiter! This beats me!" + +"Hit the mark, haven't I?" + +"Well, you probably have." + +"But the girls of these days are different from what they used to be and +you need a sharp look-out on them. So you'd better be careful." + +"Do you mean that my Madam in Tokyo is behaving badly?" + +"No, your Madam is all right." + +"That makes me feel safe. Then about what shall I be careful?" + +"Yours is all right. Though yours is all right......." + +"Where is one not all right?" + +"Rather many right in this town. You know the daughter of the Toyamas? + +"No, I do not." + +"You don't know her yet? She is the most beautiful girl about here. She +is so beautiful that the teachers in the school call her Madonna. You +haven't heard that? + +"Ah, the Madonna! I thought it was the name of a geisha." + +"No, Sir. Madonna is a foreign word and means a beautiful girl, +doesn't it?" + +"That may be. I'm surprised." + +"Probably the name was given by the teacher of drawing." + +"Was it the work of Clown?" + +"No, it was given by Professor Yoshikawa." + +"Is that Madonna not all right?" + +"That Madonna-san is a Madonna not all right." + +"What a bore! We haven't any decent woman among those with nicknames +from old days. I should suppose the Madonna is not all right." + +"Exactly. We have had awful women such as O-Matsu the Devil or Ohyaku +the Dakki. + +"Does the Madonna belong to that ring?" + +"That Madonna-san, you know, was engaged to Professor Koga,--who brought +you here,--yes, was promised to him." + +"Ha, how strange! I never knew our friend Hubbard Squash was a fellow of +such gallantry. We can't judge a man by his appearance. I'll be a bit +more careful." + +"The father of Professor Koga died last year,--up to that time they had +money and shares in a bank and were well off,--but since then things +have grown worse, I don't know why. Professor Koga was too good-natured, +in short, and was cheated, I presume. The wedding was delayed by one +thing or another and there appeared the head teacher who fell in love +with the Madonna head over heels and wanted to many her." + +"Red Shirt? He ought be hanged. I thought that shirt was not an ordinary +kind of shirt. Well?" + +"The head-teacher proposed marriage through a go-between, but the +Toyamas could not give a definite answer at once on account of their +relations with the Kogas. They replied that they would consider the +matter or something like that. Then Red Shirt-san worked up some ways +and started visiting the Toyamas and has finally won the heart of the +Miss. Red Shirt-san is bad, but so is Miss Toyama; they all talk bad of +them. She had agreed to be married to Professor Koga and changed her +mind because a Bachelor of Arts began courting her,--why, that would be +an offense to the God of To-day." + +"Of course. Not only of To-day but also of tomorrow and the day after; +in fact, of time without end." + +"So Hotta-san a friend of Koga-san, felt sorry for him and went to the +head teacher to remonstrate with him. But Red Shirt-san said that he had +no intention of taking away anybody who is promised to another. He may +get married if the engagement is broken, he said, but at present he was +only being acquainted with the Toyamas and he saw nothing wrong in his +visiting the Toyamas. Hotta-san couldn't do anything and returned. Since +then they say Red Shirt-san and Hotta-san are on bad terms." + +"You do know many things, I should say. How did you get such details? +I'm much impressed." + +"The town is so small that I can know everything." + +Yes, everything seems to be known more than one cares. Judging by her +way, this woman probably knows about my tempura and dango affairs. Here +was a pot that would make peas rattle! The meaning of the Madonna, the +relations between Porcupine and Red Shirt became clear and helped me a +deal. Only what puzzled me was the uncertainty as to which of the two +was wrong. A fellow simple-hearted like me could not tell which side he +should help unless the matter was presented in black and white. + +"Of Red Shirt and Porcupine, which is a better fellow?" + +"What is Porcupine, Sir?" + +"Porcupine means Hotta." + +"Well, Hotta-san is physically strong, as strength goes, but Red +Shirt-san is a Bachelor of Arts and has more ability. And Red Shirt-san +is more gentle, as gentleness goes, but Hotta-san is more popular among +the students." + +"After all, which is better?" + +"After all, the one who gets a bigger salary is greater, I suppose?" + +There was no use of going on further in this way, and I closed the talk. + +Two or three days after this, when I returned from the school, the old +lady with a beaming smile, brought me a letter, saying, "Here you are +Sir, at last. Take your time and enjoy it." I took it up and found it +was from Kiyo. On the letter were two or three retransmission slips, and +by these I saw the letter was sent from Yamashiro-ya to the Iagins, then +to the Haginos. Besides, it stayed at Yamashiro-ya for about one week; +even letters seemed to stop in a hotel. I opened it, and it was a very +long letter. + +"When I received the letter from my Master Darling, I intended to write +an answer at once. But I caught cold and was sick abed for about one +week and the answer was delayed for which I beg your pardon. I am not +well-used to writing or reading like girls in these days, and it +required some efforts to get done even so poorly written a letter as +this. I was going to ask my nephew to write it for me, but thought it +inexcusable to my Master Darling when I should take special pains for +myself. So I made a rough copy once, and then a clean copy. I finished +the clean copy, in two days, but the rough copy took me four days. It +may be difficult for you to read, but as I have written this letter with +all my might, please read it to the end." + +This was the introductory part of the letter in which, about four feet +long, were written a hundred and one things. Well, it was difficult to +read. Not only was it poorly written but it was a sort of juxtaposition +of simple syllables that racked one's brain to make it clear where it +stopped or where it began. I am quick-tempered and would refuse to read +such a long, unintelligible letter for five yen, but I read this +seriously from the first to the last. It is a fact that I read it +through. My efforts were mostly spent in untangling letters and +sentences; so I started reading it over again. The room had become a +little dark, and this rendered it harder to read it; so finally I +stepped out to the porch where I sat down and went over it carefully. +The early autumn breeze wafted through the leaves of the banana trees, +bathed me with cool evening air, rustled the letter I was holding and +would have blown it clear to the hedge if I let it go. I did not mind +anything like this, but kept on reading. + +"Master Darling is simple and straight like a split bamboo by +disposition," it says, "only too explosive. That's what worries me. If +you brand other people with nicknames you will only make enemies of +them; so don't use them carelessly; if you coin new ones, just tell them +only to Kiyo in your letters. The countryfolk are said to be bad, and I +wish you to be careful not have them do you. The weather must be worse +than in Tokyo, and you should take care not to catch cold. Your letter +is too short that I can't tell how things are going on with you. Next +time write me a letter at least half the length of this one. Tipping the +hotel with five yen is all right, but were you not short of money +afterward? Money is the only thing one can depend upon when in the +country and you should economize and be prepared for rainy days. I'm +sending you ten yen by postal money order. I have that fifty yen my +Master Darling gave me deposited in the Postal Savings to help you start +housekeeping when you return to Tokyo, and taking out this ten, I have +still forty yen left,--quite safe." + +I should say women are very particular on many things. + +When I was meditating with the letter flapping in my hand on the porch, +the old lady opened the sliding partition and brought in my supper. + +"Still poring over the letter? Must be a very long one, I +imagine," she said. + +"Yes, this is an important letter, so I'm reading it with the wind +blowing it about," I replied--the reply which was nonsense even for +myself,--and I sat down for supper. I looked in the dish on the tray, +and saw the same old sweet potatoes again to-night. This new boarding +house was more polite and considerate and refined than the Ikagins, but +the grub was too poor stuff and that was one drawback. It was sweet +potato yesterday, so it was the day before yesterday, and here it is +again to-night. True, I declared myself very fond of sweet potatoes, but +if I am fed with sweet potatoes with such insistency, I may soon have to +quit this dear old world. I can't be laughing at Hubbard Squash; I shall +become Sweet Potato myself before long. If it were Kiyo she would surely +serve me with my favorite sliced tunny or fried kamaboko, but nothing +doing with a tight, poor samurai. It seems best that I live with Kiyo. +If I have to stay long in the school, I believe I would call her from +Tokyo. Don't eat tempura, don't eat dango, and then get turned yellow by +feeding on sweet potatoes only, in the boarding house. That's for an +educator, and his place is really a hard one. I think even the priests +of the Zen sect are enjoying better feed. I cleaned up the sweet +potatoes, then took out two raw eggs from the drawer of my desk, broke +them on the edge of the rice bowl, to tide it over. I have to get +nourishment by eating raw eggs or something, or how can I stand the +teaching of twenty one hours a week? + +I was late for my bath to-day on account of the letter from Kiyo. But I +would not like to drop off a single day since I had been there everyday. +I thought I would take a train to-day, and coming to the station with +the same old red towel dangling out of my hand, I found the train had +just left two or three minutes ago, and had to wait for some time. While +I was smoking a cigarette on a bench, my friend Hubbard Squash happened +to come in. Since I heard the story about him from the old lady my +sympathy for him had become far greater than ever. His reserve always +appeared to me pathetic. It was no longer a case of merely pathetic; +more than that. I was wishing to get his salary doubled, if possible, +and have him marry Miss Toyama and send them to Tokyo for about one +month on a pleasure trip. Seeing him, therefore, I motioned him to a +seat beside me, addressing him cheerfully: + +"Hello[H], going to bath? Come and sit down here." + +Hubbard Squash, appearing much awe-struck, said; "Don't mind me, +Sir," and whether out of polite reluctance or I don't know what, +remained standing. + +"You have to wait for a little while before the next train starts; sit +down; you'll be tired," I persuaded him again. In fact, I was so +sympathetic for him that I wished to have him sit down by me somehow. +Then with a "Thank you, Sir," he at last sat down. A fellow like Clown, +always fresh, butts in where he is not wanted; or like Porcupine +swaggers about with a face which says "Japan would be hard up without +me," or like Red Shirt, self-satisfied in the belief of being the +wholesaler of gallantry and of cosmetics. Or like Badger who appears to +say; "If 'Education' were alive and put on a frockcoat, it would look +like me." One and all in one way or other have bravado, but I have +never seen any one like this Hubbard Squash, so quiet and resigned, +like a doll taken for a ransom. His face is rather swollen but for the +Madonna to cast off such a splendid fellow and give preference to Red +Shirt, was frivolous beyond my understanding. Put how many dozens of +Red Shirt you like together, it will not make one husband of stuff to +beat Hubbard Squash. + +"Is anything wrong with you? You look quite fatigued," I asked. + +"No, I have no particular ailments......." + +"That's good. Poor health is the worst thing one can get." + +"You appear very strong." + +"Yes, I'm thin, but never got sick. That's something I don't like." + +Hubbard Squash smiled at my words. Just then I heard some young girlish +laughs at the entrance, and incidentally looking that way, I saw a +"peach." A beautiful girl, tall, white-skinned, with her head done up +in "high-collared" style, was standing with a woman of about forty-five +or six, in front of the ticket window. I am not a fellow given to +describing a belle, but there was no need to repeat asserting that she +was beautiful. I felt as if I had warmed a crystal ball with perfume +and held it in my hand. The older woman was shorter, but as she +resembled the younger, they might be mother and daughter. The moment I +saw them, I forgot all about Hubbard Squash, and was intently gazing at +the young beauty. Then I was a bit startled to see Hubbard Squash +suddenly get up and start walking slowly toward them. I wondered if she +was not the Madonna. The three were courtesying in front of the ticket +window, some distance away from me, and I could not hear what they were +talking about. + +The clock at the station showed the next train to start in five +minutes. Having lost my partner, I became impatient and longed for the +train to start as soon as possible, when a fellow rushed into the +station excited. It was Red Shirt. He had on some fluffy clothes, +loosely tied round with a silk-crepe girdle, and wound to it the same +old gold chain. That gold chain is stuffed. Red Shirt thinks nobody +knows it and is making a big show of it, but I have been wise. Red +Shirt stopped short, stared around, and then after bowing politely to +the three still in front of the ticket window, made a remark or two, +and hastily turned toward me. He came up to me, walking in his usual +cat's style, and hallooed. + +"You too going to bath? I was afraid of missing the train and +hurried up, but we have three or four minutes yet. Wonder if that +clock is right?" + +He took out his gold watch, and remarking it wrong about two minutes sat +down beside me. He never turned toward the belle, but with his chin on +the top of a cane, steadily looked straight before him. The older woman +would occasionally glance toward Red Shirt, but the younger kept her +profile away. Surely she was the Madonna. + +The train now arrived with a shrill whistle and the passengers hastened +to board. Red Shirt jumped into the first class coach ahead of all. One +cannot brag much about boarding the first class coach here. It cost only +five sen for the first and three sen for the second to Sumida; even I +paid for the first and a white ticket. The country fellows, however, +being all close, seemed to regard the expenditure of the extra two sen a +serious matter and mostly boarded the second class. Following Red Shirt, +the Madonna and her mother entered the first class. Hubbard Squash +regularly rides in the second class. He stood at the door of a second +class coach and appeared somewhat hesitating, but seeing me coming, took +decisive steps and jumped into the second. I felt sorry for him--I do +not know why--and followed him into the same coach. Nothing wrong in +riding on the second with a ticket for the first, I believe. + +At the hot springs, going down from the third floor to the bath room in +bathing gown, again I met Hubbard Squash. I feel my throat clogged up +and unable to speak at a formal gathering, but otherwise I am rather +talkative; so I opened conversation with him. He was so pathetic and my +compassion was aroused to such an extent that I considered it the duty +of a Yedo kid to console him to the best of my ability. But Hubbard +Squash was not responsive. Whatever I said, he would only answer "eh?" +or "umh," and even these with evident effort. Finally I gave up my +sympathetic attempt and cut off the conversation. + +I did not meet Red Shirt at the bath. There are many bath rooms, and one +does not necessarily meet the fellows at the same bath room though he +might come on the same train. I thought it nothing strange. When I got +out of the bath, I found the night bright with the moon. On both sides +of the street stood willow trees which cast their shadows on the road. I +would take a little stroll, I thought. Coming up toward north, to the +end of the town, one sees a large gate to the left. Opposite the gate +stands a temple and both sides of the approach to the temple are lined +with houses with red curtains. A tenderloin inside a temple gate is an +unheard-of phenomenon. I wanted to go in and have a look at the place, +but for fear I might get another kick from Badger, I passed it by. A +flat house with narrow lattice windows and black curtain at the +entrance, near the gate, is the place where I ate dango and committed +the blunder. A round lantern with the signs of sweet meats hung outside +and its light fell on the trunk of a willow tree close by. I hungered to +have a bite of dango, but went away forbearing. + +To be unable to eat dango one is so fond of eating, is tragic. But to +have one's betrothed change her love to another, would be more tragic. +When I think of Hubbard Squash, I believe that I should, not complain if +I cannot eat dango or anything else for three days. Really there is +nothing so unreliable a creature as man. As far as her face goes, she +appears the least likely to commit so stony-hearted an act as this. But +the beautiful person is cold-blooded and Koga-san who is swollen like a +pumpkin soaked in water, is a gentleman to the core,--that's where we +have to be on the look-out. Porcupine whom I had thought candid was said +to have incited the students and he whom then I regarded an agitator, +demanded of the principal a summary punishment of the students. The +disgustingly snobbish Red Shirt is unexpectedly considerate and warns me +in ways more than one, but then he won the Madonna by crooked means. He +denies, however, having schemed anything crooked about the Madonna, and +says he does not care to marry her unless her engagement with Koga is +broken. When Ikagin beat me out of his house, Clown enters and takes my +room. Viewed from any angle, man is unreliable. If I write these things +to Kiyo, it would surprise her. She would perhaps say that because it is +the west side of Hakone that the town had all the freaks and crooks +dumped in together.[7] + +[Footnote 7: An old saying goes that east of the Hakone pass, there are +no apparitions or freaks.] + +I do not by nature worry about little things, and had come so far +without minding anything. But hardly a month had passed since I came +here, and I have begun to regard the world quite uneasily. I have not +met with any particularly serious affairs, but I feel as if I had grown +five or six years older. Better say "good by" to this old spot soon and +return to Tokyo, I thought. While strolling thus thinking on various +matters, I had passed the stone bridge and come up to the levy of the +Nozeri river. The word river sounds too big; it is a shallow stream of +about six feet wide. If one goes on along the levy for about twelve +blocks, he reaches the Aioi village where there is a temple of Kwanon. + +Looking back at the town of the hot springs, I see red lights gleaming +amid the pale moon beams. Where the sound of the drum is heard must be +the tenderloin. The stream is shallow but fast, whispering incessantly. +When I had covered about three blocks walking leisurely upon the bank, +I perceived a shadow ahead. Through the light of the moon, I found +there were two shadows. They were probably village youngsters returning +from the hot springs, though they did not sing, and were exceptionally +quiet for that. + +I kept on walking, and I was faster than they. The two shadows became +larger. One appeared like a woman. When I neared them within about sixty +feet, the man, on hearing my footsteps, turned back. The moon was +shining from behind me. I could see the manner of the man then and +something queer struck me. They resumed their walk as before. And I +chased them on a full speed. The other party, unconscious, walked +slowly. I could now hear their voice distinctly. The levy was about six +feet wide, and would allow only three abreast. I easily passed them, and +turning back gazed squarely into the face of the man. The moon +generously bathed my face with its beaming light. The fellow uttered a +low "ah," and suddenly turning sideway, said to the woman "Let's go +back." They traced their way back toward the hot springs town. + +Was it the intention of Red Shirt to hush the matter up by pretending +ignorance, or was it lack of nerve? I was not the only fellow who +suffered the consequence of living in a small narrow town. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +On my way back from the fishing to which I was invited by Red Shirt, and +since then, I began to suspect Porcupine. When the latter wanted me to +get out of Ikagin's house on sham pretexts, I regarded him a decidedly +unpleasant fellow. But as Porcupine, at the teachers' meeting, contrary +to my expectation, stood firmly for punishing the students to the +fullest extent of the school regulations, I thought it queer. When I +heard from the old lady about Porcupine volunteering himself for the +sake of Hubbard Squash to stop Red Shirt meddling with the Madonna, I +clapped my hands and hoorayed for him. Judging by these facts, I began +to wonder if the wrong-doer might be not Porcupine, but Red Shirt the +crooked one. He instilled into my head some flimsy hearsay plausibly and +in a roundabout-way. At this juncture I saw Red Shirt taking a walk with +the Madonna on the levy of the Nozeri river, and I decided that Red +Shirt may be a scoundrel. I am not sure of his being really scoundrel at +heart, but at any rate he is not a good fellow. He is a fellow with a +double face. A man deserves no confidence unless he is as straight as +the bamboo. One may fight a straight fellow, and feel satisfied. We +cannot lose sight of the fact that Red Shirt or his kind who is kind, +gentle, refined, and takes pride in his pipe had to be looked sharp, for +I could not be too careful in getting into a scrap with the fellow of +this type. I may fight, but I would not get square games like the +wrestling matches it the Wrestling Amphitheatre in Tokyo. Come to think +of it, Porcupine who turned against me and startled the whole teachers' +room over the amount of one sen and a half is far more like a man. When +he stared at me with owlish eyes at the teachers' meeting, I branded him +as a spiteful guy, but as I consider the matter now, he is better than +the feline voice of Red Shirt. To tell the truth, I tried to get +reconciled with Porcupine, and after the meeting, spoke a word or two to +him, but he shut up like a clam and kept glaring at me. So I became +sore, and let it go at that. + +Porcupine has not spoken to me since. The one sen and a half which I +paid him back upon the desk, is still there, well covered with dust. I +could not touch it, nor would Porcupine take it. This one sen and a +half has become a barrier between us two. We two were cursed with this +one sen and a half. Later indeed I got sick of its sight that I hated +to see it. + +While Porcupine and I were thus estranged, Red Shirt and I continued +friendly relations and associated together. On the day following my +accidental meeting with him near the Nozeri river, for instance, Red +Shirt came to my desk as soon as he came to the school, and asked me how +I liked the new boarding house. He said we would go together for fishing +Russian literature again, and talked on many things. I felt a bit +piqued, and said, "I saw you twice last night," and he answered, "Yes, +at the station. Do you go there at that time every day? Isn't it late?" +I startled him with the remark; "I met you on the levy of the Nozeri +river too, didn't I?" and he replied, "No, I didn't go in that +direction. I returned right after my bath." + +What is the use of trying to keep it dark. Didn't we meet actually face +to face? He tells too many lies. If one can hold the job of a head +teacher and act in this fashion, I should be able to run the position of +Chancellor of a university. From this time on, my confidence in Red +Shirt became still less. I talk with Red Shirt whom I do not trust, and +I keep silent with Porcupine whom I respect. Funny things do happen in +this world. + +One day Red Shirt asked me to come over to his house as he had something +to tell me, and much as I missed the trip to the hot springs, I started +for his house at about 4 o'clock. Red Shirt is single, but in keeping +with the dignity of a head teacher, he gave up the boarding house life +long ago, and lives in a fine house. The house rent, I understood, was +nine yen and fifty sen. The front entrance was so attractive that I +thought if one can live in such a splendid house at nine yen and a half +in the country, it would be a good game to call Kiyo from Tokyo and make +her heart glad. The younger brother of Red Shirt answered my bell. This +brother gets his lessons on algebra and mathematics from me at the +school. He stands no show in his school work, and being a "migratory +bird" is more wicked than the native boys. + +I met Red Shirt. Smoking the same old unsavory amber pipe, he said +something to the following effect: + +"Since you've been with us, our work has been more satisfactory than it +was under your predecessor, and the principal is very glad to have got +the right person in the right place. I wish you to work as hard as you +can, for the school is depending upon you." + +"Well, is that so. I don't think I can work any harder than now......." + +"What you're doing now is enough. Only don't forget what I told you the +other day." + +"Meaning that one who helps me find a boarding house is dangerous?" + +"If you state it so baldly, there is no meaning to it....... But that's +all right,...... I believe you understand the spirit of my advice. And +if you keep on in the way you're going to-day ...... We have not been +blind ...... we might offer you a better treatment later on if we can +manage it." + +"In salary? I don't care about the salary, though the more the better." + +"And fortunately there is going to be one teacher transferred,...... +however, I can't guarantee, of course, until I talk it over with the +principal ...... and we might give you something out of his salary." + +"Thank you. Who is going to be transferred?" + +"I think I may tell you now; 'tis going to be Announced soon. Koga +is the man." + +"But isn't Koga-san a native of this town?" + +"Yes, he is. But there are some circumstances ...... and it is partly by +his own preference." + +"Where is he going?" + +"To Nobeoka in Hiuga province. As the place is so far away, he is going +there with his salary raised a grade higher." + +"Is some one coming to take his place?" + +"His successor is almost decided upon." + +"Well, that's fine, though I'm not very anxious to have my salary +raised." + +"I'm going to talk to the principal about that anyway. And, we may have +to ask you to work more some time later ...... and the principal appears +to be of the same opinion....... I want you to go[I] ahead with that in +your mind." + +"Going to increase my working hours?" + +"No. The working hours may be reduced......" + +"The working hours shortened and yet work more? Sounds funny." + +"It does sound funny ...... I can't say definitely just yet ...... it +means that we way have to ask you to assume more responsibility." + +I could not make out what he meant. To assume more responsibility might +mean my appointment to the senior instructor of mathematics, but +Porcupine is the senior instructor and there is no danger of his +resigning. Besides, he is so very popular among the students that his +transfer or discharge would be inadvisable. Red Shirt always misses the +point. And though he did not get to the point, the object of my visit +was ended. We talked a while on sundry matters, Red Shirt proposing a +farewell dinner party for Hubbard Squash, asking me if I drink liquor +and praising Hubbard Squash as an amiable gentleman, etc. Finally he +changed the topic and asked me if I take an interest in "haiku"[8] Here +is where I beat it, I thought, and, saying "No, I don't, good by," +hastily left the house. The "haiku" should be a diversion of Baseo[9] or +the boss of a barbershop. It would not do for the teacher of mathematics +to rave over the old wooden bucket and the morning glory.[10] + +[Footnote 8: The 17-syllable poem] + +[Footnote 9: A famous composer of the poem.] + +[Footnote 10: There is a well-known 17-syllable poem describing the +scene of morning glories entwining around the wooden bucket.] + +I returned home and thought it over. Here is a man whose mental process +defies a layman's understanding. He is going to court hardships in a +strange part of the country in preference of his home and the school +where he is working,--both of which should satisfy most +anybody,--because he is tired of them. That may be all right if the +strange place happens to be a lively metropolis where electric cars +run,--but of all places, why Nobeoka in Hiuga province? This town here +has a good steamship connection, yet I became sick of it and longed for +home before one month had passed. Nobeoka is situated in the heart of a +most mountainous country. According to Red Shirt, one has to make an +all-day ride in a wagonette to Miyazaki, after he had left the vessel, +and from Miyazaki another all-day ride in a rikisha to Nobeoka. Its name +alone does not commend itself as civilized. It sounds like a town +inhabited by men and monkeys in equal numbers. However sage-like Hubbard +Squash might be I thought he would not become a friend of monkeys of his +own choice. What a curious slant! + +Just then the old lady brought in my supper--"Sweet potatoes again?" I +asked, and she said, "No, Sir, it is tofu to-night." They are about the +same thing. + +"Say, I understand Koga-san is going to Nobeoka." + +"Isn't it too bad?" + +"Too bad? But it can't be helped if he goes there by his own +preference." + +"Going there by his own preference? Who, Sir?" + +"Who? Why, he! Isn't Professor Koga going there by his own choice?" + +"That's wrong Mr. Wright, Sir." + +"Ha, Mr. Wright, is it? But Red Shirt told me so just now. If that's +wrong Mr. Wright, then Red Shirt is blustering Mr. Bluff." + +"What the head-teacher says is believable, but so Koga-san does not +wish to go." + +"Our old lady is impartial, and that is good. Well, what's the matter?" + +"The mother of Koga-san was here this morning, and told me all the +circumstances." + +"Told you what circumstances?" + +"Since the father of Koga-san died, they have not been quite well off as +we might have supposed, and the mother asked the principal if his salary +could not be raised a little as Koga-san has been in service for four +years. See?" + +"Well?" + +"The principal said that he would consider the matter, and she felt +satisfied and expected the announcement of the increase before long. She +hoped for its coming this month or next. Then the principal called +Koga-san to his office one day and said that he was sorry but the school +was short of money and could not raise his salary. But he said there is +an opening in Nobeoka which would give him five yen extra a month and he +thought that would suit his purpose, and the principal had made all +arrangements and told Koga-san he had better go......." + +"That wasn't a friendly talk but a command. Wasn't it?" + +"Yes, Sir, Koga-san told the principal that he liked to stay here better +at the old salary than go elsewhere on an increased salary, because he +has his own house and is living with his mother. But the matter has all +been settled, and his successor already appointed and it couldn't be +helped, said the principal." + +"Hum, that's a jolly good trick, I should say. Then Koga-san has no +liking to go there? No wonder I thought it strange. We would have to go +a long way to find any blockhead to do a job in such a mountain village +and get acquainted with monkeys for five yen extra." + +"What is a blockhead, Sir?" + +"Well, let go at that. It was all the scheme of Red Shirt. Deucedly +underhand scheme, I declare. It was a stab from behind. And he means to +raise my salary by that; that's not right. I wouldn't take that raise. +Let's see if he can raise it." + +"Is your salary going to be raised, Sir?" + +"Yes, they said they would raise mine, but I'm thinking of refusing it." + +"Why do you refuse?" + +"Why or no why, it's going to be refused. Say, Red Shirt is a fool; he +is a coward." + +"He may be a coward, but if he raises your salary, it would be best for +you to make no fuss, but accept it. One is apt to get grouchy when +young, but will always repent when he is grown up and thinks that it was +pity he hadn't been a little more patient. Take an old woman's advice +for once, and if Red Shirt-san says he will raise your salary, just take +it with thanks." + +"It's none of business of you old people." + +The old lady withdrew in silence. The old man is heard singing "utai" in +the off-key voice. "Utai," I think, is a stunt which purposely makes a +whole show a hard nut to crack by giving to it difficult tunes, whereas +one could better understand it by reading it. I cannot fathom what is in +the mind of the old man who groans over it every night untired. But I'm +not in a position to be fooling with "utai." Red Shirt said he would +have my salary raised, and though I did not care much about it, I +accepted it because there was no use of leaving the money lying around. +But I cannot, for the love of Mike, be so inconsiderate as to skin the +salary of a fellow teacher who is being transferred against his will. +What in thunder do they mean by sending him away so far as Nobeoka when +the fellow prefers to remain in his old position? Even +Dazai-no-Gonnosutsu did not have to go farther than about Hakata; even +Matagoro Kawai [11] stopped at Sagara. I shall not feel satisfied unless +I see Red Shirt and tell him I refuse the raise. + +[Footnote 11: The persons in exile, well-known in Japanese history.] + +I dressed again and went to his house. The same younger brother of Red +Shirt again answered the bell, and looked at me with eyes which plainly +said, "You here again?" I will come twice or thrice or as many times as +I want to if there is business. I might rouse them out of their beds at +midnight;--it is possible, who knows. Don't mistake me for one coming to +coax the head teacher. I was here to give back my salary. The younger +brother said that there is a visitor just now, and I told him the front +door will do; won't take more than a minute, and he went in. Looking +about my feet, I found a pair of thin, matted wooden clogs, and I heard +some one in the house saying, "Now we're banzai." I noticed that the +visitor was Clown. Nobody but Clown could make such a squeaking voice +and wear such clogs as are worn by cheap actors. + +After a while Red Shirt appeared at the door with a lamp in his hand, +and said, "Come in; it's no other than Mr. Yoshikawa." + +"This is good enough," I said, "it won't take long." I looked at his +face which was the color of a boiled lobster. He seemed to have been +drinking with Clown. + +"You told me that you would raise my salary, but I've changed my mind, +and have come here to decline the offer." + +Red Shirt, thrusting out the lamp forward, and intently staring at me, +was unable to answer at the moment. He appeared blank. Did he think it +strange that here was one fellow, only one in the world, who does not +want his salary raised, or was he taken aback that I should come back so +soon even if I wished to decline it, or was it both combined, he stood +there silent with his mouth in a queer shape. + +"I accepted your offer because I understood that Mr. Koga was being +transferred by his own preference......." + +"Mr. Koga is really going to be transferred by his own preference." + +"No, Sir. He would like to stay here. He doesn't mind his present salary +if he can stay." + +"Have you heard it from Mr. Koga himself?" + +"No, not from him." + +"Then, from who?" + +"The old lady in my boarding house told me what she heard from the +mother of Mr. Koga." + +"Then the old woman in your boarding house told you so?" + +"Well, that's about the size of it." + +"Excuse me, but I think you are wrong. According to what you say, it +seems as if you believe what the old woman in the boarding house tells +you, but would not believe what your head teacher tells you. Am I right +to understand it that way?" + +I was stuck. A Bachelor of Arts is confoundedly good in oratorical +combat. He gets hold of unexpected point, and pushes the other backward. +My father used to tell me that I am too careless and no good, and now +indeed I look that way. I ran out of the house on the moment's impulse +when I heard the story from the old lady, and in fact I had not heard +the story from either Hubbard Squash or his mother. In consequence, when +I was challenged in this Bachelor-of-Arts fashion, it was a bit +difficult to defend myself. + +I could not defend his frontal attack, but I had already declared in my +mind a lack of confidence on Red Shirt. The old lady in the boarding +house may be tight and a grabber, I do not doubt it, but she is a woman +who tells no lie. She is not double faced like Red Shirt, I was +helpless, so I answered. + +"What you say might be right,--anyway, I decline the raise." + +"That's still funnier. I thought your coming here now was because you +had found a certain reason for which you could not accept the raise. +Then it is hard to understand to see you still insisting on declining +the raise in spite of the reason having been eradicated by my +explanation." + +"It may be hard to understand, but anyway I don't want it." + +"If you don't like it so much, I wouldn't force it on you. But if you +change your mind within two or three hours with no particular reason, it +would affect your credit in future." + +"I don't care if it does affect it." + +"That can't be. Nothing is more important than credit for us. Supposing, +the boss of the boarding house......." + +"Not the boss, but the old lady." + +"Makes no difference,--suppose what the old woman in the boarding house +told you was true, the raise of your salary is not to be had by reducing +the income of Mr. Koga, is it? Mr. Koga is going to Nobeoka; his +successor is coming. He comes on a salary a little less than that of Mr. +Koga, and we propose to add the surplus money to your salary, and you +need not be shy. Mr. Koga will be promoted; the successor is to start on +less pay, and if you could be raised, I think everything be satisfactory +to all concerned. If you don't like it, that's all right, but suppose +you think it over once more at home?" + +My brain is not of the best stuff, and if another fellow flourishes his +eloquence like this, I usually think, "Well, perhaps I was wrong," and +consider myself defeated, but not so to-night. From the time I came to +this town I felt prejudiced against Red Shirt. Once I had thought of him +in a different light, taking him for a fellow kind-hearted and +feminished. His kindness, however, began to look like anything but +kindness, and as a result, I have been getting sick of him. So no matter +how he might glory himself in logical grandiloquence, or how he might +attempt to out-talk me in a head-teacher-style, I don't care a snap. One +who shines in argument is not necessarily a good fellow, while the other +who is out-talked is not necessarily a bad fellow, either. Red Shirt is +very, very reasonable as far as his reasoning goes, but however graceful +he may appear, he cannot win my respect. If money, authority or +reasoning can command admiration, loansharks, police officers or college +professors should be liked best by all. I cannot be moved in the least +by the logic by so insignificant a fellow as the head teacher of a +middle school. Man works by preference, not by logic. + +"What you say is right, but I have begun to dislike the raise, so I +decline. It will be the same if I think it over. Good by." And I left +the house of Red Shirt. The solitary milky way hung high in the sky. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +When I went to the school, in the morning of the day the farewell dinner +party was to be held, Porcupine suddenly spoke to me; + +"The other day I asked you to quit the Ikagins because Ikagin begged of +me to have you leave there as you were too tough, and I believed him. +But I heard afterward that Ikagin is a crook and often passes imitation +of famous drawings for originals. I think what he told me about you must +be a lie. He tried to sell pictures and curios to you, but as you shook +him off, he told some false stories on you. I did very wrong by you +because I did not know his character, and wish you would forgive me." +And he offered me a lengthy apology. + +Without saying a word, I took up the one sen and a half which was lying +on the desk of Porcupine, and put it into my purse. He asked me in a +wondering tone, if I meant to take it back. I explained, "Yes. I didn't +like to have you treat me and expected to pay this back at all hazard, +but as I think about it, I would rather have you treated me after all; +so I'm going to take it back." + +Porcupine laughed heartily and asked me why I had not taken it back +sooner. I told him that I wanted to more than once, in fact, but somehow +felt shy and left it there. I was sick of that one sen and a half these +days that I shunned the sight of it when I came to the school, I said. +He said "You're a deucedly unyielding sport," and I answered "You're +obstinate." Then ensued the following give-and-take between us two; + +"Where were you born anyway?" + +"I'm a Yedo kid." + +"Ah, a Yedo kid, eh? No wonder I thought you a pretty stiff neck." + +"And you?" + +"I'm from Aizu." + +"Ha, Aizu guy, eh? You've got reason to be obstinate. Going to the +farewell dinner to-day?" + +"Sure. You?" + +"Of course I am. I intend to go down to the beach to see Koga-san off +when he leaves." + +"The farewell dinner should be a big blow-out. You come and see. I'm +going to get soused to the neck." + +"You get loaded all you want. I quit the place right after I finish my +plates. Only fools fight booze." + +"You're a fellow who picks up a fight too easy. It shows up the +characteristic of the Yedo kid well." + +"I don't care. Say, before you go to the farewell dinner, come to see +me. I want to tell you something." + +Porcupine came to my room as promised. I had been in full sympathy with +Hubbard Squash these days, and when it came to his farewell dinner, my +pity for him welled up so much that I wished I could go to Nobeoka for +him myself. I thought of making a parting address of burning eloquence +at the dinner to grace the occasion, but my speech which rattles off +like that of the excited spieler of New York would not become the place. +I planned to take the breath out of Red Shirt by employing Porcupine who +has a thunderous voice. Hence my invitation to him before we started for +the party. + +I commenced by explaining the Madonna affair, but Porcupine, needless to +say, knew more about it than I. Telling about my meeting Red Shirt on +the Nozeri river, I called him a fool. Porcupine then said; "You call +everybody a fool. You called me a fool to-day at the school. If I'm a +fool, Red Shirt isn't," and insisted that he was not in the same group +with Red Shirt. "Then Red Shirt may be a four-flusher," I said and he +approved this new alias with enthusiasm. Porcupine is physically strong, +but when it comes to such terms, he knows less than I do. I guess all +Aizu guys are about the same. + +Then, when I disclosed to him about the raise of my salary and the +advance hint on my promotion by Red Shirt, Porcupine pished, and said, +"Then he means to discharge me." "Means to discharge you? But you mean +to get discharged?" I asked. "Bet you, no. If I get fired, Red Shirt +will have to go with me," he remarked with a lordly air. I insisted on +knowing how he was going to get Red Shirt kicked out with him, and he +answered that he had not thought so far yet. Yes, Porcupine looks +strong, but seems to be possessed of no abundance of brain power. I told +him about my refusal of the raise of my salary, and the Gov'nur was much +pleased, praising me with the remark, "That's the stuff for Yedo kids." + +"If Hubbard Squash does not like to go down to Nobeoka, why didn't you +do something to enable him remain here," I asked, and Porcupine said +that when he heard the story from Hubbard Squash, everything had been +settled already, but he had asked the principal twice and Red Shirt once +to have the transfer order cancelled, but to no purpose. Porcupine +bitterly condemned Hubbard Squash for being too good-natured. If Hubbard +Squash, he said, had either flatly refused or delayed the answer on the +pretext of considering it, when Red Shirt raised the question of +transfer, it would have been better for him. But he was fooled by the +oily tongue of Red Shirt, had accepted the transfer outright, and all +efforts by Porcupine who was moved by the tearful appeal of the mother, +proved unavailing. + +I said; "The transfer of Koga is nothing but a trick of Red Shirt to cop +the Madonna by sending Hubbard Squash away." + +"Yes," said Porcupine "That must be. Red Shirt looks gentle, but plays +nasty tricks. He is a sonovagun for when some one finds fault with him, +he has excuses prepared already. Nothing but a sound thumping will be +effective for fellows like him." + +He rolled up his sleeves over his plump arms as he spoke. I asked him, +by the way, if he knew jiujitsu, because his arms looked powerful. Then +he put force in his forearm, and told me to touch it. I felt its swelled +muscle which was hard as the pumic stone in the public bathhouse. + +I was deeply impressed by his massive strength, and asked him if he +could not knock five or six of Red Shirt in a bunch. "Of course," he +said, and as he extended and bent back the arm, the lumpy muscle rolled +round and round, which was very amusing. According to the statement of +Porcupine himself, this muscle, if he bends the arm back with force, +would snap a paper-string wound around it twice. I said I might do the +same thing if it were a paper-string, and he challenged me. "No, you +can't," he said. "See if you can." As it would not look well if I +failed, I did not try. + +"Say, after you have drunk all you want to-night at the dinner, take a +fall out of Red Shirt and Clown, eh?" I suggested to him for fun. +Porcupine thought for a moment and said, "Not to-night, I guess." I +wanted to know why, and he pointed out that it would be bad for Koga. + +"Besides, if I'm going to give it to them at all, I've to get them red +handed in their dirty scheme, or all the blame will be on me," he added +discretely. Even Porcupine seems to have wiser judgment than I. + +"Then make a speech and praise Mr. Koga sky-high. My speech becomes sort +of jumpy, wanting dignity. And at any formal gathering, I get lumpy in +my throat, and can't speak. So I leave it to you," I said. + +"That's a strange disease. Then you can't speak in the presence of other +people? It would be awkward, I suppose," he said, and I told him not +quite as much awkward as he might think. + +About then, the time for the farewell dinner party arrived, and I went +to the hall with Porcupine. The dinner party was to be held at +Kashin-tei which is said to be the leading restaurant in the town, but I +had never been in the house before. This restaurant, I understood, was +formerly the private residence of the chief retainer of the daimyo of +the province, and its condition seemed to confirm the story. The +residence of a chief retainer transformed into a restaurant was like +making a saucepan out of warrior's armor. + +When we two came there, about all of the guests were present. They +formed two or three groups in the spacious room of fifty mats. The +alcove in this room, in harmony with its magnificence, was very large. +The alcove in the fifteen-mat room which I occupied at Yamashiro-ya made +a small showing beside it. I measured it and found it was twelve feet +wide. On the right, in the alcove, there was a seto-ware flower vase, +painted with red designs, in which was a large branch of pine tree. Why +the pine twigs, I did not know, except that they are in no danger of +withering for many a month to come, and are economical. I asked the +teacher of natural history where that seto-ware flower vase is made. He +told me it was not a seto-ware but an imari. Isn't imari seto-ware? I +wondered audibly, and the natural history man laughed. I heard afterward +that we call it a seto-ware because it is made in Seto. I'm a Yedo kid, +and thought all china was seto-wares. In the center of the alcove was +hung a panel on which were written twenty eight letters, each letter as +large as my face. It was poorly written; so poorly indeed that I +enquired of the teacher of Confucius why such a poor work be hung in +apparent show of pride. He explained that it was written by Kaioku a +famous artist in the writing, but Kaioku or anyone else, I still declare +the work poorly done. + +By and by, Kawamura, the clerk, requested all to be seated. I chose one +in front of a pillar so I could lean against it. Badger sat in front of +the panel of Kaioku in Japanese full dress. On his left sat Red Shirt +similarly dressed, and on his right Hubbard Squash, as the guest of +honor, in the same kind of dress. I was dressed in a European suit, and +being unable to sit down, squatted on my legs at once. The teacher of +physical culture next to me, though in the same kind of rags as mine, +sat squarely in Japanese fashion. As a teacher of his line he appeared +to have well trained himself. Then the dinner trays were served and the +bottles placed beside them. The manager of the day stood up and made a +brief opening address. He was followed by Badger and Red Shirt. These +two made farewell addresses, and dwelt at length on Hubbard Squash being +an ideal teacher and gentleman, expressing their regret, saying his +departure was a great loss not only to the school but to them in person. +They concluded that it could not be helped, however, since the transfer +was due to his own earnest desire and for his own convenience. They +appeared to be ashamed not in the least by telling such a lie at a +farewell dinner. Particularly, Red Shirt, of these three, praised Hubard +Squash in lavish terms. He went so far as to declare that to lose this +true friend was a great personal loss to him. Moreover, his tone was so +impressive in its same old gentle tone that one who listens to him for +the first time would be sure to be misled. Probably he won the Madonna +by this same trick. While Red Shirt was uttering his farewell buncomb, +Porcupine who sat on the other side across me, winked at me. As an +answer of this, I "snooked" at him. + +No sooner had Red Shirt sat down than Porcupine stood up, and highly +rejoiced, I clapped hands. At this Badger and others glanced at me, and +I felt that I blushed a little. + +"Our principal and other gentlemen," he said, "particularly the head +teacher, expressed their sincere regret at Mr. Koga's transfer. I am of +a different opinion, and hope to see him leave the town at the earliest +possible moment. Nobeoka is an out-of-the-way, backwoods town, and +compared with this town, it may have more material inconveniences, but +according to what I have heard, Nobeoka is said to be a town where the +customs are simple and untainted, and the teachers and students still +strong in the straightforward characteristics of old days. I am +convinced that in Nobeoka there is not a single high-collared guy who +passes round threadbare remarks, or who with smooth face, entraps +innocent people. I am sure that a man like Mr. Koga, gentle and honest, +will surely be received with an enthusiastic welcome there. I heartily +welcome this transfer for the sake of Mr. Koga. In concluding, I hope +that when he is settled down at Nobeoka, he will find a lady qualified +to become his wife, and form a sweet home at an early date and +incidentally let the inconstant, unchaste sassy old wench die ashamed +...... a'hum, a'hum!" + +He coughed twice significantly and sat down. I thought of clapping my +hands again, but as it would draw attention, I refrained. When +Porcupine finished his speech, Hubbard Squash arose politely, slipped +out of his seat, went to the furthest end of the room, and having bowed +to all in a most respectful manner, acknowledged the compliments in the +following way; + +"On the occasion of my going to Kyushu for my personal convenience, I am +deeply impressed and appreciate the way my friends have honored me with +this magnificent dinner....... The farewell addresses by our principal +and other gentlemen will be long held in my fondest recollection....... +I am going far away now, but I hope my name be included in the future as +in the past in the list of friends of the gentlemen here to-night." + +Then again bowing, he returned to his seat. There was no telling how far +the "good-naturedness" of Hubbard Squash might go. He had respectfully +thanked the principal and the head teacher who had been fooling him. And +it was not a formal, cut-and-dried reply he made, either; by his manner, +tone and face, he appeared to have been really grateful from his heart. +Badger and Red Shirt should have blushed when they were addressed so +seriously by so good a man as Hubbard Squash, but they only listened +with long faces. + +After the exchange of addresses, a sizzling sound was heard here and +there, and I too tried the soup which tasted like anything but soup. +There was kamaboko in the kuchitori dish, but instead of being snow +white as it should be, it looked grayish, and was more like a poorly +cooked chikuwa. The sliced tunny was there, but not having been sliced +fine, passed the throat like so many pieces of chopped raw tunny. Those +around me, however, ate with ravenous appetite. They have not tasted, I +guess, the real Yedo dinner. + +Meanwhile the bottles began passing round, and all became more or less +"jacked up." Clown proceeded to the front of the principal and +submissively drank to his health. A beastly fellow, this! Hubbard Squash +made a round of all the guests, drinking to their health. A very onerous +job, indeed. When he came to me and proposed my health, I abandoned the +squatting posture and sat up straight. + +"Too bad to see you go away so soon. When are you going? I want to see +you off at the beach," I said. + +"Thank you, Sir. But never mind that. You're busy," he declined. He +might decline, but I was determined to get excused for the day and give +him a rousing send-off. + +Within about an hour from this, the room became pretty lively. + +"Hey, have another, hic; ain't goin', hic, have one on me?" One or two +already in a pickled state appeared on the scene. I was little tired, +and going out to the porch, was looking at the old fashioned garden by +the dim star light, when Porcupine came. + +"How did you like my speech? Wasn't it grand, though!" he remarked in a +highly elated tone. I protested that while I approved 99 per cent, of +his speech, there was one per cent, that I did not. "What's that one per +cent?" he asked. + +"Well, you said,...... there is not a single high-collared guy who with +smooth face entraps innocent people......." + +"Yes." + +"A 'high-collared guy' isn't enough." + +"Then what should I say?" + +"Better say,--'a high-collared guy; swindler, bastard, +super-swanker, doubleface, bluffer, totempole, spotter, who looks +like a dog as he yelps.'" + +"I can't get my tongue to move so fast. You're eloquent. In the first +place, you know a great many simple words. Strange that you can't make +a speech." + +"I reserve these words for use when I chew the rag. If it comes to +speech-making, they don't come out so smoothly." + +"Is that so? But they simply come a-running. Repeat that again for me." + +"As many times as you like. Listen,--a high-collared guy, swindler, +bastard, super-swanker ..." + +While I was repeating this, two shaky fellows came out of the room +hammering the floor. + +"Hey, you two gents, if won't do to run away. Won't let you off while +I'm here. Come and have a drink. Bastard? That's fine. Bastardly fine. +Now, come on." + +And they pulled Porcupine and me away. These two fellows really had come +to the lavatory, but soaked as they were, in booze bubbles, they +apparently forgot to proceed to their original destination, and were +pulling us hard. All booze fighters seem to be attracted by whatever +comes directly under their eyes for the moment and forget what they had +been proposing to do. + +"Say, fellows, we've got bastards. Make them drink. Get them loaded. You +gents got to stay here." + +And they pushed me who never attempted to escape against the wall. +Surveying the scene, I found there was no dish in which any edibles were +left. Some one had eaten all his share, and gone on a foraging +expedition. The principal was not there,--I did not know when he left. + +At that time, preceded by a coquetish voice, three or four geishas +entered the room. I was a bit surprised, but having been pushed against +the wall, I had to look on quietly. At the instant, Red Shirt who had +been leaning against a pillar with the same old amber pipe stuck into +his mouth with some pride, suddenly got up and started to leave the +room. One of the geishas who was advancing toward him smiled and +courtesied at him as she passed by him. The geisha was the youngest and +prettiest of the bunch. They were some distance away from me and I could +not see very well, but it seemed that she might have said "Good +evening." Red Shirt brushed past as if unconscious, and never showed +again. Probably he followed the principal. + +The sight of the geishas set the room immediately in a buzz and it +became noisy as they all raised howls of welcome. Some started the game +of "nanko" with a force that beat the sword-drawing practice. Others +began playing morra, and the way they shook their hands, intently +absorbed in the game, was a better spectacle than a puppet show. + +One in the corner was calling "Hey, serve me here," but shaking the +bottle, corrected it to "Hey, fetch me more sake." The whole room +became so infernally noisy that I could scarcely stand it. Amid this +orgy, one, like a fish out of water, sat down with his head bowed. It +was Hubbard Squash. The reason they have held this farewell dinner +party was not in order to bid him a farewell, but because they wanted +to have a jolly good time for themselves with John Barleycorn. He had +come to suffer only. Such a dinner party would have been better had it +not been started at all. + +After a while, they began singing ditties in outlandish voices. One of +the geishas came in front of me, and taking up a samisen, asked me to +sing something. I told her I didn't sing, but I'd like to hear, and she +droned out: + +"If one can go round and meet the one he wants, banging gongs and drums +...... bang, bang, bang, bang, bing, shouting after wandering Santaro, +there is some one I'd like to meet by banging round gongs and drums +...... bang, bang, bang, bang, b-i-n-g." + +She dashed this off in two breaths, and sighed, "O, dear!" She should +have sung something easier. + +Clown who had come near us meanwhile, remarked in his flippant tone: + +"Hello, dear Miss Su-chan, too bad to see your beau go away so soon." +The geisha pouted, "I don't know." Clown, regardless, began imitating +"gidayu" with a dismal voice,--"What a luck, when she met her sweet +heart by a rare chance...." + +The geisha slapped the lap of Clown with a "Cut that out," and Clown +gleefully laughed. This geisha is the one who made goo-goo eyes[J] at +Red Shirt. What a simpleton, to be pleased by the slap of a geisha, this +Clown. He said: + +"Say, Su-chan, strike up the string. I'm going to dance the Kiino-kuni." +He seemed yet to dance. + +On other side of the room, the old man of Confucius, twisting round his +toothless mouth, had finished as far as "...... dear Dembei-san" and is +asking a geisha who sat in front of him to couch him for the rest. Old +people seem to need polishing up their memorizing system. One geisha is +talking to the teacher of natural history: + +"Here's the latest. I'll sing it. Just listen. 'Margaret, the +high-collared head with a white ribbon; she rides on a bike, plays a +violin, and talks in broken English,--I am glad to see you.'" Natural +history appears impressed, and says; + +"That's an interesting piece. English in it too." + +Porcupine called "geisha, geisha," in a loud voice, and commanded; "Bang +your samisen; I'm going to dance a sword-dance." + +His manner was so rough that the geishas were startled and did not +answer. Porcupine, unconcerned, brought out a cane, and began performing +the sword-dance in the center of the room. Then Clown, having danced the +Kii-no-kuni, the Kap-pore[K] and the Durhma-san on the Shelf, almost +stark-naked, with a palm-fibre broom, began turkey-trotting about the +room, shouting "The Sino-Japanese negotiations came to a break......." +The whole was a crazy sight. + +I had been feeling sorry for Hubbard Squash, who up to this time had sat +up straight in his full dress. Even were this a farewell dinner held in +his honor, I thought he was under no obligation to look patiently in a +formal dress at the naked dance. So I went to him and persuaded him with +"Say, Koga-san, let's go home." Hubbard Squash said the dinner was in +his honor, and it would be improper for him to leave the room before the +guests. He seemed to be determined to remain. + +"What do you care!" I said, "If this is a farewell dinner, make it like +one. Look at those fellows; they're just like the inmates of a lunatic +asylum. Let's go." + +And having forced hesitating Hubbard Squash to his feet, we were +just leaving the room, when Clown, marching past, brandishing the +broom, saw us. + +"This won't do for the guest of honor to leave before us," he hollered, +"this is the Sino-Japanese negotiations. Can't let you off." He enforced +his declaration by holding the broom across our way. My temper had been +pretty well aroused for some time, and I felt impatient. + +"The Sino-Japanese negotiation, eh? Then you're a Chink," and I whacked +his head with a knotty fist. + +This sudden blow left Clown staring blankly speechless for a second or +two; then he stammered out: + +"This is going some! Mighty pity to knock my head. What a blow on this +Yoshikawa! This makes the Sino-Japanese negotiations the sure stuff." + +While Clown was mumbling these incoherent remarks, Porcupine, believing +some kind of row had been started, ceased his sword-dance and came +running toward us. On seeing us, he grabbed the neck of Clown and +pulled him back. + +"The Sino-Japane......ouch!......ouch! This is outrageous," and Clown +writhed under the grip of Porcupine who twisted him sideways and threw +him down on the floor with a bang. I do not know the rest. I parted from +Hubbard Squash on the way, and it was past eleven when I returned home. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +The town is going to celebrate a Japanese victory to-day, and there is +no school. The celebration is to be held at the parade ground, and +Badger is to take out all the students and attend the ceremony. As one +of the instructors, I am to go with them. The streets are everywhere +draped with flapping national flags almost enough to dazzle the eyes. +There were as many as eight hundred students in all, and it was +arranged, under the direction of the teacher of physical culture to +divide them into sections with one teacher or two to lead them. The +arrangement itself was quite commendable, but in its actual operation +the whole thing went wrong. All students are mere kiddies who, ever too +fresh, regard it as beneath their dignity not to break all regulations. +This rendered the provision of teachers among them practically useless. +They would start marching songs without being told to, and if they +ceased the marching songs, they would raise devilish shouts without +cause. Their behavior would have done credit to the gang of tramps +parading the streets demanding work. When they neither sing nor shout, +they tee-hee and giggle. Why they cannot walk without these disorder, +passes my understanding, but all Japanese are born with their mouths +stuck out, and no kick will ever be strong enough to stop it. Their +chatter is not only of simple nature, but about the teachers when their +back is turned. What a degraded bunch! I made the students apologize to +me on the dormitory affair, and considered the incident closed. But I +was mistaken. To borrow the words of the old lady in the boarding house, +I was surely wrong Mr. Wright. The apology they offered was not prompted +by repentance in their hearts. They had kowtowed as a matter of form by +the command of the principal. Like the tradespeople who bow their heads +low but never give up cheating the public, the students apologize but +never stop their mischiefs. Society is made up, I think it probable, of +people just like those students. One may be branded foolishly honest if +he takes seriously the apologies others might offer. We should regard +all apologies a sham and forgiving also as a sham; then everything would +be all right. If one wants to make another apologize from his heart, he +has to pound him good and strong until he begs for mercy from his heart. + +As I walked along between the sections, I could hear constantly the +voices mentioning "tempura" or "dango." And as there were so many of +them, I could not tell which one mentioned it. Even if I succeeded in +collaring the guilty one I was sure of his saying, "No, I didn't mean +you in saying tempura or dango. I fear you suffer from nervousness and +make wrong inferences." This dastardly spirit has been fostered from the +time of the feudal lords, and is deep-rooted. No amount of teaching or +lecturing will cure it. If I stay in a town like this for one year or +so, I may be compelled to follow their example, who knows,--clean and +honest though I have been. I do not propose to make a fool of myself by +remaining quiet when others attempt to play games on me, with all their +excuses ready-made. They are men and so am I--students or kiddies or +whatever they may be. They are bigger than I, and unless I get even with +them by punishment, I would cut a sorry figure. But in the attempt to +get even, if I resort to ordinary means, they are sure to make it a +boomerang. If I tell them, "You're wrong," they will start an eloquent +defence, because they are never short of the means of sidestepping. +Having defended themselves, and made themselves appear suffering +martyrs, they would begin attacking me. As the incident would have been +started by my attempting to get even with them, my defence would not be +a defence until I can prove their wrong. So the quarrel, which they had +started, might be mistaken, after all, as one begun by me. But the more +I keep silent the more they would become insolent, which, speaking +seriously, could not be permitted for the sake of public morale. In +consequence, I am obliged to adopt an identical policy so they cannot +catch men in playing it back on them. If the situation comes to that, it +would be the last day of the Yedo kid. Even so, if I am to be subjected +to these pin-pricking[L] tricks, I am a man and got to risk losing off +the last remnant of the honor of the Yedo kid. I became more convinced +of the advisability of returning to Tokyo quickly and living with Kiyo. +To live long in such a countrytown would be like degrading myself for a +purpose. Newspaper delivering would be preferable to being degraded so +far as that. + +I walked along with a sinking heart, thinking like this, when the head +of our procession became suddenly noisy, and the whole came to a full +stop. I thought something has happened, stepped to the right out of the +ranks, and looked toward the direction of the noise. There on the corner +of Otemachi, turning to Yakushimachi, I saw a mass packed full like +canned sardines, alternately pushing back and forth. The teacher of +physical culture came down the line hoarsely shouting to all to be +quiet. I asked him what was the matter, and he said the middle school +and the normal had come to a clash at the corner. + +The middle school and the normal, I understood, are as much friendly as +dogs and monkeys. It is not explained why but their temper was +hopelessly crossed, and each would try to knock the chip off the +shoulder of the other on all occasions. I presume they quarrel so much +because life gets monotonous in this backwoods town. I am fond of +fighting, and hearing of the clash, darted forward to make the most of +the fun. Those foremost in the line are jeering, "Get out of the way, +you country tax!"[12] while those in the rear are hollowing "Push them +out!" I passed through the students, and was nearing the corner, when I +heard a sharp command of "Forward!" and the line of the normal school +began marching on. The clash which had resulted from contending for the +right of way was settled, but it was settled by the middle school giving +way to the normal. From the point of school-standing the normal is said +to rank above the middle. + +[Footnote 12: The normal school in the province maintains the students +mostly on the advance-expense system, supported by the country tax.] + +The ceremony was quite simple. The commander of the local brigade read a +congratulatory address, and so did the governor, and the audience +shouted banzais. That was all. The entertainments were scheduled for the +afternoon, and I returned home once and started writing to Kiyo an +answer which had been in my mind for some days. Her request had been +that I should write her a letter with more detailed news; so I must get +it done with care. But as I took up the rolled letter-paper, I did not +know with what I should begin, though I have many things to write about. + +Should I begin with that? That is too much trouble. Or with this? It is +not interesting. Isn't there something which will come out smoothly, I +reflected, without taxing my head too much, and which will interest +Kiyo. There seemed, however, no such item as I wanted I grated the +ink-cake, wetted the writing brush, stared at the letter-paper--stared +at the letter-paper, wetted the writing brush, grated the ink-cake--and, +having repeated the same thing several times, I gave up the letter +writing as not in my line, and covered the lid of the stationery box. To +write a letter was a bother. It would be much simpler to go back to +Tokyo and see Kiyo. Not that I am unconcerned about the anxiety of Kiyo, +but to get up a letter to please the fancy of Kiyo is a harder job than +to fast for three weeks. + +I threw down the brush and letter-paper, and lying down with my bent +arms as a pillow, gazed at the garden. But the thought of the letter to +Kiyo would come back in my mind. Then I thought this way; If I am +thinking of her from my heart, even at such a distance, my sincerity +would find responsive appreciation in Kiyo. If it does find response, +there is no need of sending letters. She will regard the absence of +letters from me as a sign of my being in good health. If I write in case +of illness or when something unusual happens, that will be sufficient. + +The garden is about thirty feet square, with no particular plants worthy +of name. There is one orange tree which is so tall as to be seen above +the board fence from outside. Whenever I returned from the school I used +to look at this orange tree. For to those who had not been outside of +Tokyo, oranges on the tree are rather a novel sight. Those oranges now +green will ripen by degrees and turn to yellow, when the tree would +surely be beautiful. There are some already ripened. The old lady told +me that they are juicy, sweet oranges. "They will all soon be ripe, and +then help yourself to all you want," she said. I think I will enjoy a +few every day. They will be just right in about three weeks. I do not +think I will have to leave the town in so short a time as three weeks. + +While my attention was centered on the oranges, Porcupine[M] came in. + +"Say, to-day being the celebration[N] of victory, I thought I would get +something good to eat with you, and bought some beef." + +So saying, he took out a package covered with a bamboo-wrapper, and +threw it down in the center of the room. I had been denied the pleasure +of patronizing the noodle house or dango shop, on top of getting sick of +the sweet potatoes and tofu, and I welcomed the suggestion with "That's +fine," and began cooking it with a frying pan and some sugar borrowed +from the old lady. + +Porcupine, munching the beef to the full capacity of his mouth, asked me +if I knew Red Shirt having a favorite geisha. I asked if that was not +one of the geishas who came to our dinner the other night, and he +answered, "Yes, I got the wind of the fact only recently; you're sharp." + +"Red Shirt always speaks of refinement of character or of mental +consolation, but he is making a fool of himself by chasing round a +geisha. What a dandy rogue. We might let that go if he wouldn't make +fuss about others making fools of themselves. I understand through the +principal he stopped your going even to noodle houses or dango shops as +unbecoming to the dignity of the school, didn't he?" + +"According to his idea, running after a geisha is a mental consolation +but tempura or dango is a material pleasure, I guess. If that's mental +consolation, why doesn't the fool do it above board? You ought to see +the jacknape skipping out of the room when the geisha came into it the +other night,--I don't like his trying to deceive us, but if one were to +point it out for him, he would deny it or say it was the Russian +literature or that the haiku is a half-brother of the new poetry, and +expect to hush it up by twaddling soft nonsense. A weak-knee like him is +not a man. I believe he lived the life of a court-maid in former life. +Perhaps his daddy might have been a kagema at Yushima in old days." + +"What is a kagema?" + +"I suppose something very unmanly,--sort of emasculated chaps. Say, that +part isn't cooked enough. It might give you tape worm." + +"So? I think it's all right. And, say, Red Shirt is said to frequent +Kadoya at the springs town and meet his geisha there, but he keeps +it in dark." + +"Kadoya? That hotel?" + +"Also a restaurant. So we've got to catch him there with his geisha and +make it hot for him right to his face." + +"Catch him there? Suppose we begin a kind of night watch?" + +"Yes, you know there is a rooming house called Masuya in front of +Kadoya. We'll rent one room upstairs of the house, and keep peeping +through a loophole we could make in the shoji." + +"Will he come when we keep peeping at him?" + +"He may. We will have to do it more than one night. Must expect to keep +it up for at least two weeks." + +"Say, that would make one pretty well tired, I tell you. I sat up every +night for about one week attending my father when he died, and it left +me thoroughly down and out for some time afterward." + +"I don't care if I do get tired some. A crook like Red Shirt should not +go unpunished that way for the honor of Japan, and I am going to +administer a chastisement in behalf of heaven." + +"Hooray! If things are decided upon that way, I am game. And we are +going to start from to-night?" + +"I haven't rented a room at Masuya yet, so can't start it to-night." + +"Then when?" + +"Will start before long. I'll let you know, and want you help me." + +"Right-O. I will help you any time. I am not much myself at scheming, +but I am IT when it comes to fighting." + +While Porcupine and I were discussing the plan of subjugating Red Shirt, +the old lady appeared at the door, announcing that a student was wanting +to see Professor Hotta. The student had gone to his house, but seeing +him out, had come here as probable to find him. Porcupine went to the +front door himself, and returning to the room after a while, said: + +"Say, the boy came to invite us to go and see the entertainment of the +celebration. He says there is a big bunch of dancers from Kochi to dance +something, and it would be a long time before we could see the like of +it again. Let's go." + +Porcupine seemed enthusiastic over the prospect of seeing that dance, +and induced me to go with him. I have seen many kinds of dance in Tokyo. +At the annual festival of the Hachiman Shrine, moving stages come around +the district, and I have seen the Shiokukmi and almost any other +variety. I was little inclined to see that dance by the sturdy fellows +from Tosa province, but as Porcupine was so insistent, I changed my mind +and followed him out. I did not know the student who came to invite +Porcupine, but found he was the younger brother of Red Shirt. Of all +students, what a strange choice for a messenger! + +The celebration ground was decorated, like the wrestling amphitheater at +Ryogoku during the season, or the annual festivity of the Hommonji +temple, with long banners planted here and there, and on the ropes that +crossed and recrossed in the mid-air were strung the colors of all +nations, as if they were borrowed from as many nations for the occasion +and the large roof presented unusually cheerful aspect. On the eastern +corner there was built a temporary stage upon which the dance of Koehi +was to be performed. For about half a block, with the stage on the +right, there was a display of flowers and plant settings arranged on +shelves sheltered with reed screens. Everybody was looking at the +display seemingly much impressed, but it failed to impress me. If +twisted grasses or bamboos afforded so much pleasure, the gallantry of a +hunchback or the husband of a wrong pair should give as much pleasure to +their eyes. + +In the opposite direction, aerial bombs and fire works were steadily +going on. A balloon shot out on which was written "Long Live the +Empire!" It floated leisurely over the pine trees near the castle +tower, and fell down inside the compound of the barracks. Bang! A black +ball shot up against the serene autumn sky; burst open straight above +my head, streams of luminous green smoke ran down in an umbrella-shape, +and finally faded. Then another balloon. It was red with "Long Live the +Army and Navy" in white. The wind slowly carried it from the town +toward the Aioi village. Probably it would fall into the yard of Kwanon +temple there. + +At the formal celebration this morning there were not quite so many as +here now. It was surging mass that made me wonder how so many people +lived in the place. There were not many attractive faces among the +crowd, but as far as the numerical strength went, it was a formidable +one. In the meantime that dance had begun. I took it for granted that +since they call it a dance, it would be something similar to the kind of +dance by the Fujita troupe, but I was greatly mistaken. + +Thirty fellows, dressed up in a martial style, in three rows of ten +each, stood with glittering drawn swords. The sight was an eye-opener, +indeed. The space between the rows measured about two feet, and that +between the men might have been even less. One stood apart from the +group. He was similarly dressed but instead of a drawn sword, he carried +a drum hung about his chest. This fellow drawled out signals the tone of +which suggested a mighty easy-life, and then croaking a strange song, he +would strike the drum. The tune was outlandishly unfamiliar. One might +form the idea by thinking it a combination of the Mikawa Banzai and the +Fudarakuya. + +The song was drowsy, and like syrup in summer is dangling and slovenly. +He struck the drum to make stops at certain intervals. The tune was kept +with regular rhythmical order, though it appeared to have neither head +nor tail. In response to this tune, the thirty drawn swords flash, with +such dexterity and speed that the sight made the spectator almost +shudder. With live men within two feet of their position, the sharp +drawn blades, each flashing them in the same manner, they looked as if +they might make a bloody mess unless they were perfectly accurate in +their movements. If it had been brandishing swords alone without moving +themselves, the chances of getting slashed or cut might have been less, +but sometimes they would turn sideways together, or clear around, or +bend their knees. Just one second's difference in the movement, either +too quick or too late, on the part of the next fellow, might have meant +sloughing off a nose or slicing off the head of the next fellow. The +drawn swords moved in perfect freedom, but the sphere of action was +limited to about two feet square, and to cap it all, each had to keep +moving with those in front and back, at right and left, in the same +direction at the same speed. This beats me! The dance of the Shiokumi or +the Sekinoto would make no show compared with this! I heard them say the +dance requires much training, and it could not be an easy matter to make +so many dancers move in a unison like this. Particularly difficult part +in the dance was that of the fellow with drum stuck to his chest. The +movement of feet, action of hands, or bending of knees of those thirty +fellows were entirely directed by the tune with which he kept them +going. To the spectators this fellow's part appeared the easiest. He +sang in a lazy tune, but it was strange that he was the fellow who takes +the heaviest responsibility. + +While Porcupine and I, deeply impressed, were looking at the dance with +absorbing interest, a sudden hue and cry was raised about half a block +off. A commotion was started among those who had been quietly enjoying +the sights and all ran pell-mell in every direction. Some one was heard +saying "fight!" Then the younger brother of Red Shirt came running +forward through the crowd. + +"Please, Sir," he panted, "a row again! The middles are going to get +even with the normals and have just begun fighting. Come quick, Sir!" +And he melted somewhere into the crowd. + +"What troublesome brats! So they're at it again, eh? Why can't +they stop it!" + +Porcupine, as he spoke, dashed forward, dodging among the running crowd. +He meant, I think, to stop the fight, because he could not be an idle +spectator once he was informed of the fact. I of course had no intention +of turning tail, and hastened on the heels of Porcupine. The fight was +in its fiercest. There were about fifty to sixty normals, and the +middles numbered by some ninety. The normals wore uniform, but the +middles had discarded their uniform and put on Japanese civilian +clothes, which made the distinction between the two hostile camps easy. +But they were so mixed up, and wrangling with such violence, that we did +not know how and where we could separate them. + +Porcupine, apparently at a loss what to do, looked at the wild scene +awhile, then turned to me, saying: + +"Let's jump in and separate them. It will be hell if cops get on them." + +I did not answer, but rushed to the spot where the scuffle appeared +most violent. + +"Stop there! Cut this out! You're ruining the name of the school! Stop +this, dash you!" + +Shouting at the top of my voice, I attempted to penetrate the line which +seemed to separate the hostile sides, but this attempt did not succeed. +When about ten feet into the turmoil, I could neither advance nor +retreat. Right in my front, a comparatively large normal was grappling +with a middle about sixteen years of ago. + +"Stop that!" + +I grabbed the shoulder of the normal and tried to force them apart when +some one whacked my feet. On this sudden attack, I let go the normal and +fell down sideways. Some one stepped on my back with heavy shoes. With +both hands and knees upon the ground, I jumped up and the fellow on my +back rolled off to my right. I got up, and saw the big body of Porcupine +about twenty feet away, sandwiched between the students, being pushed +back and forth, shouting, "Stop the fight! Stop that!" + +"Say, we can't do anything!" I hollered at him, but unable to hear, I +think, he did not answer. + +A pebble-stone whiffled through the air and hit squarely on my cheek +bone; the same moment some one banged my back with a heavy stick +from behind. + +"Profs mixing in!" "Knock them down!" was shouted. + +"Two of them; big one and small. Throw stones at them!" Another shout. + +"Drat you fresh jackanapes!" I cried as I wallopped the head of a normal +nearby. Another stone grazed my head, and passed behind me. I did not +know what had become of Porcupine, I could not find him. Well, I could +not help it but jumped into the teapot to stop the tempest. I wasn't[O] +a Hottentot to skulk away on being shot at with pebble-stones. What did +they think I was anyway! I've been through all kinds of fighting in +Tokyo, and can take in all fights one may care to give me. I slugged, +jabbed and banged the stuffing out of the fellow nearest to me. Then +some one cried, "Cops! Cops! Cheese it! Beat it!" At that moment, as if +wading through a pond of molasses, I could hardly move, but the next I +felt suddenly released and both sides scampered off simultaneously. Even +the country fellows do creditable work when it comes to retreating, more +masterly than General Kuropatkin, I might say. + +I searched for Porcupine who, I found his overgown torn to shreds, was +wiping his nose. He bled considerably, and his nose having swollen was a +sight. My clothes were pretty well massed with dirt, but I had not +suffered quite as much damage as Porcupine. I felt pain in my cheek and +as Porcupine said, it bled some. + +About sixteen police officers arrived at the scene but, all the students +having beat it in opposite directions, all they were able to catch were +Porcupine and me. We gave them our names and explained the whole story. +The officers requested us to follow them to the police station which we +did, and after stating to the chief of police what had happened, we +returned home. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +The next morning on awakening I felt pains all over my body, due, I +thought, to having had no fight for a long time. This is not creditable +to my fame as regards fighting, so I thought while in bed, when the old +lady brought me a copy of the Shikoku Shimbun. I felt so weak as to need +some effort even reaching for the paper. But what should be man so +easily upset by such a trifling affair,--so I forced myself to turn in +bed, and, opening its second page, I was surprised. There was the whole +story of the fight of yesterday in print. Not that I was surprised by +the news of the fight having been published, but it said that one +teacher Hotta of the Middle School and one certain saucy Somebody, +recently from Tokyo, of the same institution, not only started this +trouble by inciting the students, but were actually present at the scene +of the trouble, directing the students and engaged themselves against +the students of the Normal School. On top of this, something of the +following effect was added. + +"The Middle School in this prefecture has been an object of admiration +by all other schools for its good and ideal behavior. But since this +long-cherished honor has been sullied by these two irresponsible +persons, and this city made to suffer the consequent indignity, we have +to bring the perpetrators to full account. We trust that before we take +any step in this matter, the authorities will have those 'toughs' +properly punished, barring them forever from our educational circles." + +All the types were italicized, as if they meant to administer +typographical chastisement upon us. "What the devil do I care!" I +shouted, and up I jumped out of bed. Strange to say, the pain in my +joints became tolerable. + +I rolled up the newspaper and threw it into the garden. Not satisfied, I +took that paper to the cesspool and dumped it there. Newspapers tell +such reckless lies. There is nothing so adept, I believe, as the +newspaper in circulating lies. It has said what I should have said. And +what does it mean by "one saucy Somebody who is recently from Tokyo?" Is +there any one in this wide world with the name of Somebody? Don't +forget, I have a family and personal name of my own which I am proud of. +If they want to look at my family-record, they will bow before every one +of my ancestors from Mitsunaka Tada down. Having washed my face, my +cheek began suddenly smarting. I asked the old lady for a mirror, and +she asked if I had read the paper of this morning. "Yes," I said, "and +dumped it in the cesspool; go and pick it up if you want it,"--and she +withdrew with a startled look. Looking in the mirror, I saw bruises on +my cheek. Mine is a precious face to me. I get my face bruised, and am +called a saucy Somebody as if I were nobody. That is enough. + +It will be a reflection on my honor to the end of my days if it is said +that I shunned the public gaze and kept out of the school on account of +the write-up in the paper. So, after the breakfast, I attended the +school ahead of all. One after the other, all coming to the school would +grin at my face. What is there to laugh about! This face is my own, +gotten up, I am sure, without the least obligation on their part. By and +by, Clown appeared. + +"Ha, heroic action yesterday. Wounds of honor, eh?" + +He made this sarcastic remark, I suppose, in revenge for the knock he +received on his head from me at the farewell dinner. + +"Cut out nonsense; you get back there and suck your old drawing +brushes!" Then he answered "that was going some," and enquired if it +pained much? + +"Pain or no pain, this is my face. That's none of your business," I +snapped back in a furious temper. Then Clown took his seat on the other +side, and still keeping his eye on me, whispered and laughed with the +teacher of history next to him. + +Then came Porcupine. His nose had swollen and was purple,--it was a +tempting object for a surgeon's knife. His face showed far worse (is it +my conceit that make this comparison?) than mine. I and Porcupine are +chums with desks next to each other, and moreover, as ill-luck would +have it, the desks are placed right facing the door. Thus were two +strange faces placed together. The other fellows, when in want of +something to divert them, would gaze our way with regularity. They say +"too bad," but they are surely laughing in their minds as "ha, these +fools!" If that is not so, there is no reason for their whispering +together and grinning like that. In the class room, the boys clapped +their hands when I entered; two or three of them banzaied. I could not +tell whether it was an enthusiastic approval or open insult. While I and +Porcupine were thus being made the cynosures of the whole school, Red +Shirt came to me as usual. + +"Too bad, my friend; I am very sorry indeed for you gentlemen," he said +in a semi-apologetic manner. "I've talked with the principal in regard +to the story in the paper, and have arranged to demand that the paper +retract the report, so you needn't worry on that score. You were plunged +into the trouble because my brother invited Mr. Hotta, and I don't know +how I can apologize you! I'm going to do my level best in this matter; +you gentlemen please depend on that." At the third hour recess the +principal came out of his room, and seemed more or less perturbed, +saying, "The paper made a bad mess of it, didn't it? I hope the matter +will not become serious." + +As to anxiety, I have none. If they propose to relieve me, I intend +to tender my resignation before I get fired,--that's all. However, if +I resign with no fault on my part, I would be simply giving the paper +advantage. I thought it proper to make the paper take back what it +had said, and stick to my position. I was going to the newspaper +office to give them a piece of my mind on my way back but having been +told that the school had already taken steps to have the story +retracted, I did not. + +Porcupine and I saw the principal and Red Shirt at a convenient hour, +giving them a faithful version of the incident. The principal and Red +Shirt agreed that the incident must have been as we said and that the +paper bore some grudge against the school and purposely published such a +story. Red Shirt made a round of personal visits on each teacher in the +room, defending and explaining our action in the affair. Particularly he +dwelt upon the fact that his brother invited Porcupine and it was his +fault. All teachers denounced the paper as infamous and agreed that we +two deserved sympathy. + +On our way home, Porcupine warned me that Red Shirt smelt suspicious, +and we would be done unless we looked out. I said he had been smelling +some anyway,--it was not necessarily so just from to-day. Then he said +that it was his trick to have us invited and mixed in the fight +yesterday,--"Aren't you on to that yet?" Well, I was not. Porcupine was +quite a Grobian but he was endowed, I was impressed, with a better +brain than I. + +"He made us mix into the trouble, and slipped behind and contrived to +have the paper publish the story. What a devil!" + +"Even the newspaper in the band wagon of Red Shirt? That surprises me. +But would the paper listen to Red Shirt so easily?" + +"Wouldn't it, though. Darn easy thing if one has friends in the +paper."[P] + +"Has he any?" + +"Suppose he hasn't, still that's easy. Just tell lies and say such and +such are facts, and the paper will take it up." + +"A startling revelation, this. If that was really a trick of Red Shirt, +we're likely to be discharged on account of this affair." + +"Quite likely we may be discharged." + +"Then I'll tender my resignation tomorrow, and back to Tokyo I go. I am +sick of staying in such a wretched hole." + +"Your resignation wouldn't make Red Shirt squeal." + +"That's so. How can he be made to squeal?" + +"A wily guy like him always plots not to leave any trace behind, and it +would be difficult to follow his track." + +"What a bore! Then we have to stand in a false light, eh? Damn it! I +call all kinds of god to witness if this is just and right!" + +"Let's wait for two or three days and see how it turns out. And if +we can't do anything else, we will have to catch him at the hot +springs town." + +"Leaving this fight affair a separate case?" + +"Yes. We'll have to his hit weak spot with our own weapon." + +"That may be good. I haven't much to say in planning it out; I leave it +to you and will do anything at your bidding." + +I parted from Porcupine then. If Red Shirt was really instrumental in +bringing us two into the trouble as Porcupine supposed, he certainly +deserves to be called down. Red Shirt outranks us in brainy work. And +there is no other course open but to appeal to physical force. No wonder +we never see the end of war in the world. Among individuals, it is, +after all, the question of superiority of the fist. + +Next day I impatiently glanced over the paper, the arrival of which I +had been waiting with eagerness, but not a correction of the news or +even a line of retraction could be found. I pressed the matter on +Badger when I went to the school, and he said it might probably appear +tomorrow. On that "tomorrow" a line of retraction was printed in tiny +types. But the paper did not make any correction of the story. I called +the attention of Badger to the fact, and he replied that that was about +all that could be done under the circumstance. The principal, with the +face like a badger and always swaggering, is surprisingly, wanting in +influence. He has not even as much power as to bring down a country +newspaper, which had printed a false story. I was so thoroughly +indignant that I declared I would go alone to the office and see the +editor-in-chief on the subject, but Badger said no. + +"If you go there and have a blowup with the editor," he continued, "it +would only mean of your being handed out worse stuff in the paper again. +Whatever is published in a paper, right or wrong, nothing can be done +with it." And he wound up with a remark that sounded like a piece of +sermon by a Buddhist bonze that "We must be contented by speedily +despatching the matter from our minds and forgetting it." + +If newspapers are of that character, it would be beneficial for us all +to have them suspended,--the sooner the better. The similarity of the +unpleasant sensation of being written-up in a paper and being +bitten-down by a turtle became plain for the first time by the +explanation of Badger. + +About three days afterward, Porcupine came to me excited, and said that +the time has now come, that he proposes to execute that thing we had +planned out. Then I will do so, I said, and readily agreed to join him. +But Porcupine jerked his head, saying that I had better not. I asked him +why, and he asked if I had been requested by the principal to tender my +resignation. No, I said, and asked if he had. He told me that he was +called by the principal who was very, very sorry for him but under the +circumstance requested him to decide to resign. + +"That isn't fair. Badger probably had been pounding his belly-drum too +much and his stomach is upside down," I said, "you and I went to the +celebration, looked at the glittering sword dance together, and jumped +into the fight together to stop it. Wasn't it so? If he wants you to +tender your resignation, he should be impartial and should have asked me +to also. What makes everything in the country school so dull-head. This +is irritating!" + +"That's wire-pulling by Red Shirt," he said. "I and Red Shirt cannot go +along together, but they think you can be left as harmless." + +"I wouldn't get along with that Red Shirt either. Consider me harmless, +eh? They're getting too gay with me." + +"You're so simple and straight that they think they can handle you in +any old way." + +"Worse still. I wouldn't get along with him, I tell you." + +"Besides, since the departure of Koga, his successor has not arrived. +Furthermore, if they fire me and you together, there will be blank spots +in the schedule hours at the school." + +"Then they expect me to play their game. Darn the fellow! See if they +can make me." + +On going to the school next day I made straightway for the room of the +principal and started firing; + +"Why don't you ask me to put in my resignation?" I said. + +"Eh?" Badger stared blankly. + +"You requested Hotta to resign, but not me. Is that right?" + +"That is on account of the condition of the school......" + +"That condition is wrong, I dare say. If I don't have to resign, there +should be no necessity for Hotta to resign either." + +"I can't offer a detailed explanation about that......as to Hotta, it +cannot be helped if he goes...... ......we see no need of your +resigning." + +Indeed, he is a badger. He jabbers something, dodging the point, but +appears complacent. So I had to say: + +"Then, I will tender my resignation. You might have thought that I +would remain peacefully while Mr. Hotta is forced to resign, but I +cannot do it" + +"That leaves us in a bad fix. If Hotta goes away and you follow him, we +can't teach mathematics here." + +"None of my business if you can't." + +"Say, don't be so selfish. You ought to consider the condition of the +school. Besides, if it is said that you resigned within one month of +starting a new job, it would affect your record in the future. You +should consider that point also." + +"What do I care about my record. Obligation is more important +than record." + +"That's right. What you say is right, but be good enough to take our +position into consideration. If you insist on resigning, then resign, +but please stay until we get some one to take your place. At any rate, +think the matter over once more, please." + +The reason was so plain as to discourage any attempt to think it over, +but as I took some pity on Badger whose face reddened or paled +alternately as he spoke, I withdrew on the condition that I would think +the matter over. I did not talk with Red Shirt. If I have to land him +one, it was better, I thought, to have it bunched together and make it +hot and strong. + +I acquainted Porcupine with the details of my meeting with Badger. He +said he had expected it to be about so, and added that the matter of +resignation can be left alone without causing me any embarrassment +until the time comes. So I followed his advice. Porcupine appears +somewhat smarter than I, and I have decided to accept whatever advices +he may give. + +Porcupine finally tendered his resignation, and having bidden farewell +of all the fellow teachers, went down to Minato-ya on the beach. But he +stealthily returned to the hot springs town, and having rented a front +room upstairs of Masuya, started peeping through the hole he fingered +out in the shoji. I am the only person who knows of this. If Red Shirt +comes round, it would be night anyway, and as he is liable to be seen by +students or some others during the early part in the evening, it would +surely be after nine. For the first two nights, I was on the watch till +about 11 o'clock, but no sight of Red Shirt was seen. On the third +night, I kept peeping through from nine to ten thirty, but he did not +come. Nothing made me feel more like a fool than returning to the +boarding house at midnight after a fruitless watch. In four or five +days, our old lady began worrying about me and advised me to quit night +prowling,--being married. My night prowling is different from that kind +of night prowling. Mine is that of administering a deserved +chastisement. But then, when no encouragement is in sight after one +week, it becomes tiresome. I am quick tempered, and get at it with all +zeal when my interest is aroused, and would sit up all night to work it +out, but I have never shone in endurance. However loyal a member of the +heavenly-chastisement league I may be, I cannot escape monotony. On the +sixth night I was a little tired, and on the seventh thought I would +quit. Porcupine, however, stuck to it with bull-dog tenacity. From early +in the evening up to past twelve, he would glue his eye to the shoji and +keep steadily watching under the gas globe of Kadoya. He would surprise +me, when I come into the room, with figures showing how many patrons +there were to-day, how many stop-overs and how many women, etc. Red +Shirt seems never to be coming, I said, and he would fold his arms, +audibly sighing, "Well, he ought to." If Red Shirt would not come just +for once, Porcupine would be deprived of the chance of handing out a +deserved and just punishment. + +I left my boarding house about 7 o'clock on the eighth night and after +having enjoyed my bath, I bought eight raw eggs. This would counteract +the attack of sweet potatoes by the old lady. I put the eggs into my +right and left pockets, four in each, with the same old red towel hung +over my shoulder, my hands inside my coat, went to Masuya. I opened the +shoji of the room and Porcupine greeted me with his Idaten-like face +suddenly radiant, saying: + +"Say, there's hope! There's hope!" Up to last night, he had been +downcast, and even I felt gloomy. But at his cheerful countenance, I too +became cheerful, and before hearing anything, I cried, "Hooray! Hooray!" + +"About half past seven this evening," he said, "that geisha named Kosuzu +has gone into Kadoya." + +"With Red Shirt?" + +"No." + +"That's no good then." + +"There were two geishas......seems to me somewhat hopeful." + +"How?" + +"How? Why, the sly old fox is likely to send his girls ahead[Q], and +sneak round behind later." + +"That may be the case. About nine now, isn't it?" + +"About twelve minutes past nine," said he, pulling out a watch with +a nickel case, "and, say put out the light. It would be funny to +have two silhouettes of bonze heads on the shoji. The fox is too +ready to suspect." + +I blew out the lamp which stood upon the lacquer-enameled table. The +shoji alone was dimly plain by the star light. The moon has not come up +yet. I and Porcupine put our faces close to the shoji, watching almost +breathless. A wall clock somewhere rang half past nine. + +"Say, will he come to-night, do you think? If he doesn't show up, I +quit." + +"I'm going to keep this up while my money lasts." + +"Money? How much have you?" + +"I've paid five yen and sixty sen up to to-day for eight days. I pay my +bill every night, so I can jump out anytime." + +"That's well arranged. The people of this hotel must have been rather +put out, I suppose." + +"That's all right with the hotel; only I can't take my mind off +the house." + +"But you take some sleep in daytime." + +"Yes, I take a nap, but it's nuisance because I can't go out." + +"Heavenly chastisement is a hard job, I'm sure," I said. "If he gives +us the slip after giving us such trouble, it would have been a +thankless task." + +"Well, I'm sure he will come to-night...--... Look, look!" His voice +changed to whisper and I was alert in a moment. A fellow with a black +hat looked up at the gas light of Kadoya and passed on into the +darkness. No, it was not Red Shirt. Disappointing, this! Meanwhile the +clock at the office below merrily tinkled off ten. It seems to be +another bum watch to-night. + +The streets everywhere had become quiet. The drum playing in the +tenderloin reached our ears distinctively. The moon had risen from +behind the hills of the hot springs. It is very light outside. Then +voices were heard below. We could not poke our heads out of the window, +so were unable to see the owners of the voices, but they were evidently +coming nearer. The dragging of komageta (a kind of wooden footwear) was +heard. They approached so near we could see their shadows. + +"Everything is all right now. We've got rid of the stumbling block." It +was undoubtedly the voice of Clown. + +"He only glories in bullying but has no tact." This from Red Shirt. + +"He is like that young tough, isn't he? Why, as to that young tough, he +is a winsome, sporty Master Darling." + +"I don't want my salary raised, he says, or I want to tender +resignation,--I'm sure something is wrong with his nerves." + +I was greatly inclined to open the window, jump out of the second story +and make them see more stars than they cared to, but I restrained myself +with some effort. The two laughed, and passed below the gas light, and +into Kadoya. + +"Say." + +"Well." + +"He's here." + +"Yes, he has come at last." + +"I feel quite easy now." + +"Damned Clown called me a sporty Master Darling." + +"The stumbling[R] block means me. Hell!" + +I and Porcupine had to waylay them on their return. But we knew no more +than the man in the moon when they would come out. Porcupine went down +to the hotel office, notifying them to the probability of our going out +at midnight, and requesting them to leave the door unfastened so we +could get out anytime. As I think about it now, it is wonderful how the +hotel people complied with our request. In most cases, we would have +been taken for burglars. + +It was trying to wait for the coming of Red Shirt, but it was still more +trying to wait for his coming out again. We could not go to sleep, nor +could we remain with our faces stuck to the shoji all the time our minds +constantly in a state of feverish agitation. In all my life, I never +passed such fretful, mortifying hours. I suggested that we had better go +right into his room and catch him but Porcupine rejected the proposal +outright. If we get in there at this time of night, we are likely to be +prevented from preceding much further, he said, and if we ask to see +him, they will either answer that he is not there or will take us into a +different room. Supposing we do break into a room, we cannot tell of all +those many rooms, where we can find him. There is no other way but to +wait for him to come out, however tiresome it may be. So we sat up till +five in the morning. + +The moment we saw them emerging from Kadoya, I and Porcupine followed +them. It was some time before the first train started and they had to +walk up to town. Beyond the limit of the hot springs town, there is a +road for about one block running through the rice fields, both sides of +which are lined with cedar trees. Farther on are thatch-roofed farm +houses here and there, and then one comes upon a dyke leading straight +to the town through the fields. We can catch them anywhere outside the +town, but thinking it would be better to get them, if possible, on the +road lined with cedar trees where we may not be seen by others, we +followed them cautiously. Once out of the town limit, we darted on a +double-quick time, and caught up with them. Wondering what was coming +after them, they turned back, and we grabbed their shoulders. We cried, +"Wait!" Clown, greatly rattled, attempted to escape, but I stepped in +front of him to cut off his retreat. + +"What makes one holding the job of a head teacher stay over night at +Kadoya!" Porcupine directly fired the opening gun. + +"Is there any rule that a head teacher should not stay over night at +Kadoya?" Red Shirt met the attack in a polite manner. He looked a +little pale. + +"Why the one who is so strict as to forbid others from going even to +noodle house or dango shop as unbecoming to instructors, stayed over +night at a hotel with a geisha!" + +Clown was inclined to run at the first opportunity; so kept I +before him. + +"What's that Master Darling of a young tough!" I roared. + +"I didn't mean you. Sir. No, Sir, I didn't mean you, sure." He insisted +on this brazen excuse. I happened to notice at that moment that I had +held my pockets with both hands. The eggs in both pockets jerked so when +I ran, that I had been holding them, I thrust my hand into the pocket, +took out two and dashed them on the face of Clown. The eggs crushed, and +from the tip of his nose the yellow streamed down. Clown was taken +completely surprised, and uttering a hideous cry, he fell down on the +ground and begged for mercy. I had bought those eggs to eat, but had not +carried them for the purpose of making "Irish Confetti" of them. +Thoroughly roused, in the moment of passion, I had dashed them at him +before I knew what I was doing. But seeing Clown down and finding my +hand grenade successful, I banged the rest of the eggs on him, +intermingled with "Darn you, you sonovagun!" The face of Clown was +soaked in yellow. + +While I was bombarding Clown with the eggs, Porcupine was firing at +Red[S] Shirt. + +"Is there any evidence that I stayed there over night with a geisha?" + +"I saw your favorite old chicken go there early in the evening, and am +telling you so. You can't fool me!" + +"No need for us of fooling anybody. I stayed there with Mr. Yoshikawa, +and whether any geisha had gone there early in the evening or not, +that's none of my business." + +"Shut up!" Porcupine wallopped him one. Red Shirt tottered. + +"This is outrageous! It is rough to resort to force before deciding the +right or wrong of it!" + +"Outrageous indeed!" Another clout. "Nothing but wallopping will be +effective on you scheming guys." The remark was followed by a shower +of blows. I soaked Clown at the same time, and made him think he saw +the way to the Kingdom-Come. Finally the two crawled and crouched at +the foot of a cedar tree, and either from inability to move or to +see, because their eyes had become hazy, they did not even attempt to +break away. + +"Want more? If so, here goes some more!" With that we gave him more +until he cried enough. "Want more? You?" we turned to Clown, and he +answered "Enough, of course." + +"This is the punishment of heaven on you grovelling wretches. Keep +this in your head and be more careful hereafter. You can never talk +down justice." + +The two said nothing. They were so thoroughly cowed that they could +not speak. + +"I'm going to neither, run away nor hide. You'll find me at Minato-ya on +the beach up to five this evening. Bring police officers or any old +thing you want," said Porcupine. + +"I'm not going to run away or hide either. Will wait for you at the same +place with Hotta. Take the case to the police station if you like, or do +as you damn please," I said, and we two walked our own way. + +It was a little before seven when I returned to my room. I started +packing as soon as I was in the room, and the astonished old lady asked +me what I was trying to do. I'm going to Tokyo to fetch my Madam, I +said, and paid my bill. I boarded a train and came to Minato-ya on the +beach and found Porcupine asleep upstairs. I thought of writing my +resignation, but not knowing how, just scribbled off that "because of +personal affairs, I have to resign and return, to Tokyo. Yours truly," +and addressed and mailed it to the principal. + +The steamer leaves the harbor at six in the evening. Porcupine and I, +tired out, slept like logs, and when we awoke it was two o'clock. We +asked the maid if the police had called on us, and she said no. Red +Shirt and Clown had not taken it to the police, eh? We laughed. + +That night I and Porcupine left the town. The farther the vessel steamed +away from the shore, the more refreshed we felt. From Kobe to Tokyo we +boarded a through train and when we made Shimbashi, we breathed as if we +were once more in congenial human society. I parted from Porcupine at +the station, and have not had the chance of meeting him since. + +I forgot to tell you about Kiyo. On my arrival at Tokyo, I rushed into +her house swinging my valise, before going to a hotel, with "Hello, +Kiyo, I'm back!" + +"How good of you to return so soon!" she cried and hot tears streamed +down her cheeks. I was overjoyed, and declared that I would not go to +the country any more but would start housekeeping with Kiyo in Tokyo. + +Some time afterward, some one helped me to a job as assistant engineer +at the tram car office. The salary was 25 yen a month, and the house +rent six. Although the house had not a magnificent front entrance, Kiyo +seemed quite satisfied, but, I am sorry to say, she was a victim of +pneumonia and died in February this year. On the day preceding her +death, she asked me to bedside, and said, "Please, Master Darling, if +Kiyo is dead, bury me in the temple yard of Master Darling. I will be +glad to wait in the grave for my Master Darling." + +So Kiyo's grave is in the Yogen temple at Kobinata. + +--(THE END)-- + +[A: Insitent] +[B: queershaped] +[C: The original just had the Japanese character, Unicode U+5927, sans + description] +[D: aweinspiring] +[E: about about] +[F: atomosphere] +[G: Helloo] +[H: you go] +[I: goo-goo eyes] +[J: proper hyphenation unknown] +[K: pin-princking] +[L: Procupine] +[M: celabration] +[N: wans't] +[O: paper.] +[P: girl shead] +[Q: stumblieg] +[R: Rad] + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Botchan (Master Darling), by Kin-nosuke Natsume + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) *** + +***** This file should be named 8868.txt or 8868.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/8/6/8868/ + +Produced by David Starner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Botchan (Master Darling) + +Author: Mr. Kin-nosuke Natsume, trans. by Yasotaro Morri + +Release Date: September, 2005 [EBook #8868] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on August 17, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + +BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) + +By The Late Mr. Kin-nosuke Natsume + +TRANSLATED By Yasotaro Morri + +Revised by J. R. KENNEDY + +1919 + + + +A NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR + +No translation can expect to equal, much less to excel, the original. +The excellence of a translation can only be judged by noting how far it +has succeeded in reproducing the original tone, colors, style, the +delicacy of sentiment, the force of inert strength, the peculiar +expressions native to the language with which the original is written, +or whatever is its marked characteristic. The ablest can do no more, and +to want more than this will be demanding something impossible. Strictly +speaking, the only way one can derive full benefit or enjoyment from a +foreign work is to read the original, for any intelligence at +second-hand never gives the kind of satisfaction which is possible only +through the direct touch with the original. Even in the best translated +work is probably wanted the subtle vitality natural to the original +language, for it defies an attempt, however elaborate, to transmit all +there is in the original. Correctness of diction may be there, but +spontaneity is gone; it cannot be helped. + +The task of the translator becomes doubly hazardous in case of +translating a European language into Japanese, or vice versa. Between +any of the European languages and Japanese there is no visible kinship +in word-form, significance, grammatical system, rhetorical arrangements. +It may be said that the inspiration of the two languages is totally +different. A want of similarity of customs, habits, traditions, national +sentiments and traits makes the work of translation all the more +difficult. A novel written in Japanese which had attained national +popularity might, when rendered into English, lose its captivating +vividness, alluring interest and lasting appeal to the reader. + +These remarks are made not in way of excuse for any faulty dictions that +may be found in the following pages. Neither are they made out of +personal modesty nor of a desire to add undue weight to the present +work. They are made in the hope that whoever is good enough to go +through the present translation will remember, before he may venture to +make criticisms, the kind and extent of difficulties besetting him in +his attempts so as not to judge the merit of the original by this +translation. Nothing would afford the translator a greater pain than any +unfavorable comment on the original based upon this translation. If +there be any deserving merits in the following pages the credit is due +to the original. Any fault found in its interpretation or in the English +version, the whole responsibility is on the translator. + +For the benefit of those who may not know the original, it must be +stated that "Botchan" by the late Mr. K. Natsume was an epoch-making +piece of work. On its first appearance, Mr. Natsume's place and name as +the foremost in the new literary school were firmly established. He had +written many other novels of more serious intent, of heavier thoughts +and of more enduring merits, but it was this "Botchan" that secured him +the lasting fame. Its quaint style, dash and vigor in its narration +appealed to the public who had become somewhat tired of the stereotyped +sort of manner with which all stories had come to be handled. + +In its simplest understanding, "Botchan" may be taken as an episode in +the life of a son born in Tokyo, hot-blooded, simple-hearted, pure as +crystal and sturdy as a towering rock, honest and straight to a fault, +intolerant of the least injustice and a volunteer ever ready to champion +what he considers right and good. Children may read it as a "story of +man who tried to be honest." It is a light, amusing and, at the name +time, instructive story, with no tangle of love affairs, no scheme of +blood-curdling scenes or nothing startling or sensational in the plot or +characters. The story, however, may be regarded as a biting sarcasm on a +hypocritical society in which a gang of instructors of dark character at +a middle school in a backwoods town plays a prominent part. The hero of +the story is made a victim of their annoying intrigues, but finally +comes out triumphant by smashing the petty red tapism, knocking down the +sham pretentions and by actual use of the fist on the Head Instructor +and his henchman. + +The story will be found equally entertaining as a means of studying the +peculiar traits of the native of Tokyo which are characterised by their +quick temper, dashing spirit, generosity and by their readiness to +resist even the lordly personage if convinced of their own justness, or +to kneel down even to a child if they acknowledge their own wrong. +Incidently the touching devotion of the old maid servant Kiyo to the +hero will prove a standing reproach to the inconstant, unfaithful +servants of which the number is ever increasing these days in Tokyo. The +story becomes doubly interesting by the fact that Mr. K. Natsume, when +quite young, held a position of teacher of English at a middle school +somewhere about the same part of the country described in the story, +while he himself was born and brought up in Tokyo. + +It may be added that the original is written in an autobiographical +style. It is profusely interladed with spicy, catchy colloquials patent +to the people of Tokyo for the equals of which we may look to the +rattling speeches of notorious Chuck Conners of the Bowery of New York. +It should be frankly stated that much difficulty was experienced in +getting the corresponding terms in English for those catchy expressions. +Strictly speaking, some of them have no English equivalents. Care has +been exercised to select what has been thought most appropriate in the +judgment or the translator in converting those expressions into English +but some of them might provoke disapproval from those of the "cultured" +class with "refined" ears. The slangs in English in this translation +were taken from an American magazine of world-wide reputation editor of +which was not afraid to print of "damn" when necessary, by scorning the +timid, conventional way of putting it as "d--n." If the propriety of +printing such short ugly words be questioned, the translator is sorry to +say that no means now exists of directly bringing him to account for he +met untimely death on board the Lusitania when it was sunk by the German +submarine. + +Thanks are due to Mr. J. R. Kennedy, General Manager, and Mr. Henry +Satoh, Editor-in-Chief, both of the Kokusai Tsushin-sha (the +International News Agency) of Tokyo and a host of personal friends of +the translator whose untiring assistance and kind suggestions have made +the present translation possible. Without their sympathetic interests, +this translation may not have seen the daylight. + +Tokyo, September, 1918. + + + +BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) + + +CHAPTER I + +Because of an hereditary recklessness, I have been playing always a +losing game since my childhood. During my grammar school days, I was +once laid up for about a week by jumping from the second story of the +school building. Some may ask why I committed such a rash act. There was +no particular reason for doing such a thing except I happened to be +looking out into the yard from the second floor of the newly-built +school house, when one of my classmates, joking, shouted at me; "Say, +you big bluff, I'll bet you can't jump down from there! O, you +chicken-heart, ha, ha!" So I jumped down. The janitor of the school had +to carry me home on his back, and when my father saw me, he yelled +derisively, "What a fellow you are to go and get your bones dislocated +by jumping only from a second story!" + +"I'll see I don't get dislocated next time," I answered. + +One of my relatives once presented me with a pen-knife. I was showing it +to my friends, reflecting its pretty blades against the rays of the sun, +when one of them chimed in that the blades gleamed all right, but seemed +rather dull for cutting with. + +"Rather dull? See if they don't cut!" I retorted. + +"Cut your finger, then," he challenged. And with "Finger nothing! Here +goes!" I cut my thumb slant-wise. Fortunately the knife was small and +the bone of the thumb hard enough, so the thumb is still there, but the +scar will be there until my death. + +About twenty steps to the east edge of our garden, there was a +moderate-sized vegetable yard, rising toward the south, and in the +centre of which stood a chestnut tree which was dearer to me than life. +In the season when the chestnuts were ripe, I used to slip out of the +house from the back door early in the morning to pick up the chestnuts +which had fallen during the night, and eat them at the school. On the +west side of the vegetable yard was the adjoining garden of a pawn shop +called Yamashiro-ya. This shopkeeper's son was a boy about 13 or 14 +years old named Kantaro. Kantaro was, it happens, a mollycoddle. +Nevertheless he had the temerity to come over the fence to our yard and +steal my chestnuts. + +One certain evening I hid myself behind a folding-gate of the fence and +caught him in the act. Having his retreat cut off he grappled with me in +desperation. He was about two years older than I, and, though +weak-kneed, was physically the stronger. While I wallopped him, he +pushed his head against my breast and by chance it slipped inside my +sleeve. As this hindered the free action of my arm, I tried to shake him +loose, though, his head dangled the further inside, and being no longer +able to stand the stifling combat, he bit my bare arm. It was painful. I +held him fast against the fence, and by a dexterous foot twist sent him +down flat on his back. Kantaro broke the fence and as the ground +belonging to Yamashiro-ya was about six feet lower than the vegetable +yard, he fell headlong to his own territory with a thud. As he rolled +off he tore away the sleeve in which his head had been enwrapped, and my +arm recovered a sudden freedom of movement. That night when my mother +went to Yamashiro-ya to apologize, she brought back that sleeve. + +Besides the above, I did many other mischiefs. With Kaneko of a +carpenter shop and Kaku of a fishmarket, I once ruined a carrot patch of +one Mosaku. The sprouts were just shooting out and the patch was covered +with straws to ensure their even healthy growth. Upon this straw-covered +patch, we three wrestled for fully half a day, and consequently +thoroughly smashed all the sprouts. Also I once filled up a well which +watered some rice fields owned by one Furukawa, and he followed me with +kicks. The well was so devised that from a large bamboo pole, sunk deep +into the ground, the water issued and irrigated the rice fields. +Ignorant of the mechanical side of this irrigating method at that time, +I stuffed the bamboo pole with stones and sticks, and satisfied that no +more water came up, I returned home and was eating supper when Furukawa, +fiery red with anger, burst into our house with howling protests. I +believe the affair was settled on our paying for the damage. + +Father did not like me in the least, and mother always sided with my big +brother. This brother's face was palish white, and he had a fondness for +taking the part of an actress at the theatre. + +"This fellow will never amount to much," father used to remark when +he saw me. + +"He's so reckless that I worry about his future," I often heard mother +say of me. Exactly; I have never amounted to much. I am just as you see +me; no wonder my future used to cause anxiety to my mother. I am living +without becoming but a jailbird. + +Two or three days previous to my mother's death, I took it into my head +to turn a somersault in the kitchen, and painfully hit my ribs against +the corner of the stove. Mother was very angry at this and told me not +to show my face again, so I went to a relative to stay with. While +there, I received the news that my mother's illness had become very +serious, and that after all efforts for her recovery, she was dead. I +came home thinking that I should have behaved better if I had known the +conditions were so serious as that. Then that big brother of mine +denounced me as wanting in filial piety, and that I had caused her +untimely death. Mortified at this, I slapped his face, and thereupon +received a sound scolding from father. + +After the death of mother, I lived with father and brother. Father did +nothing, and always said "You're no good" to my face. What he meant by +"no good" I am yet to understand. A funny dad he was. My brother was to +be seen studying English hard, saying that he was going to be a +businessman. He was like a girl by nature, and so "sassy" that we two +were never on good terms, and had to fight it out about once every ten +days. When we played a chess game one day, he placed a chessman as a +"waiter,"--a cowardly tactic this,--and had hearty laugh on me by seeing +me in a fix. His manner was so trying that time that I banged a chessman +on his forehead which was injured a little bit and bled. He told all +about this to father, who said he would disinherit me. + +Then I gave up myself for lost, and expected to be really disinherited. +But our maid Kiyo, who had been with us for ten years or so, interceded +on my behalf, and tearfully apologized for me, and by her appeal my +father's wrath was softened. I did not regard him, however, as one to be +afraid of in any way, but rather felt sorry for our Kiyo. I had heard +that Kiyo was of a decent, well-to-do family, but being driven to +poverty at the time of the Restoration, had to work as a servant. So she +was an old woman by this time. This old woman,--by what affinity, as +the Buddhists say, I don't know,--loved me a great deal. Strange, +indeed! She was almost blindly fond of me,--me, whom mother, became +thoroughly disgusted with three days before her death; whom father +considered a most aggravating proposition all the year round, and whom +the neighbors cordially hated as the local bully among the youngsters. I +had long reconciled myself to the fact that my nature was far from being +attractive to others, and so didn't mind if I were treated as a piece of +wood; so I thought it uncommon that Kiyo should pet me like that. +Sometimes in the kitchen, when there was nobody around, she would praise +me saying that I was straightforward and of a good disposition. What she +meant by that exactly, was not clear to me, however. If I were of so +good a nature as she said, I imagined those other than Kiyo should +accord me a better treatment. So whenever Kiyo said to me anything of +the kind, I used to answer that I did not like passing compliments. Then +she would remark; "That's the very reason I say you are of a good +disposition," and would gaze at me with absorbing tenderness. She seemed +to recreate me by her own imagination, and was proud of the fact. I felt +even chilled through my marrow at her constant attention to me. + +After my mother was dead, Kiyo loved me still more. In my simple +reasoning, I wondered why she had taken such a fancy to me. Sometimes I +thought it quite futile on her part, that she had better quit that sort +of thing, which was bad for her. But she loved me just the same. Once +in, a while she would buy, out of her own pocket, some cakes or +sweetmeats for me. When the night was cold, she would secretly buy some +noodle powder, and bring all unawares hot noodle gruel to my bed; or +sometimes she would even buy a bowl of steaming noodles from the +peddler. Not only with edibles, but she was generous alike with socks, +pencils, note books, etc. And she even furnished me,--this happened some +time later,--with about three yen, I did not ask her for the money; she +offered it from her own good will by bringing it to my room, saying that +I might be in need of some cash. This, of course, embarrassed me, but as +she was so insistent I consented to borrow it. I confess I was really +glad of the money. I put it in a bag, and carried it in my pocket. While +about the house, I happened to drop the bag into a cesspool. Helpless, I +told Kiyo how I had lost the money, and at once she fetched a bamboo +stick, and said she will get it for me. After a while I heard a +splashing sound of water about our family well, and going there, saw +Kiyo washing the bag strung on the end of the stick. I opened the bag +and found the edict of the three one-yen bills turned to faint yellow +and designs fading. Kiyo dried them at an open fire and handed them over +to me, asking if they were all right. I smelled them and said; "They +stink yet." + +"Give them to me; I'll get them changed." She took those three bills, +and,--I do not know how she went about it,--brought three yen in silver. +I forget now upon what I spent the three yen. "I'll pay you back soon," +I said at the time, but didn't. I could not now pay it back even if I +wished to do so with ten times the amount. + +When Kiyo gave me anything she did so always when both father and +brother were out. Many things I do not like, but what I most detest is +the monopolizing of favors behind some one else's back. Bad as my +relations were with my brother, still I did not feel justified in +accepting candies or color-pencils from Kiyo without my brother's +knowledge. "Why do you give those things only to me and not to my +brother also?" I asked her once, and she answered quite unconcernedly +that my brother may be left to himself as his father bought him +everything. That was partiality; father was obstinate, but I am sure he +was not a man who would indulge in favoritism. To Kiyo, however, he +might have looked that way. There is no doubt that Kiyo was blind to the +extent of her undue indulgence with me. She was said to have come from a +well-to-do family, but the poor soul was uneducated, and it could not be +helped. All the same, you cannot tell how prejudice will drive one to +the extremes. Kiyo seemed quite sure that some day I would achieve high +position in society and become famous. Equally she was sure that my +brother, who was spending his hours studiously, was only good for his +white skin, and would stand no show in the future. Nothing can beat an +old woman for this sort of thing, I tell you. She firmly believed that +whoever she liked would become famous, while whoever she hated would +not. I did not have at that time any particular object in my life. But +the persistency with which Kiyo declared that I would be a great man +some day, made me speculate myself that after all I might become one. +How absurd it seems to me now when I recall those days. I asked her once +what kind of a man I should be, but she seemed to have formed no +concrete idea as to that; only she said that I was sure to live in a +house with grand entrance hall, and ride in a private rikisha. + +And Kiyo seemed to have decided for herself to live with me when I +became independent and occupy my own house. "Please let me live with +you,"--she repeatedly asked of me. Feeling somewhat that I should +eventually be able to own a house, I answered her "Yes," as far as such +an answer went. This woman, by the way, was strongly imaginative. She +questioned me what place I liked,--Kojimachi-ku or Azabu-ku?--and +suggested that I should have a swing in our garden, that one room be +enough for European style, etc., planning everything to suit her own +fancy. I did not then care a straw for anything like a house; so neither +Japanese nor European style was much of use to me, and I told her to +that effect. Then she would praise me as uncovetous and clean of heart. +Whatever I said, she had praise for me. + +I lived, after the death of mother, in this fashion for five or six +years. I had kicks from father, had rows with brother, and had candies +and praise from Kiyo. I cared for nothing more; I thought this was +enough. I imagined all other boys were leading about the same kind of +life. As Kiyo frequently told me, however, that I was to be pitied, and +was unfortunate, I imagined that that might be so. There was nothing +that particularly worried me except that father was too tight with my +pocket money, and this was rather hard on me. + +In January of the 6th year after mother's death, father died of +apoplexy. In April of the same year, I graduated from a middle school, +and two months later, my brother graduated from a business college. Soon +he obtained a job in the Kyushu branch of a certain firm and had to go +there, while I had to remain in Tokyo and continue my study. He proposed +the sale of our house and the realization of our property, to which I +answered "Just as you like it." I had no intention of depending upon him +anyway. Even were he to look after me, I was sure of his starting +something which would eventually end in a smash-up as we were prone to +quarrel on the least pretext. It was because in order to receive his +protection that I should have to bow before such a fellow, that I +resolved that I would live by myself even if I had to do milk delivery. +Shortly afterwards he sent for a second-hand dealer and sold for a song +all the bric-a-bric which had been handed down from ages ago in our +family. Our house and lot were sold, through the efforts of a middleman +to a wealthy person. This transaction seemed to have netted a goodly sum +to him, but I know nothing as to the detail. + +For one month previous to this, I had been rooming in a boarding house +in Kanda-ku, pending a decision as to my future course. Kiyo was greatly +grieved to see the house in which she had lived so many years change +ownership, but she was helpless in the matter. + +"If you were a little older, you might have inherited this house," she +once remarked in earnest. + +If I could have inherited the house through being a little older, I +ought to have been able to inherit the house right then. She knew +nothing, and believed the lack of age only prevented my coming into the +possession of the house. + +Thus I parted from my brother, but the disposal of Kiyo was a difficult +proposition. My brother was, of course, unable to take her along, nor +was there any danger of her following him so far away as Kyushu, while I +was in a small room of a boarding house, and might have to clear out +anytime at that. There was no way out, so I asked her if she intended to +work somewhere else. Finally she answered me definitely that she would +go to her nephew's and wait until I started my own house and get +married. This nephew was a clerk in the Court of Justice, and being +fairly well off, had invited Kiyo before more than once to come and live +with him, but Kiyo preferred to stay with us, even as a servant, since +she had become well used to our family. But now I think she thought it +better to go over to her nephew than to start a new life as servant in a +strange house. Be that as it may, she advised me to have my own +household soon, or get married, so she would come and help me in +housekeeping. I believe she liked me more than she did her own kin. + +My brother came to me, two days previous to his departure for Kyushu, +and giving me 600 yen, said that I might begin a business with it, or go +ahead with my study, or spend it in any way I liked, but that that would +be the last he could spare. It was a commendable act for my brother. +What! about only 600 yen! I could get along without it, I thought, but +as this unusually simple manner appealed to me, I accepted the offer +with thanks. Then he produced 50 yen, requesting me to give it to Kiyo +next time I saw her, which I readily complied with. Two days after, I +saw him off at the Shimbashi Station, and have not set my eyes on him +ever since. + +Lying in my bed, I meditated on the best way to spend that 600 yen. A +business is fraught with too much trouble, and besides it was not my +calling. Moreover with only 600 yen no one could open a business worth +the name. Were I even able to do it, I was far from being educated, and +after all, would lose it. Better let investments alone, but study more +with the money. Dividing the 600 yen into three, and by spending 200 yen +a year, I could study for three years. If I kept at one study with +bull-dog tenacity for three years, I should be able to learn something. +Then the selection of a school was the next problem. By nature, there is +no branch of study whatever which appeals to my taste. Nix on languages +or literature! The new poetry was all Greek to me; I could not make out +one single line of twenty. Since I detested every kind of study, any +kind of study should have been the same to me. Thinking thus, I happened +to pass front of a school of physics, and seeing a sign posted for the +admittance of more students, I thought this might be a kind of +"affinity," and having asked for the prospectus, at once filed my +application for entrance. When I think of it now, it was a blunder due +to my hereditary recklessness. + +For three years I studied about as diligently as ordinary fellows, but +not being of a particularly brilliant quality, my standing in the class +was easier to find by looking up from the bottom. Strange, isn't it, +that when three years were over, I graduated? I had to laugh at myself, +but there being no reason for complaint, I passed out. + +Eight days after my graduation, the principal of the school asked me to +come over and see him. I wondered what he wanted, and went. A middle +school in Shikoku was in need of a teacher of mathematics for forty yen +a month, and he sounded me to see if I would take it. I had studied for +three years, but to tell the truth, I had no intention of either +teaching or going to the country. Having nothing in sight, however, +except teaching, I readily accepted the offer. This too was a blunder +due to hereditary recklessness. + +I accepted the position, and so must go there. The three years of my +school life I had seen confined in a small room, but with no kick coming +or having no rough house. It was a comparatively easy going period in my +life. But now I had to pack up. Once I went to Kamakura on a picnic with +my classmates while I was in the grammar school, and that was the first +and last, so far, that I stepped outside of Tokyo since I could +remember. This time I must go darn far away, that it beats Kamakura by a +mile. The prospective town is situated on the coast, and looked the size +of a needle-point on the map. It would not be much to look at anyway. I +knew nothing about the place or the people there. It did not worry me or +cause any anxiety. I had simply to travel there and that was the +annoying part. + +Once in a while, since our house was no more, I went to Kiyo's +nephew's to see her. Her nephew was unusually good-natured, and +whenever I called upon her, he treated me well if he happened to be at +home. Kiyo would boost me sky-high to her nephew right to my face. She +went so far once as to say that when I had graduated from school, I +would purchase a house somewhere in Kojimachi-ku and get a position in +a government office. She decided everything in her own way, and talked +of it aloud, and I was made an unwilling and bashful listener. I do +not know how her nephew weighed her tales of self-indulgence on me. +Kiyo was a woman of the old type, and seemed, as if it was still the +days of Feudal Lords, to regard her nephew equally under obligation to +me even as she was herself. + +After settling about my new position, I called upon her three days +previous to my departure. She was sick abed in a small room, but, on +seeing me she got up and immediately inquired; + +"Master Darling, when do you begin housekeeping?" + +She evidently thought as soon as a fellow finishes school, money comes +to his pocket by itself. But then how absurd to call such a "great man" +"Darling." I told her simply that I should let the house proposition go +for some time, as I had to go to the country. She looked greatly +disappointed, and blankly smoothed her gray-haired sidelocks. I felt +sorry for her, and said comfortingly; "I am going away but will come +back soon. I'll return in the vacation next summer, sure." Still as she +appeared not fully satisfied, I added; + +"Will bring you back a surprise. What do you like?" + +She wished to eat "sasa-ame"[1] of Echigo province. I had never heard of +"sasa-ame" of Echigo. To begin with, the location is entirely different. + +[Footnote 1: Sasa-ame is a kind of rice-jelly wrapped with sasa, or the +bamboo leaves, well-known as a product of Echigo province.] + +"There seems to be no 'sasa-ame' in the country where I'm going," I +explained, and she rejoined; "Then, in what direction?" I answered +"westward" and she came back with "Is it on the other side of Hakone?" +This give-and-take conversation proved too much for me. + +On the day of my departure, she came to my room early in the morning and +helped me to pack up. She put into my carpet-bag tooth powder, +tooth-brush and towels which she said she had bought at a dry goods +store on her way. I protested that I did not want them, but she was +insistent.[A] We rode in rikishas to the station. Coming up the +platform, she gazed at me from outside the car, and said in a low voice; + +"This may be our last good-by. Take care of yourself." + +Her eyes were full of tears. I did not cry, but was almost going to. +After the train had run some distance, thinking it would be all right +now, I poked my head out of the window and looked back. She was still +there. She looked very small. + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +With a long, sonorous whistle the steamer which I was aboard came to a +standstill, and a boat was seen making toward us from the shore. The man +rowing the boat was stark naked, except for a piece of red cloth girt +round his loins. A barbarous place, this! though he may have been +excused for it in such hot weather as it was. The sun's rays were strong +and the water glimmered in such strange colors as to dazzle one's sight +if gazed at it for long. I had been told by a clerk of the ship that I +was to get off here. The place looked like a fishing village about the +size of Omori. Great Scott! I wouldn't stay in such a hole, I thought, +but I had to get out. So, down I jumped first into the boat, and I think +five or six others followed me. After loading about four large boxes +besides, the red-cloth rowed us ashore. When the boat struck the sand, I +was again the first to jump out, and right away I accosted a skinny +urchin standing nearby, asking him where the middle school was. The kid +answered blankly that he did not know. Confound the dull-head! Not to +know where the middle school was, living in such a tiny bit of a town. +Then a man wearing a rig with short, queer shaped sleeves approached me +and bade me follow. I walked after him and was taken to an inn called +Minato-ya. The maids of the inn, who gave me a disagreeable impression, +chorused at sight of me; "Please step inside." This discouraged me in +proceeding further, and I asked them, standing at the door-way, to show +me the middle school. On being told that the middle school was about +four miles away by rail, I became still more discouraged at putting up +there. I snatched my two valises from the man with queer-shaped [B] +sleeves who had guided me so far, and strode away. The people of the inn +looked after me with a dazed expression. + +The station was easily found, and a ticket bought without any fuss. The +coach I got in was about as dignified as a match-box. The train rambled +on for about five minutes, and then I had to get off. No wonder the fare +was cheap; it cost only three sen. I then hired a rikisha and arrived at +the middle school, but school was already over and nobody was there. The +teacher on night-duty was out just for a while, said the janitor,--the +night-watch was taking life easy, sure. I thought of visiting the +principal, but being tired, ordered the rikishaman to take me to a +hotel. He did this with much alacrity and led me to a hotel called +Yamashiro-ya. I felt it rather amusing to find the name Yamashiro-ya the +same as that of Kantaro's house. + +They ushered me to a dark room below the stairway. No one could stay in +such a hot place! I said I did not like such a warm room, but the maid +dumped my valises on the floor and left me, mumbling that all the other +rooms were occupied. So I took the room though it took some resolution +to stand the weltering heat. After a while the maid said the bath was +ready, and I took one: On my way back from the bathroom, I peeped about, +and found many rooms, which looked much cooler than mine, vacant. +Sunnovagun! They had lied. By'm-by, she fetched my supper. Although the +room was hot, the meal was a deal better than the kind I used to have in +my boarding house. While waiting on me, she questioned me where I was +from, and I said, "from Tokyo." Then she asked; "Isn't Tokyo a nice +place?" and I shot back, "Bet 'tis." About the time the maid had reached +the kitchen, loud laughs were heard. There was nothing doing, so I went +to bed, but could not sleep. Not only was it hot, but noisy,--about five +times noisier than my boarding house. While snoozing, I dreamed of Kiyo. +She was eating "sasa-ame" of Echigo province without taking off the +wrapper of bamboo leaves. I tried to stop her, saying bamboo leaves may +do her harm, but she replied, "O, no, these leaves are very helpful for +the health," and ate them with much relish. Astounded, I laughed "Ha, +ha, ha!"--and so awoke. The maid was opening the outside shutters. The +weather was just as clear as the previous day. + +I had heard once before that when travelling, one should give "tea +money" to the hotel or inn where he stops; that unless this "tea +money" is given, the hostelry would accord him rather rough treatment. +It must have been on account of my being slow in the fork over of this +"tea money" that they had huddled me into such a narrow, dark room. +Likewise my shabby clothes and the carpet bags and satin umbrella must +have been accountable for it. Took me for a piker, eh? those hayseeds! +I would give them a knocker with "tea money." I left Tokyo with about +30 yen in my pocket, which remained from my school expenses. Taking +off the railway and steamship fare, and other incidental expenses, I +had still about 14 yen in my pocket. I could give them all I +had;--what did I care, I was going to get a salary now. All country +folk are tight-wads, and one 5-yen bill would hit them square. Now +watch and see. Having washed myself, I returned to my room and waited, +and the maid of the night before brought in my breakfast. Waiting on +me with a tray, she looked at me with a sort of sulphuric smile. Rude! +Is any parade marching on my face? I should say. Even my face is far +better than that of the maid. I intended of giving "tea money" after +breakfast, but I became disgusted, and taking out one 5-yen bill told +her to take it to the office later. The face of the maid became then +shy and awkward. After the meal, I left for the school. The maid did +not have my shoes polished. + +I had had vague idea of the direction of the school as I rode to it the +previous day, so turning two or three corners, I came to the front gate. +From the gate to the entrance the walk was paved with granite. When I +had passed to the entrance in the rikisha, this walk made so +outlandishly a loud noise that I had felt coy. On my way to the school, +I met a number of the students in uniforms of cotton drill and they all +entered this gate. Some of them were taller than I and looked much +stronger. When I thought of teaching fellows of this ilk, I was +impressed with a queer sort of uneasiness. My card was taken to the +principal, to whose room I was ushered at once. With scant mustache, +dark-skinned and big-eyed, the principal was a man who looked like a +badger. He studiously assumed an air of superiority, and saying he would +like to see me do my best, handed the note of appointment, stamped big, +in a solemn manner. This note I threw away into the sea on my way back +to Tokyo. He said he would introduce me to all my fellow teachers, and I +was to show to each one of them the note of appointment. What a bother! +It would be far better to stick this note up in the teachers' room for +three days instead of going through such a monkey process. + +The teachers would not be all in the room until the bugle for the first +hour was sounded. There was plenty of time. The principal took out his +watch, and saying that he would acquaint me particularly with the school +by-and-bye, he would only furnish me now with general matters, and +started a long lecture on the spirit of education. For a while I +listened to him with my mind half away somewhere else, but about half +way through his lecture, I began to realize that I should soon be in a +bad fix. I could not do, by any means, all he expected of me. He +expected that I should make myself an example to the students, should +become an object of admiration for the whole school or should exert my +moral influence, besides teaching technical knowledge in order to +become a real educator, or something ridiculously high-sounding. No man +with such admirable qualities would come so far away for only 40 yen a +month! Men are generally alike. If one gets excited, one is liable to +fight, I thought, but if things are to be kept on in the way the +principal says, I could hardly open my mouth to utter anything, nor take +a stroll around the place. If they wanted me to fill such an onerous +post, they should have told all that before. I hate to tell a lie; I +would give it up as having been cheated, and get out of this mess like a +man there and then. I had only about 9 yen left in my pocket after +tipping the hotel 5 yen. Nine yen would not take me back to Tokyo. I had +better not have tipped the hotel; what a pity! However, I would be able +to manage it somehow. I considered it better to run short in my return +expenses than to tell a lie. + +"I cannot do it the way you want me to. I return this appointment." + +I shoved back the note. The principal winked his badger-like eyes and +gazed at me. Then he said; + +"What I have said just now is what I desire of you. I know well that you +cannot do all I want, So don't worry." + +And he laughed. If he knew it so well already, what on earth did he +scare me for? + +Meanwhile the bugle sounded, being followed by bustling noises in the +direction of the class rooms. All the teachers would be now ready, I was +told, and I followed the principal to the teachers' room. In a spacious +rectangular room, they sat each before a table lined along the walls. +When I entered the room, they all glanced at me as if by previous +agreement. Did they think my face was for a show? Then, as per +instructions, I introduced myself and showed the note to each one of +them. Most of them left their chairs and made a slight bow of +acknowledgment. But some of the more painfully polite took the note and +read it and respectfully returned it to me, just like the cheap +performances at a rural show! When I came to the fifteenth, who was the +teacher of physical training, I became impatient at repeating the same +old thing so often. The other side had to do it only once, but my side +had to do it fifteen times. They ought to have had some sympathy. + +Among those I met in the room there was Mr. Blank who was head teacher. +Said he was a Bachelor of Arts. I suppose he was a great man since he +was a graduate from Imperial University and had such a title. He talked +in a strangely effeminate voice like a woman. But what surprised me most +was that he wore a flannel shirt. However thin it might be, flannel is +flannel and must have been pretty warm at that time of the year. What +painstaking dress is required which will be becoming to a B.A.! And it +was a red shirt; wouldn't that kill you! I heard afterwards that he +wears a red shirt all the year round. What a strange affliction! +According to his own explanation, he has his shirts made to order for +the sake of his health as the red color is beneficial to the physical +condition. Unnecessary worry, this, for that being the case, he should +have had his coat and hakama also in red. And there was one Mr. Koga, +teacher of English, whose complexion was very pale. Pale-faced people +are usually thin, but this man was pale and fat. When I was attending +grammar school, there was one Tami Asai in our class, and his father was +just as pale as this Koga. Asai was a farmer, and I asked Kiyo if one's +face would become pale if he took up farming. Kiyo said it was not so; +Asai ate always Hubbard squash of "uranari" [2] and that was the reason. +Thereafter when I saw any man pale and fat, I took it for granted that +it was the result of his having eaten too much of squash of "uranari." +This English teacher was surely subsisting upon squash. However, what +the meaning of "uranari" is, I do not know. I asked Kiyo once, but she +only laughed. Probably she did not know. Among the teachers of +mathematics, there was one named Hotta. This was a fellow of massive +body, with hair closely cropped. He looked like one of the old-time +devilish priests who made the Eizan temple famous. I showed him the note +politely, but he did not even look at it, and blurted out; + +"You're the man newly appointed, eh? Come and see me sometime, +ha, ha, ha!" + +[Footnote 2: Means the last crop.] + +Devil take his "Ha, ha, ha!" Who would go to see a fellow so void of the +sense of common decency! I gave this priest from this time the nickname +of Porcupine. + +The Confucian teacher was strict in his manner as becoming to his +profession. "Arrived yesterday? You must be tired. Start teaching +already? Working hard, indeed!"--and so on. He was an old man, quite +sociable and talkative. + +The teacher of drawing was altogether like a cheap actor. He wore a +thin, flappy haori of sukiya, and, toying with a fan, he giggled; "Where +from? eh? Tokyo? Glad to hear that. You make another of our group. I'm a +Tokyo kid myself." + +If such a fellow prided himself on being a Tokyo kid, I wished I had +never been born in Tokyo. I might go on writing about each one of +them, for there are many, but I stop here otherwise there will be no +end to it. + +When my formal introduction was over, the principal said that I might go +for the day, but I should make arrangements as to the class hours, etc., +with the head teacher of mathematics and begin teaching from the day +after the morrow. Asked who was the head teacher of mathematics, I found +that he was no other than that Porcupine. Holy smokes! was I to serve +under him? I was disappointed. + +"Say, where are you stopping? Yamashiro-ya? Well, I'll come and +talk it over." + +So saying, Porcupine, chalk in hand, left the room to his class. That +was rather humiliating for a head-teacher to come over and see his +subordinate, but it was better than to call me over to him. + +After leaving the school, I thought of returning straight to the hotel, +but as there was nothing to do, I decided to take in a little of the +town, and started walking about following my nose. I saw prefectural +building; it was an old structure of the last century. Also I saw the +barracks; they were less imposing than those of the Azabu Regiment, +Tokyo. I passed through the main street. The width of the street is +about one half that of Kagurazaka, and its aspect is inferior. What +about a castle-town of 250,000-koku Lord! Pity the fellows who get +swell-headed in such a place as a castle-town! + +While I walked about musing like this, I found myself in front of +Yamashiro-ya. The town was much narrower than I had been led to believe. + +"I think I have seen nearly all. Guess I'll return and eat." And I +entered the gate. The mistress of the hotel who was sitting at the +counter, jumped out of her place at my appearance and with "Are you +back, Sire!" scraped the floor with her forehead. When I took my shoes +off and stepped inside, the maid took me to an upstairs room that had +became vacant. It was a front room of 15 mats (about 90 square feet). I +had never before lived in so splendid a room as this. As it was quite +uncertain when I should again be able to occupy such a room in future, I +took off my European dress, and with only a single Japanese summer coat +on, sprawled in the centre of the room in the shape of the Japanese +letter "big" (arms stretched out and legs spread wide[D]). I found it +very refreshing. + +After luncheon I at once wrote a letter to Kiyo. I hate most to write +letters because I am poor at sentence-making and also poor in my stock +of words. Neither did I have any place to which to address my letters. +However, Kiyo might be getting anxious. It would not do to let her worry +lest she think the steamer which I boarded had been wrecked and I was +drowned,--so I braced up and wrote a long one. The body of the letter +was as follows: + + "Arrived yesterday. A dull place. Am sleeping in a room of 15 mats. + Tipped the hotel five yen as tea money. The house-wife of the hotel + scraped the floor with her forehead. Couldn't sleep last night. + Dreamed Kiyo eat sasa-ame together with the bamboo-leaf wrappers. Will + return next summer. Went to the school to-day, and nicknamed all the + fellows. 'Badger' for the principal, 'Red Shirt' for the head-teacher, + 'Hubbard Squash' for the teacher of English, 'Porcupine' the teacher + of mathematics and 'Clown' for that of drawing. Will write you many + other things soon. Good bye." + +When I finished writing the letter, I felt better and sleepy. So I slept +in the centre of the room, as I had done before, in the letter "big" +shape ([D]). No dream this time, and I had a sound sleep. + +"Is this the room?"--a loud voice was heard,--a voice which woke me up, +and Porcupine entered. + +"How do you do? What you have to do in the school----" he began talking +shop as soon as I got up and rattled me much. On learning my duties in +the school, there seemed to be no difficulty, and I decided to accept. +If only such were what was expected of me, I would not be surprised were +I told to start not only two days hence but even from the following day. +The talk on business over, Porcupine said that he did not think it was +my intention to stay in such a hotel all the time, that he would find a +room for me in a good boarding house, and that I should move. + +"They wouldn't take in another from anybody else but I can do it +right away. The sooner the better. Go and look at the room to-day, +move tomorrow and start teaching from the next day. That'll be all +nice and settled." + +He seemed satisfied by arranging all by himself. Indeed, I should not be +able to occupy such a room for long. I might have to blow in all of my +salary for the hotel bill and yet be short of squaring it. It was pity +to leave the hotel so soon after I had just shone with a 5-yen tip. +However, it being decidedly convenient to move and get settled early if +I had to move at all, I asked Porcupine to get that room for me. He told +me then to come over with him and see the house at any rate, and I did. +The house was situated mid-way up a hill at the end of the town, and was +a quiet. The boss was said to be a dealer in antique curios, called +Ikagin, and his wife was about four years his senior. I learned the +English word "witch" when I was in middle school, and this woman looked +exactly like one. But as she was another man's wife, what did I care if +she was a witch. Finally I decided to live in the house from the next +day. On our way back Porcupine treated me to a cup of ice-water. When I +first met him in the school, I thought him a disgustingly overbearing +fellow, but judging by the way he had looked after me so far, he +appeared not so bad after all. Only he seemed, like me, impatient by +nature and of quick-temper. I heard afterward that he was liked most by +all the students in the school. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +My teaching began at last. When I entered the class-room and stepped +upon the platform for the first time, I felt somewhat strange. While +lecturing, I wondered if a fellow like me could keep up the profession +of public instructor. The students were noisy. Once in a while, they +would holler "Teacher!" "Teacher,"--it was "going some." I had been +calling others "teacher" every day so far, in the school of physics, but +in calling others "teacher" and being called one, there is a wide gap of +difference. It made me feel as if some one was tickling my soles. I am +not a sneakish fellow, nor a coward; only--it's a pity--I lack audacity. +If one calls me "teacher" aloud, it gives me a shock similar to that of +hearing the noon-gun in Marunouchi when I was hungry. The first hour +passed away in a dashing manner. And it passed away without encountering +any knotty questions. As I returned to the teachers' room, Porcupine +asked me how it was. I simply answered "well," and he seemed satisfied. + +When I left the teachers' room, chalk in hand, for the second hour +class, I felt as if I was invading the enemy's territory. On entering +the room, I found the students for this hour were all big fellows. I am +a Tokyo kid, delicately built and small, and did not appear very +impressive even in my elevated position. If it comes to a scraping, I +can hold my own even with wrestlers, but I had no means of appearing +awe-inspiring[E], merely by the aid of my tongue, to so many as forty +such big chaps before me. Believing, however, that it would set a bad +precedent to show these country fellows any weakness, I lectured rather +loudly and in brusque tone. During the first part the students were +taken aback and listened literally with their mouths open. "That's one +on you!" I thought. Elated by my success, I kept on in this tone, when +one who looked the strongest, sitting in the middle of the front row, +stood up suddenly, and called "Teacher!" There it goes!--I thought, and +asked him what it was. + +"A-ah sa-ay, you talk too quick. A-ah ca-an't you make it a leetle slow? +A-ah?" "A-ah ca-an't you?" "A-ah?" was altogether dull. + +"If I talk too fast, I'll make it slow, but I'm a Tokyo fellow, and +can't talk the way you do. If you don't understand it, better wait +until you do." + +So I answered him. In this way the second hour was closed better than I +had expected. Only, as I was about to leave the class, one of the +students asked me, "A-ah say, won't you please do them for me?" and +showed me some problems in geometry which I was sure I could not solve. +This proved to be somewhat a damper on me. But, helpless, I told him I +could not make them out, and telling him that I would show him how next +time, hastily got out of the room. And all of them raised "Whee--ee!" +Some of them were heard saying "He doesn't know much." Don't take a +teacher for an encyclopaedia! If I could work out such hard questions as +these easily, I would not be in such a backwoods town for forty yen a +month. I returned to the teachers' room. + +"How was it this time?" asked Porcupine. I said "Umh." But not satisfied +with "Umh" only, I added that all the students in this school were +boneheads. He put up a whimsical face. + +The third and the fourth hour and the first hour in the afternoon were +more or less the same. In all the classes I attended, I made some kind +of blunder. I realised that the profession of teaching not quite so easy +a calling as might have appeared. My teaching for the day was finished +but I could not get away. I had to wait alone until three o'clock. I +understood that at three o'clock the students of my classes would finish +cleaning up the rooms and report to me, whereupon I would go over the +rooms. Then I would run through the students' roll, and then be free to +go home. Outrageous, indeed, to keep on chained to the school, staring +at the empty space when he had nothing more to do, even though he was +"bought" by a salary! Other fellow teachers, however, meekly submitted +to the regulation, and believing it not well for me,--a new comer--to +fuss about it, I stood it. On my way home, I appealed to Porcupine as to +the absurdity of keeping me there till three o'clock regardless of my +having nothing to do in the school. He said "Yes" and laughed. But he +became serious and in an advisory manner told me not to make many +complaints about the school. + +"Talk to me only, if you want to. There are some queer guys around." + +As we parted at the next corner, I did not have time to hear more from +him. + +On reaching my room, the boss of the house came to me saying, "Let me +serve you tea." I expected he was going to treat me to some good tea +since he said "Let me serve you," but he simply made himself at home +and drank my own tea. Judging by this, I thought he might be +practising "Let me serve you" during my absence. The boss said that he +was fond of antique drawings and curios and finally had decided to +start in that business. + +"You look like one quite taken about art. Suppose you begin patronizing +my business just for fun as er--connoisseur of art?" + +It was the least expected kind of solicitation. Two years ago, I went to +the Imperial Hotel (Tokyo) on an errand, and I was taken for a +locksmith. When I went to see the Daibutsu at Kamakura, haying wrapped +up myself from head to toe with a blanket, a rikisha man addressed me as +"Gov'ner." I have been mistaken on many occasions for as many things, +but none so far has counted on me as a probable connoisseur of art. One +should know better by my appearance. Any one who aspires to be a patron +of art is usually pictured,--you may see in any drawing,--with either a +hood on his head, or carrying a tanzaku[3] in his hand. The fellow who +calls me a connoisseur of art and pretends to mean it, may be surely as +crooked as a dog's hind legs. I told him I did not like such art-stuff, +which is usually favored by retired people. He laughed, and remarking +that that nobody liked it at first, but once in it, will find it so +fascinating that he will hardly get over it, served tea for himself and +drank it in a grotesque manner. I may say that I had asked him the night +before to buy some tea for me, but I did not like such a bitter, heavy +kind. One swallow seemed to act right on my stomach. I told him to buy a +kind not so bitter as that, and he answered "All right, Sir," and drank +another cup. The fellow seemed never to know of having enough of +anything so long as it was another man's. After he left the room, I +prepared for the morrow and went to bed. + +[Footnote 3: A tanzaku is a long, narrow strip of stiff paper on which a +Japanese poem is written.] + +Everyday thereafter I attended at the school and worked as per +regulations. Every day on my return, the boss came to my room with the +same old "Let me serve you tea." In about a week I understood the school +in a general way, and had my own idea as to the personality of the boss +and his wife. I heard from one of my fellow teachers that the first week +to one month after the receipt of the appointment worried them most as +to whether they had been favorably received among the students. I never +felt anything on that score. Blunders in the class room once in a while +caused me chagrin, but in about half an hour everything would clear out +of my head. I am a fellow who, by nature, can't be worrying long +about[F] anything even if I try to. I was absolutely indifferent as how +my blunders in the class room affected the students, or how much further +they affected the principal or the head-teacher. As I mentioned before, +I am not a fellow of much audacity to speak of, but I am quick to give +up anything when I see its finish. + +I had resolved to go elsewhere at once if the school did not suit me. In +consequence, neither Badger nor Red Shirt wielded any influence over me. +And still less did I feel like coaxing or coddling the youngsters in the +class room. + +So far it was O.K. with the school, but not so easy as that at my +boarding house. I could have stood it if it had been only the boss +coming to my room after my tea. But he would fetch many things to my +room. First time he brought in seals.[4] He displayed about ten of them +before me and persuaded me to buy them for three yen, which was very +cheap, he said. Did he take me for a third rate painter making a round +of the country? I told him I did not want them. Next time he brought in +a panel picture of flowers and birds, drawn by one Kazan or somebody. He +hung it against the wall of the alcove and asked me if it was not well +done, and I echoed it looked well done. Then he started lecturing about +Kazan, that there are two Kazans, one is Kazan something and the other +is Kazan anything, and that this picture was the work of that Kazan +something. After this nonsensical lecture, he insisted that he would +make it fifteen yen for me to buy it. I declined the offer saying that I +was shy of the money. + +[Footnote 4: Artists have several seals of stone with which to stamp on +the picture they draw as a guarantee of their personal work or for +identification. The shape and kind of seals are quite a hobby among +artists, and sales or exchange are of common occurrence.] + +"You can pay any time." He was insistent. I settled him by telling him +of my having no intention of purchasing it even if I had the necessary +money. Again next time, he yanked in a big writing stone slab about the +size of a ridge-tile. + +"This is a tankei,"[5] he said. As he "tankeied" two or three times, I +asked for fun what was a tankei. Right away he commenced lecturing on +the subject. "There are the upper, the middle and the lower stratum in +tankei," he said. "Most of tankei slabs to-day are made from the upper +stratum," he continued, "but this one is surely from the middle +stratum. Look at this 'gan.'[6] 'Tis certainly rare to have three +'gans' like this. The ink-cake grates smoothly on it. Try it, +sir,"--and he pushed it towards me. I asked him how much, and he +answered that on account of its owner having brought it from China and +wishing to sell if as soon as possible, he would make it very cheap, +that I could have it for thirty yen. I was sure he was a fool. I seemed +to be able to get through the school somehow, but I would soon give out +if this "curio siege" kept on long. + +[Footnote 5: Tankei is the name of a place in China where a certain kind +of stone suitable for writing purposes was produced.] + +[Footnote 6: "Gan" may be understood as a kind of natural mark on the +stone peculiar to the stone from Tankei.] + +Shortly afterwards, I began to get sick of the school. One certain +night, while I was strolling about a street named Omachi, I happened to +notice a sign of noodles below of which was annotated "Tokyo" in the +house next to the post office. I am very fond of noodles. While I was in +Tokyo, if I passed by a noodle house and smelled the seasoning spices, I +felt uncontrollable temptation to go inside at any cost. Up to this time +I had forgotten the noodle on account of mathematics and antique curios, +but since I had seen thus the sign of noodles, I could hardly pass it by +unnoticed. So availing myself of this opportunity, I went in. It was not +quite up to what I had judged by the sign. Since it claimed to follow +the Tokyo style, they should have tidied up a little bit about the room. +They did not either know Tokyo or have the means,--I did not know which, +but the room was miserably dirty. The floor-mats had all seen better +days and felt shaggy with sandy dust. The sootcovered walls defied the +blackest black. The ceiling was not only smoked by the lamp black, but +was so low as to force one involuntarily bend down his neck. Only the +price-list, on which was glaringly written "Noodles" and which was +pasted on the wall, was entirely new. I was certain that they bought an +old house and opened the business just two or three days before. At the +head of the price-list appeared "tempura" (noodles served with shrimp +fried in batter). + +"Say, fetch me some tempura," I ordered in a loud voice. Then three +fellows who had been making a chewing noise together in a corner, looked +in my direction. As the room was dark I did not notice them at first. +But when we looked at each other, I found them all to be boys in our +school. They "how d'ye do'd" me and I acknowledged it. That night, +having come across the noodle after so long a time, it tasted so fine +that I ate four bowls. + +The next day as I entered the class room quite unconcernedly, I saw on +the black board written in letters so large as to take up the whole +space; "Professor Tempura." The boys all glanced at my face and made +merry hee-haws at my cost. It was so absurd that I asked them if it was +in any way funny for me to eat tempura noodle. Thereupon one of them +said,--"But four bowls is too much." What did they care if I ate four +bowls or five as long as I paid it with my own money,--and speedily +finishing up my class, I returned to the teachers' room. After ten +minutes' recess, I went to the next class, and there on the black board +was newly written quite as large as before; "Four bowls of tempura +noodles, but don't laugh." + +The first one did not arouse any ill-temper in me, but this time it made +me feel irritating mad. A joke carried too far becomes mischievous. It +is like the undue jealousy of some women who, like coal, look black and +suggest flames. Nobody likes it. These country simpletons, unable to +differentiate upon so delicate a boundary, would seem to be bent on +pushing everything to the limit. As they lived in such a narrow town +where one has no more to see if he goes on strolling about for one hour, +and as they were capable of doing nothing better, they were trumpeting +aloud this tempura incident in quite as serious a manner as the +Russo-Japanese war. What a bunch of miserable pups! It is because they +are raised in this fashion from their boyhood that there are many punies +who, like the dwarf maple tree in the flower pot, mature gnarled and +twisted. I have no objection to laugh myself with others over innocent +jokes. But how's this? Boys as they are, they showed a "poisonous +temper." Silently erasing off "tempura" from the board, I questioned +them if they thought such mischief interesting, that this was a cowardly +joke and if they knew the meaning of "cowardice." Some of them answered +that to get angry on being laughed at over one's own doing, was +cowardice. What made them so disgusting as this? I pitied myself for +coming from far off Tokyo to teach such a lot. + +"Keep your mouth shut, and study hard," I snapped, and started the +class. In the next class again there was written: "When one eats tempura +noodles it makes him drawl nonsense." There seemed no end to it. I was +thoroughly aroused with anger, and declaring that I would not teach such +sassies, went home straight. The boys were glad of having an unexpected +holiday, so I heard. When things had come to this pass, the antique +curious seemed far more preferable to the school. + +My return home and sleep over night greatly rounded off my rugged temper +over the tempura affair. I went to the school, and they were there also. +I could not tell what was what. The three days thereafter were pacific, +and on the night of the fourth day, I went to a suburb called Sumida and +ate "dango" (small balls made of glutinous rice, dressed with +sugar-paste). Sumida is a town where there are restaurants, hot-springs +bath houses and a park, and in addition, the "tenderloin." The dango +shop where I went was near the entrance to the tenderloin, and as the +dango served there was widely known for its nice taste, I dropped in on +my way back from my bath. As I did not meet any students this time, I +thought nobody knew of it, but when I entered the first hour class next +day, I found written on the black board; "Two dishes of dango--7 sen." +It is true that I ate two dishes and paid seven sen. Troublesome kids! I +declare. I expected with certainty that there would be something at the +second hour, and there it was; "The dango in the tenderloin taste fine." +Stupid wretches! + +No sooner I thought, the dango incident closed than the red towel became +the topic for widespread gossip. Inquiry as to the story revealed it to +be something unusually absurd. Since, my arrival here, I had made it a +part of my routine to take in the hot springs bath every day. While +there was nothing in this town which compared favorably with Tokyo, the +hot springs were worthy of praise. So long as I was in the town, I +decided that I would have a dip every day, and went there walking, +partly for physical exercise, before my supper. And whenever I went +there I used to carry a large-size European towel dangling from my hand. +Added to somewhat reddish color the towel had acquired by its having +been soaked in the hot-springs, the red color on its border, which was +not fast enough, streaked about so that the towel now looked as if it +were dyed red. This towel hung down from my hand on both ways whether +afoot or riding in the train. For this reason, the students nicknamed me +Red Towel. Honest, it is exasperating to live in a little town. + +There is some more. The bath house I patronized was a newly built +three-story house, and for the patrons of the first class the house +provided a bath-robe, in addition to an attendant, and the cost was only +eight sen. On top of that, a maid would serve tea in a regular polite +fashion. I always paid the first class. Then those gossipy spotters +started saying that for one who made only forty yen a month to take a +first class bath every day was extravagant. Why the devil should they +care? It was none of their business. + +There is still some more. The bath-tub,--or the tank in this case,--was +built of granite, and measured about thirty square feet. Usually there +were thirteen or fourteen people in the tank, but sometimes there was +none. As the water came up clear to the breast, I enjoyed, for athletic +purposes, swimming in the tank. I delighted in swimming in this +30-square feet tank, taking chances of the total absence of other +people. Once, going downstairs from the third story with a light heart, +and peeping through the entrance of the tank to see if I should be able +to swim, I noticed a sign put up in which was boldly written: "No +swimming allowed in the tank." As there may not have been many who swam +in the tank, this notice was probably put up particularly for my sake. +After that I gave up swimming. But although I gave up swimming, I was +surprised, when I went to the school, to see on the board, as usual, +written: "No swimming allowed in the tank." It seemed as if all the +students united in tracking me everywhere. They made me sick. I was not +a fellow to stop doing whatever I had started upon no matter what +students might say, but I became thoroughly disgusted when I meditated +on why I had come to such a narrow, suffocating place. And, then, when I +returned home, the "antique curio siege" was still going on. + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +For us teachers there was a duty of night watch in the school, and we +had to do it in turn. But Badger and Red Shirt were not in it. On +asking why these two were exempt from this duty, I was told that they +were accorded by the government treatment similar to officials of +"Sonin" rank. Oh, fudge! They were paid more, worked less, and were +then excused from this night watch. It was not fair. They made +regulations to suit their convenience and seemed to regard all this as +a matter of course. How could they be so brazen faced as this! I was +greatly dissatisfied relative to this question, but according to the +opinion of Porcupine, protests by a single person, with what insistency +they may be made, will not be heard. They ought to be heard whether +they are made by one person or by two if they are just. Porcupine +remonstrated with me by quoting "Might is right" in English. I did not +catch his point, so I asked him again, and he told me that it meant the +right of the stronger. If it was the right of the stronger I had known +it for long, and did not require Porcupine explain that to me at this +time. The right of the stronger was a question different from that of +the night watch. Who would agree that Badger and Red Shirt were the +stronger? But argument or no argument, the turn of this night watch at +last fell upon me. Being quite fastidious, I never enjoyed sound sleep +unless I slept comfortably in my own bedding. From my childhood, I +never stayed out overnight. When I did not find sleeping under the roof +of my friends inviting, night watch in the school, you may be sure, was +still worse. However repulsive, if this was a part of the forty yen a +month, there was no alternative. I had to do it. + +To remain alone in the school after the faculty and students had gone +home, was something particularly awkward. The room for the night watch +was in the rear of the school building at the west end of the dormitory. +I stepped inside to see how it was, and finding it squarely facing the +setting sun, I thought I would melt. In spite of autumn having already +set in, the hot spell still lingered, quite in keeping with the +dilly-dally atmosphere of the country. I ordered the same kind of meal +as served for the students, and finished my supper. The meal was +unspeakably poor. It was a wonder they could subsist on such miserable +stuff and keep on "roughing it" in that lively fashion. Not only that, +they were always hungry for supper, finishing it at 4.30 in the +afternoon. They must be heroes in a sense. I had thus my supper, but the +sun being still high, could not go to bed yet. I felt like going to the +hot-springs. I did not know the wrong or right of night watch going out, +but it was oppressively trying to stand a life akin to heavy +imprisonment. When I called at the school the first time and inquired +about night watch, I was told by the janitor that he had just gone out +and I thought it strange. But now by taking the turn of night watch +myself, I could fathom the situation; it was right for any night watch +to go out. I told the janitor that I was going out for a minute. He +asked me "on business?" and I answered "No," but to take a bath at the +hot springs, and went out straight. It was too bad that I had left my +red towel at home, but I would borrow one over there for to-day. + +I took plenty of time in dipping in the bath and as it became dark at +last, I came to the Furumachi Station on a train. It was only about four +blocks to the school; I could cover it in no time. When I started +walking schoolwards, Badger was seen coming from the opposite direction. +Badger, I presumed, was going to the hot springs by this train. He came +with brisk steps, and as we passed by, I nodded my courtesy. Then +Badger, with a studiously owlish countenance, asked: + +"Am I wrong to understand that you are night watch?" + +Chuck that "Am-I-wrong-to-understand"! Two hours ago, did he not say to +me "You're on first night watch to-night. Now, take care of yourself?" +What makes one use such a roundabout, twisted way of saying anything +when he becomes a principal? I was far from smiling. + +"Yes, Sir," I said, "I'm night watch to-night, and as I am night watch I +will return to the school and stay there overnight, sure." With this +parting shot, I left him where we met. Coming then to the cross-streets +of Katamachi, I met Porcupine. This is a narrow place, I tell you. +Whenever one ventures out, he is sure to come across some familiar face. + +"Say, aren't you night watch?" he hallooed, and I said "Yes, I am." "Tis +wrong for night watch to leave his post at his pleasure," he added, and +to this I blurted out with a bold front; "Nothing wrong at all. It is +wrong not to go out." + +"Say, old man, your slap-dash is going to the limit. Wouldn't look well +for the principal or the head teacher to see you out like this." + +The submissive tone of his remark was contrary to Porcupine as I had +known him so far, so I cut him short by saying: + +"I have met the principal just now. Why, he approved my taking a stroll +about the town. Said it would be hard on night watch unless he took a +walk when it is hot." Then I made a bee-line for the school. + +Soon it was night. I called the janitor to my room and had a chat for +about two hours. I grew tired of this, and thought I would get into bed +anyway, even if I could not sleep. I put on my night shirt, lifted the +mosquito-net, rolled off the red blanket and fell down flat on my back +with a bang. The making of this bumping noise when I go to bed is my +habit from my boyhood. "It is a bad habit," once declared a student of a +law school who lived on the ground floor, and I on the second, when I +was in the boarding house at Ogawa-machi, Kanda-ku, and who brought +complaints to my room in person. Students of law schools, weaklings as +they are, have double the ability of ordinary persons when it comes to +talking. As this student of law dwelt long on absurd accusations, I +downed him by answering that the noise made when I went to bed was not +the fault of my hip, but that of the house which was not built on a +solid base, and that if he had any fuss to make, make it to the house, +not to me. This room for night watch was not on the second floor, so +nobody cared how much I banged. I do not feel well-rested unless I go to +bed with the loudest bang I can make. + +"This is bully!" and I straightened out my feet, when something jumped +and clung to them. They felt coarse, and seemed not to be fleas. I was a +bit surprised, and shook my feet inside the blanket two or three times. +Instantly the blamed thing increased,--five or six of them on my legs, +two or three on the thighs, one crushed beneath my hip and another clear +up to my belly. The shock became greater. Up I jumped, took off the +blanket, and about fifty to sixty grasshoppers flew out. I was more or +less uneasy until I found out what they were, but now I saw they were +grasshoppers, they set me on the war path. "You insignificant +grasshoppers, startling a man! See what's coming to you!" With this I +slapped them with my pillow twice or thrice, but the objects being so +small, the effect was out of proportion to the force with which the +blows were administered. I adopted a different plan. In the manner of +beating floor-mats with rolled matting at house-cleaning, I sat up in +bed and began beating them with the pillow. Many of them flew up by the +force of the pillow; some desperately clung on or shot against my nose +or head. I could not very well hit those on my head with the pillow; I +grabbed such, and dashed them on the floor. What was more provoking was +that no matter how hard I dashed them, they landed on the mosquito-net +where they made a fluffy jerk and remained, far from being dead. At +last, in about half an hour the slaughter of the grasshoppers was ended. +I fetched a broom and swept them out. The janitor came along and asked +what was the matter. + +"Damn the matter! Where in thunder are the fools who keep grasshoppers +in bed! You pumpkinhead!" + +The janitor answered by explaining that he did not know anything about +it. "You can't get away with Did-not-know," and I followed this +thundering by throwing away the broom. The awe-struck janitor shouldered +the broom and faded away. + +At once I summoned three of the students to my room as the +"representatives," and six of them reported. Six or ten made no +difference; I rolled up the sleeves of my night-shirt and fired away. + +"What do you mean by putting grasshoppers in my bed!" + +"Grasshoppers? What are they?" said one in front, in a tone disgustingly +quiet. In this school, not only the principal, but the students as well, +were addicted to using twisted-round expressions. + +"Don't know grasshoppers! You shall see!" To my chagrin, there was none; +I had swept them all out. I called the janitor again and told him to +fetch those grasshoppers he had taken away. The janitor said he had +thrown them into the garbage box, but that he would pick them out again. +"Yes, hurry up," I said, and he sped away. After a while he brought back +about ten grasshoppers on a white paper, remarking: + +"I'm sorry, Sir. It's dark outside and I can't find out more. I'll find +some tomorrow." All fools here, down to the janitor. I showed one +grasshopper to the students. + +"This is a grasshopper. What's the matter for as big idiots as you not +to know a grasshopper." Then the one with a round face sitting on the +left saucily shot back: + +"A-ah say, that's a locust, a-ah----." + +"Shut up. They're the same thing. In the first place, what do you +mean by answering your teacher 'A-ah say'? Ah-Say or Ah-Sing is a +Chink's name!" + +For this counter-shot, he answered: + +"A-ah say and Ah-Sing is different,--A-ah say." They never got rid of +"A-ah say." + +"Grasshoppers or locusts, why did you put them into my bed? When I +asked you to?" + +"Nobody put them in." + +"If not, how could they get into the bed?" + +"Locusts are fond of warm places and probably they got in there +respectfully by themselves." + +"You fools! Grasshoppers getting into bed respectfully! I should smile +at them getting in there respectfully! Now, what's the reason for doing +this mischief? Speak out." + +"But there is no way to explain it because we didn't do it." + +Shrimps! If they were afraid of making a clean breast of their own deed, +they should not have done it at all. They looked defiant, and appeared +to insist on their innocence as long as no evidence was brought up. I +myself did some mischief while in the middle school, but when the +culprit was sought after, I was never so cowardly, not even once, to +back out. What one has done, has been done; what he has not, has not +been,--that's the black and white of it. I, for one have been game and +square, no matter how much mischief I might have done. If I wished to +dodge the punishment, I would not start it. Mischief and punishment are +bound to go together. We can enjoy mischief-making with some show of +spirit because it is accompanied by certain consequences. Where does one +expect to see the dastardly spirit which hungers for mischief-making +without punishment, in vogue? The fellows who like to borrow money but +not pay it back, are surely such as these students here after they are +graduated. What did these fellows come to this middle school for, +anyway? They enter a school, tattle round lies, play silly jokes behind +some one by sneaking and cheating and get wrongly swell-headed when they +finish the school thinking they have received an education. A common lot +of jackasses they are. + +My hatred of talking with these scamps became intense, so I dismissed +them by saying: + +"If you fellows have nothing to say, let it go at that. You deserve +pity for not knowing the decent from the vulgar after coming to a +middle school." + +I am not very decent in my own language or manner, but am sure that my +moral standard is far more decent than that of these gangs. Those six +boys filed out leisurely. Outwardly they appeared more dignified than I +their teacher, it was the more repulsive for their calm behavior. I have +no temerity equal to theirs. Then I went to bed again, and found the +inside of the net full of merry crowds of mosquitoes. I could not bother +myself to burn one by one with a candle flame. So I took the net off the +hooks, folded it the lengthwise, and shook it crossways, up and down the +room. One of the rings of the net, flying round, accidentally hit the +back of my hand, the effect of which I did not soon forget. When I went +to bed for the third time, I cooled off a little, but could not sleep +easily. My watch showed it was half past ten. Well, as I thought it +over, I realized myself as having come to a dirty pit. If all teachers +of middle schools everywhere have to handle fellows like these in this +school, those teachers have my sympathy. It is wonderful that teachers +never run short. I believe there are many boneheads of extraordinary +patience; but me for something else. In this respect, Kiyo is worthy of +admiration. She is an old woman, with neither education nor social +position, but as a human, she does more to command our respect. Until +now, I have been a trouble to her without appreciating her goodness, but +having come alone to such a far-off country, I now appreciated, for the +first time, her kindness. If she is fond of sasa-ame of Echigo province, +and if I go to Echigo for the purpose of buying that sweetmeat to let +her eat it, she is fully worth that trouble. Kiyo has been praising me +as unselfish and straight, but she is a person of sterling qualities far +more than I whom she praises. I began to feel like meeting her. + +While I was thus meditating about Kiyo, all of a sudden, on the floor +above my head, about thirty to forty people, if I guess by the number, +started stamping the floor with bang, bang, bang that well threatened to +bang down the floor. This was followed by proportionately loud whoops. +The noise surprised me, and I popped up. The moment I got up I became +aware that the students were starting a rough house to get even with me. +What wrong one has committed, he has to confess, or his offence is never +atoned for. They are just to ask for themselves what crimes they have +done. It should be proper that they repent their folly after going to +bed and to come and beg me pardon the next morning. Even if they could +not go so far as to apologize they should have kept quiet. Then what +does this racket mean? Where we keeping hogs in our dormitory? + +"This crazy thing got to stop. See what you get!" + +I ran out of the room in my night shirt, and flew upstairs in three and +half steps. Then, strange to say, thunderous rumbling, of which I was +sure of hearing in the act, was hushed. Not only a whisper but even +footsteps were not heard. This was funny. The lamp was already blown +out and although I could not see what was what in the dark, nevertheless +could tell by instinct whether there was somebody around or not. In the +long corridor running from the east to the west, there was not hiding +even a mouse. From other end of the corridor the moonlight flooded in +and about there it was particularly light. The scene was somewhat +uncanny. I have had the habit from my boyhood of frequently dreaming and +of flying out of bed and of muttering things which nobody understood, +affording everybody a hearty laugh. One night, when I was sixteen or +seventeen, I dreamed that I picked up a diamond, and getting up, +demanded of my brother who was sleeping close to me what he had done +with that diamond. The demand was made with such force that for about +three days all in the house chaffed me about the fatal loss of precious +stone, much to my humiliation. Maybe this noise which I heard was but a +dream, although I was sure it was real. I was wondering thus in the +middle of the corridor, when at the further end where it was moonlit, a +roar was raised, coming from about thirty or forty throats, "One, two, +three,--Whee-ee!" The roar had hardly subsided, when, as before, the +stamping of the floor commenced with furious rhythm. Ah, it was not a +dream, but a real thing! + +"Quit making the noise! 'Tis midnight!" + +I shouted to beat the band, and started in their direction. My passage +was dark; the moonlight yonder was only my guide. About twelve feet +past, I stumbled squarely against some hard object; ere the "Ouch!" has +passed clear up to my head, I was thrown down. I called all kinds of +gods, but could not run. My mind urged me on to hurry up, but my leg +would not obey the command. Growing impatient, I hobbled on one foot, +and found both voice and stamping already ceased and perfectly quiet. +Men can be cowards but I never expected them capable of becoming such +dastardly cowards as this. They challenged hogs. + +Now the situation having developed to this pretty mess, I would not give +it up until I had dragged them out from hiding and forced them to +apologize. With this determination, I tried to open one of the doors and +examine inside, but it would not open. It was locked or held fast with a +pile of tables or something; to my persistent efforts the door stood +unyielding. Then I tried one across the corridor on the northside, but +it was also locked. While this irritating attempt at door-opening was +going on, again on the east end of the corridor the whooping roar and +rhythmic stamping of feet were heard. The fools at both ends were bent +on making a goose of me. I realized this, but then I was at a loss what +to do. I frankly confess that I have not quite as much tact as dashing +spirit. In such a case I am wholly at the mercy of swaying circumstances +without my own way of getting through it. Nevertheless, I do not expect +to play the part of underdog. If I dropped the affair then and there, it +would reflect upon my dignity. It would be mortifying to have them think +that they had one on the Tokyo-kid and that Tokyo-kid was wanting in +tenacity. To have it on record that I had been guyed by these +insignificant spawn when on night watch, and had to give in to their +impudence because I could not handle them,--this would be an indelible +disgrace on my life. Mark ye,--I am descendant of a samurai of the +"hatamato" class. The blood of the "hatamoto" samurai could be traced to +Mitsunaka Tada, who in turn could claim still a nobler ancestor. I am +different from, and nobler than, these manure-smelling louts. The only +pity is that I am rather short of tact; that I do not know what to do in +such a case. That is the trouble. But I would not throw up the sponge; +not on your life! I only do not know how because I am honest. Just +think,--if the honest does not win, what else is there in this world +that will win? If I cannot beat them to-night, I will tomorrow; if not +tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow. If not the day after tomorrow, I +will sit down right here, get my meals from my home until I beat them. + +Thus resolved, I squatted in the middle of the corridor and waited for +the dawn. Myriads of mosquitoes swarmed about me, but I did not mind +them. I felt my leg where I hit it a while ago; it seemed bespattered +with something greasy. I thought it was bleeding. Let it bleed all it +cares! Meanwhile, exhausted by these unwonted affairs, I fell asleep. +When I awoke, up I jumped with a curse. The door on my right was half +opened, and two students were standing in front of me. The moment I +recovered my senses from the drowsy lull, I grabbed a leg of one of them +nearest to me, and yanked it with all my might. He fell down prone. Look +at what you're getting now! I flew at the other fellow, who was much +confused; gave him vigorous shaking twice or thrice, and he only kept +open his bewildering eyes. + +"Come up to my room." Evidently they were mollycoddles, for they obeyed +my command without a murmur. The day had become already clear. + +I began questioning those two in my room, but,--you cannot pound out the +leopard's spots no matter how you may try,--they seemed determined to +push it through by an insistent declaration of "not guilty," that they +would not confess. While this questioning was going on, the students +upstairs came down, one by one, and began congregating in my room. I +noticed all their eyes were swollen from want of sleep. + +"Blooming nice faces you got for not sleeping only one night. And you +call yourselves men! Go, wash your face and come back to hear what I've +got to tell you." + +I hurled this shot at them, but none of them went to wash his face. For +about one hour, I had been talking and back-talking with about fifty +students when suddenly Badger put in his appearance. I heard afterward +that the janitor ran to Badger for the purpose of reporting to him that +there was a trouble in the school. What a weak-knee of the janitor to +fetch the principal for so trifling an affair as this! No wonder he +cannot see better times than a janitor. + +The principal listened to my explanation, and also to brief remarks from +the students. "Attend school as usual till further notice. Hurry up with +washing your face and breakfast; there isn't much time left." So the +principal let go all the students. Decidedly slow way of handling, this. +If I were the principal, I would expel them right away. It is because +the school accords them such luke-warm treatment that they get "fresh" +and start "guying" the night watch. + +He said to me that it must have been trying on my nerves, and that +I might be tired, and also that I need not teach that day. To this +I replied: + +"No, Sir, no worrying at all. Such things may happen every night, +but it would not disturb me in the least as long as I breathe. I +will do the teaching. If I were not able to teach on account of lack +of sleep for only one single night, I would make a rebate of my +salary to the school." + +I do not know how this impressed him, but he gazed at me for a while, +and called my attention to the fact that my face was rather swollen. +Indeed, I felt it heavy. Besides, it itched all over. I was sure the +mosquitoes must have stung me there to their hearts' content. I +further added: + +"My face may be swollen, but I can talk all right; so I will teach;" +thus scratching my face with some warmth. The principal smiled and +remarked, "Well, you have the strength." To tell the truth, he did not +intend remark to be a compliment, but, I think, a sneer. + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +"Won't you go fishing?" asked Red Shirt He talks in a strangely womanish +voice. One would not be able to tell whether he was a man or a woman. As +a man he should talk like one. Is he not a college graduate? I can talk +man-like enough, and am a graduate from a school of physics at that. It +is a shame for a B.A. to have such a squeak. + +I answered with the smallest enthusiasm, whereupon he further asked me +an impolite question if I ever did fishing. I told him not much, that I +once caught three gibels when I was a boy, at a fishing game pond at +Koume, and that I also caught a carp about eight inches long, at a +similar game at the festival of Bishamon at Kagurazaka;--the carp, just +as I was coaxing it out of the water, splashed back into it, and when I +think of the incident I feel mortified at the loss even now. Red Shirt +stuck out his chin and laughed "ho, ho." Why could he not laugh just +like an ordinary person? "Then you are not well acquainted with the +spirit of the game," he cried. "I'll show you if you like." He seemed +highly elated. + +Not for me! I take it this way that generally those who are fond of +fishing or shooting have cruel hearts. Otherwise, there is no reason why +they could derive pleasure in murdering innocent creatures. Surely, fish +and birds would prefer living to getting killed. Except those who make +fishing or shooting their calling, it is nonsense for those who are well +off to say that they cannot sleep well unless they seek the lives of +fish or birds. This was the way I looked at the question, but as he was +a B. A. and would have a better command of language when it came to +talking, I kept mum, knowing he would beat me in argument. Red Shirt +mistook my silence for my surrender, and began to induce me to join him +right away, saying he would show me some fish and I should come with him +if I was not busy, because he and Mr. Yoshikawa were lonesome when +alone. Mr. Yoshikawa is the teacher of drawing whom I had nicknamed +Clown. I don't know what's in the mind of this Clown, but he was a +constant visitor at the house of Red Shirt, and wherever he went, Clown +was sure to be trailing after him. They appeared more like master and +servant than two fellow teachers. As Clown used to follow Red Shirt like +a shadow, it would be natural to see them go off together now, but when +those two alone would have been well off, why should they invite +me,--this brusque, unaesthetic fellow,--was hard to understand. +Probably, vain of his fishing ability, he desired to show his skill, but +he aimed at the wrong mark, if that was his intention, as nothing of the +kind would touch me. I would not be chagrined if he fishes out two or +three tunnies. I am a man myself and poor though I may be in the art, I +would hook something if I dropped a line. If I declined his invitation, +Red Shirt would suspect that I refused not because of my lack of +interest in the game but because of my want of skill of fishing. I +weighed the matter thus, and accepted his invitation. After the school, +I returned home and got ready, and having joined Red Shirt and Clown at +the station, we three started to the shore. There was only one boatman +to row; the boat was long and narrow, a kind we do not have in Tokyo. I +looked for fishing rods but could find none. + +"How can we fish without rods? How are we going to manage it?" I asked +Clown and he told me with the air of a professional fisherman that no +rods were needed in the deep-sea fishing, but only lines. I had better +not asked him if I was to be talked down in this way. + +The boatman was rowing very slowly, but his skill was something +wonderful. We had already come far out to sea, and on turning back, saw +the shore minimized, fading in far distance. The five-storied pagoda of +Tosho Temple appeared above the surrounding woods like a needle-point. +Yonder stood Aoshima (Blue Island). Nobody was living on this island +which a closer view showed to be covered with stones and pine trees. No +wonder no one could live there. Red Shirt was intently surveying about +and praising the general view as fine. Clown also termed it "an +absolutely fine view." I don't know whether it is so fine as to be +absolute, but there was no doubt as to the exhilarating air. I realized +it as the best tonic to be thus blown by the fresh sea breeze upon a +wide expanse of water. I felt hungry. + +"Look at that pine; its trunk is straight and spreads its top branches +like an umbrella. Isn't it a Turnersque picture?" said Red Shirt. "Yes, +just like Turner's," responded Clown, "Isn't the way it curves just +elegant? Exactly the touch of Turner," he added with some show of pride. +I didn't know what Turner was, but as I could get along without knowing +it, I kept silent. The boat turned to the left with the island on the +right. The sea was so perfectly calm as to tempt one to think he was not +on the deep sea. The pleasant occasion was a credit to Red Shirt. As I +wished, if possible, to land on the island, I asked the boatman if our +boat could not be made to it. Upon this Red Shirt objected, saying that +we could do so but it was not advisable to go too close the shore for +fishing. I kept still for a while. Then Clown made the unlooked-for +proposal that the island be named Turner Island. "That's good; We shall +call it so hereafter," seconded Red Shirt. If I was included in that +"We," it was something I least cared for. Aoshima was good enough for +me. "By the way, how would it look," said Clown, "if we place Madonna by +Raphael upon that rock? It would make a fine picture." + +"Let's quit talking about Madonna, ho, ho, ho," and Red Shirt emitted a +spooky laugh. + +"That's all right. Nobody's around," remarked Clown as he glanced at me, +and turning his face to other direction significantly, smiled +devilishly. I felt sickened. + +As it was none of my business whether it was a Madonna or a kodanna +(young master), they let pose there any old way, but it was vulgar to +feign assurance that one's subject is in no danger of being understood +so long as others did not know the subject. Clown claims himself as a +Yedo kid. I thought that the person called Madonna was no other than a +favorite geisha of Red Shirt. I should smile at the idea of his gazing +at his tootsy-wootsy standing beneath a pine tree. It would be better +if Clown would make an oil painting of the scene and exhibit it for +the public. + +"This will be about the best place." So saying the boatman stopped +rowing the boat and dropped an anchor. + +"How deep is it?" asked Red Shirt, and was told about six fathoms. + +"Hard to fish sea-breams in six fathoms," said Red Shirt as he dropped a +line into the water. The old sport appeared to expect to fetch some +bream. Bravo! + +"It wouldn't be hard for you. Besides it is calm," Clown fawningly +remarked, and he too dropped a line. The line had only a tiny bit of +lead that looked like a weight. It had no float. To fish without a float +seemed as nearly reasonable as to measure the heat without a +thermometer, which was something impossible for me. So I looked on. They +then told me to start, and asked me if I had any line. I told them I had +more than I could use, but that I had no float. + +"To say that one is unable to fish without a float shows that he is a +novice," piped up Clown. + +"See? When the line touches the bottom, you just manage it with your +finger on the edge. If a fish bites, you could tell in a minute. There +it goes," and Red Shirt hastily started taking out the line. I wondered +what he had got, but I saw no fish, only the bait was gone. Ha, good for +you, Gov'nur! + +"Wasn't it too bad! I'm sure it was a big one. If you miss that way, +with your ability, we would have to keep a sharper watch to-day. But, +say, even if we miss the fish, it's far better than staring at a float, +isn't it? Just like saying he can't ride a bike without a brake." Clown +has been getting rather gay, and I was almost tempted to swat him. I'm +just as good as they are. The sea isn't leased by Red Shirt, and there +might be one obliging bonito which might get caught by my line. I +dropped my line then, and toyed it with my finger carelessly. + +After a while something shook my line with successive jerks. I thought +it must be a fish. Unless it was something living, it would not give +that tremulous shaking. Good! I have it, and I commenced drawing in the +line, while Clown jibed me "What? Caught one already? Very remarkable, +indeed!" I had drawn in nearly all the line, leaving only about five +feet in the water. I peeped over and saw a fish that looked like a gold +fish with stripes was coming up swimming to right and left. It was +interesting. On taking it out of the water, it wriggled and jumped, and +covered my face with water. After some effort, I had it and tried to +detach the hook, but it would not come out easily. My hands became +greasy and the sense was anything but pleasing. I was irritated; I swung +the line and banged the fish against the bottom of the boat. It speedily +died. Red Shirt and Clown watched me with surprise. I washed my hands in +the water but they still smelled "fishy." No more for me! I don't care +what fish I might get, I don't want to grab a fish. And I presume the +fish doesn't want to be grabbed either. I hastily rolled up the line. + +"Splendid for the first honor, but that's goruki," Clown again made a +"fresh" remark. + +"Goruki sounds like the name of a Russian literator," said Red Shirt. +"Yes, just like a Russian literator," Clown at once seconded Red Shirt. +Gorky for a Russian literator, Maruki a photographer of Shibaku, and +komeno-naruki (rice) a life-giver, eh? This Red Shirt has a bad hobby of +marshalling before anybody the name of foreigners. Everybody has his +specialty. How could a teacher of mathematics like me tell whether it is +a Gorky or shariki (rikishaman). Red Shirt should have been a little +more considerate. And if he wants to mention such names at all, let him +mention "Autobiography of Ben Franklin," or "Pushing to the Front," or +something we all know. Red Shirt has been seen once in a while bringing +a magazine with a red cover entitled Imperial Literature to the school +and poring over it with reverence. I heard it from Porcupine that Red +Shirt gets his supply of all foreign names from that magazine. Well, I +should say! + +For some time, Red Shirt and Clown fished assiduously and within about +an hour they caught about fifteen fish. The funny part of it was that +all they caught were goruki; of sea-bream there was not a sign. + +"This is a day of bumper crop of Russian literature," Red Shirt said, +and Clown answered: + +"When one as skilled as you gets nothing but goruki, it's natural for me +to get nothing else." + +The boatman told me that this small-sized fish goruki has too many +tiny bones and tastes too poor to be fit for eating, but they could be +used for fertilising. So Red Shirt and Clown were fishing fertilisers +with vim and vigor. As for me, one goruki was enough and I laid down +myself on the bottom, and looked up at the sky. This was far more +dandy than fishing. + +Then the two began whispering. I could not hear well, nor did I care to. +I was looking up at the sky and thinking about Kiyo. If I had enough of +money, I thought, and came with Kiyo to such a picturesque place, how +joyous it would be. No matter how picturesque the scene might be, it +would be flat in the company of Clown or of his kind. Kiyo is a poor +wrinkled woman, but I am not ashamed to take her to any old place. Clown +or his likes, even in a Victoria or a yacht, or in a sky-high position, +would not be worthy to come within her shadow. If I were the head +teacher, and Red Shirt I, Clown would be sure to fawn on me and jeer at +Red Shirt. They say Yedo kids are flippant. Indeed, if a fellow like +Clown was to travel the country and repeatedly declare "I am a Yedo +kid," no wonder the country folk would decide that the flippant are Yedo +kids and Yedo kids are flippant. While I was meditating like this, I +heard suppressed laughter. Between their laughs they talked something, +but I could not make out what they were talking about. "Eh? I don't +know......" "...... That's true ...... he doesn't know ...... isn't it +pity, though ......." "Can that be......." "With grasshoppers ...... +that's a fact." + +I did not listen to what they were talking, but when I heard Clown say +"grasshoppers," I cocked my ear instinctively. Clown emphasized, for +what reason I do not know the word "grasshopers" so that it would be +sure to reach my ear plainly, and he blurred the rest on purpose. I did +not move, and kept on listening. "That same old Hotta," "that may be the +case...." "Tempura ...... ha, ha, ha ......" "...... incited ......" +"...... dango also? ......" + +The words were thus choppy, but judging by their saying "grasshoppers," +"tempura" or "dango," I was sure they were secretly talking something +about me. If they wanted to talk, they should do it louder. If they +wanted to discuss something secret, why in thunder did they invite me? +What damnable blokes! Grasshoppers or glass-stoppers, I was not in the +wrong; I have kept quiet to save the face of Badger because the +principle asked me to leave the matter to him. Clown has been making +unnecessary criticisms; out with your old paint-brushes there! Whatever +concerns me, I will settle it myself sooner or later, and they had just +to keep off my toes. But remarks such as "the same old Hotta" or "...... +incited ......" worried me a bit. I could not make out whether they +meant that Hotta incited me to extend the circle of the trouble, or that +he incited the students to get at me. As I gazed at the blue sky, the +sunlight gradually waned and chilly winds commenced stirring. The clouds +that resembled the streaky smokes of joss sticks were slowly extending +over a clear sky, and by degrees they were absorbed, melted and changed +to a faint fog. + +"Well, let's be going," said Red Shirt suddenly. "Yes, this is the time +we were going. See your Madonna to-night?" responded Clown. "Cut out +nonsense ...... might mean a serious trouble," said Red Shirt who was +reclining against the edge of the boat, now raising himself. "O, that's +all right if he hears.......," and when Clown, so saying, turned himself +my way, I glared squarely in his face. Clown turned back as if to keep +away from a dazzling light, and with "Ha, this is going some," shrugged +his shoulders and scratched his head. + +The boat was now being rowed shore-ward over the calm sea. "You don't +seem much fond of fishing," asked Red Shirt. "No, I'd rather prefer +lying and looking at the sky," I answered, and threw the stub of +cigarette I had been smoking into the water; it sizzled and floated on +the waves parted by the oar. + +"The students are all glad because you have come. So we want you do your +best." Red Shirt this time started something quite alien to fishing. "I +don't think they are," I said. "Yes; I don't mean it as flattery. They +are, sure. Isn't it so, Mr. Yoshikawa?" + +"I should say they are. They're crazy over it," said Clown with an +unctuous smile. Strange that whatever Clown says, it makes me itching +mad. "But, if you don't look out, there is danger," warned Red Shirt. + +"I am fully prepared for all dangers," I replied. In fact, I had made up +my mind either to get fired or to make all the students in the dormitory +apologize to me. + +"If you talk that way, that cuts everything out. Really, as a head +teacher, I've been considering what is good for you, and wouldn't like +you to mistake it." + +"The head teacher is really your friend. And I'm doing what I can for +you, though mighty little, because you and I are Yedo kids, and I would +like to have you stay with us as long as possible and we can help each +other." So said Clown and it sounded almost human. I would sooner hang +myself than to get helped by Clown. + +"And the students are all glad because you had come, but there are many +circumstances," continued Red Shirt. "You may feel angry sometimes but +be patient for the present, and I will never do anything to hurt your +interests." + +"You say 'many circumstances'; what are they?" + +"They're rather complicated. Well, they'll be clear to you by and by. +You'll understand them naturally without my talking them over. What do +you say, Mr. Yoshikawa?" + +"Yes, they're pretty complicated; hard to get them cleared up in a +jiffy. But they'll become clear by-the-bye. Will be understood naturally +without my explaining them," Clown echoed Red Shirt. + +"If they're such a bother, I don't mind not hearing them. I only asked +you because you sprang the subject." + +"That's right. I may seem irresponsible in not concluding the thing I +had started. Then this much I'll tell you. I mean no offense, but you +are fresh from school, and teaching is a new experience. And a school is +a place where somewhat complicated private circumstances are common and +one cannot do everything straight and simple". + +"If can't get it through straight and simple, how does it go?" + +"Well, there you are so straight as that. As I was saying, you're short +of experience........" + +"I should be. As I wrote it down in my record-sheet, I'm 23 years and +four months." + +"That's it. So you'd be done by some one in unexpected quarter." + +"I'm not afraid who might do me as long as I'm honest." + +"Certainly not. No need be afraid, but I do say you look sharp; your +predecessor was done." + +I noticed Clown had become quiet, and turning round, saw him at the +stern talking with the boatman. Without Clown, I found our conversation +running smoothly. + +"By whom was my predecessor done?" + +"If I point out the name, it would reflect on the honor of that person, +so I can't mention it. Besides there is no evidence to prove it and I +may be in a bad fix if I say it. At any rate, since you're here, my +efforts will prove nothing if you fail. Keep a sharp look-out, please." + +"You say look-out, but I can't be more watchful than I'm now. If I don't +do anything wrong, after all, that's all right isn't it?" + +Red Shirt laughed. I did not remember having said anything provocative +of laughter. Up to this very minute, I have been firm in my conviction +that I'm right. When I come to consider the situation, it appears that a +majority of people are encouraging others to become bad. They seem to +believe that one must do wrong in order to succeed. If they happen to +see some one honest and pure, they sneer at him as "Master Darling" or +"kiddy." What's the use then of the instructors of ethics at grammar +schools or middle schools teaching children not to tell a lie or to be +honest. Better rather make a bold departure and teach at schools the +gentle art of lying or the trick of distrusting others, or show pupils +how to do others. That would be beneficial for the person thus taught +and for the public as well. When Red Shirt laughed, he laughed at my +simplicity. My word! what chances have the simple-hearted or the pure in +a society where they are made objects of contempt! Kiyo would never +laugh at such a time; she would listen with profound respect. Kiyo is +far superior to Red Shirt. + +"Of course, that't all right as long as you don't do anything wrong. But +although you may not do anything wrong, they will do you just the same +unless you can see the wrong of others. There are fellows you have got +to watch,--the fellows who may appear off-hand, simple and so kind as to +get boarding house for you...... Getting rather cold. 'Tis already +autumn, isn't it. The beach looks beer-color in the fog. A fine view. +Say, Mr. Yoshikawa, what do you think of the scene along the +beach?......" This in a loud voice was addressed to Clown. + +"Indeed, this is a fine view. I'd get a sketch of it if I had time. +Seems a pity to leave it there," answered Clown. + +A light was seen upstairs at Minato-ya, and just as the whistle of a +train was sounded, our boat pushed its nose deep into the sand. "Well, +so you're back early," courtesied the wife of the boatman as she stepped +upon the sand. I stood on the edge of the boat; and whoop! I jumped out +to the beach. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +I heartily despise Clown. It would be beneficial for Japan if such a +fellow were tied to a quernstone and dumped into the sea. As to Red +Shirt, his voice did not suit my fancy. I believe he suppresses his +natural tones to put on airs and assume genteel manner. He may put on +all kinds of airs, but nothing good will come of it with that type of +face. If anything falls in love with him, perhaps the Madonna will be +about the limit. As a head-teacher, however, he is more serious than +Clown. As he did not say definitely, I cannot get to the point, but it +appears that he warned me to look-out for Porcupine as he is crooked. If +that was the case, he should have declared it like a man. And if +Porcupine is so bad a teacher as that, it would be better to discharge +him. What a lack of backbone for a head teacher and a Bachelor of Arts! +As he is a fellow so cautious as to be unable to mention the name of the +other even in a whisper, he is surely a mollycoddle. All mollycoddles +are kind, and that Red Shirt may be as kind as a woman. His kindness is +one thing, and his voice quite another, and it would be wrong to +disregard his kindness on account of his voice. But then, isn't this +world a funny place! The fellow I don't like is kind to me, and the +friend whom I like is crooked,--how absurd! Probably everything here +goes in opposite directions as it is in the country, the contrary holds +in Tokyo. A dangerous place, this. By degrees, fires may get frozen and +custard pudding petrified. But it is hardly believable that Porcupine +would incite the students, although he might do most anything he wishes +as he is best liked among them. Instead of taking in so roundabout a +way, in the first place, it would have saved him a lot of trouble if he +came direct to me and got at me for a fight. If I am in his way, he had +better tell me so, and ask me to resign because I am in his way. There +is nothing that cannot be settled by talking it over. If what he says +sounds reasonable, I would resign even tomorrow. This is not the only +town where I can get bread and butter; I ought not to die homeless +wherever I go. I thought Porcupine was a better sport. + +When I came here, Porcupine was the first to treat me to ice water. To +be treated by such a fellow, even if it is so trifling a thing as ice +water, affects my honor. I had only one glass then and had him pay only +one sen and a half. But one sen or half sen, I shall not die in peace if +I accept a favor from a swindler. I will pay it back tomorrow when I go +to the school. I borrowed three yen from Kiyo. That three yen is not +paid yet to-day, though it is five years since. Not that I could not +pay, but that I did not want to. Kiyo never looks to my pocket thinking +I shall pay it back by-the-bye. Not by any means. I myself do not expect +to fulfill cold obligation like a stranger by meditating on returning +it. The more I worry about paying it back, the more I may be doubting +the honest heart of Kiyo. It would be the same as traducing her pure +mind. I have not paid her back that three yen not because I regard her +lightly, but because I regard her as part of myself. Kiyo and Porcupine +cannot be compared, of course, but whether it be ice water or tea, the +fact that I accept another's favor without saying anything is an act of +good-will, taking the other on his par value, as a decent fellow. +Instead of chipping in my share, and settling each account, to receive +munificence with grateful mind is an acknowledgment which no amount of +money can purchase. I have neither title nor official position but I am +an independent fellow, and to have an independent fellow kowtow to you +in acknowledgment of the favor you extend him should be considered as +far more than a return acknowledgment with a million yen. I made +Porcupine blow one sen and a half, and gave him my gratitude which is +more costly than a million yen. He ought to have been thankful for that. +And then what an outrageous fellow to plan a cowardly action behind my +back! I will give him back that one sen and a half tomorrow, and all +will be square. Then I will land him one. When I thought thus far, I +felt sleepy and slept like a log. The next day, as I had something in my +mind, I went to the school earlier than usual and waited for Porcupine, +but he did not appear for a considerable time. "Confucius" was there, so +was Clown, and finally Red Shirt, but for Porcupine there was a piece of +chalk on his desk but the owner was not there. I had been thinking of +paying that one sen and a half as soon as I entered the room, and had +brought the coppers to the school grasped in my hand. My hands get +easily sweaty, and when I opened my hand, I found them wet. Thinking +that Porcupine might say something if wet coins were given him, I placed +them upon my desk, and cooled them by blowing in them. Then Red Shirt +came to me and said he was sorry to detain me yesterday, thought I have +been annoyed. I told him I was not annoyed at all, only I was hungry. +Thereupon Red Shirt put his elbows upon the desk, brought his +sauce-pan-like face close to my nose, and said; "Say, keep dark what I +told you yesterday in the boat. You haven't told it anybody, have you?" +He seems quite a nervous fellow as becoming one who talks in a feminish +voice. It was certain that I had not told it to anybody, but as I was in +the mood to tell it and had already one sen and a half in my hand, I +would be a little rattled if a gag was put on me. To the devil with Red +Shirt! Although he had not mentioned the name "Porcupine," he had given +me such pointers as to put me wise as to who the objective was, and now +he requested me not to blow the gaff!--it was an irresponsibility least +to be expected from a head teacher. In the ordinary run of things, he +should step into the thick of the fight between Porcupine and me, and +side with me with all his colors flying. By so doing, he might be worthy +the position of the head teacher, and vindicate the principle of wearing +red shirts. + +I told the head teacher that I had not divulged the secret to anybody +but was going to fight it out with Porcupine. Red Shirt was greatly +perturbed, and stuttered out; "Say, don't do anything so rash as that. I +don't remember having stated anything plainly to you about Mr. +Hotta....... if you start a scrimmage here, I'll be greatly +embarrassed." And he asked the strangely outlandish question if I had +come to the school to start trouble? Of course not, I said, the school +would not stand for my making trouble and pay me salary for it. Red +Shirt then, perspiring, begged me to keep the secret as mere reference +and never mention it. "All right, then," I assured him, "this robs me +shy, but since you're so afraid of it, I'll keep it all to myself." "Are +you sure?" repeated Red Shirt. There was no limit to his womanishness. +If Red Shirt was typical of Bachelors of Arts, I did not see much in +them. He appeared composed after having requested me to do something +self-contradictory and wanting logic, and on top of that suspects my +sincerity. + +"Don't you mistake," I said to myself, "I'm a man to the marrow, and +haven't the idea of breaking my own promises; mark that!" + +Meanwhile the occupants of the desks on both my sides came to the room, +and Red Shirt hastily withdrew to his own desk. Red Shirt shows some air +even in his walk. In stepping about the room, he places down his shoes +so as to make no sound. For the first time I came to know that making no +sound in one's walk was something satisfactory to one's vanity. He was +not training himself for a burglar, I suppose. He should cut out such +nonsense before it gets worse. Then the bugle for the opening of classes +was heard. Porcupine did not appear after all. There was no other way +but to leave the coins upon the desk and attend the class. + +When I returned to the room a little late after the first hour class, +all the teachers were there at their desks, and Porcupine too was +there. The moment Porcupine saw my face, he said that he was late on +my account, and I should pay him a fine. I took out that one sen and a +half, and saying it was the price of the ice water, shoved it on his +desk and told him to take it. "Don't josh me," he said, and began +laughing, but as I appeared unusually serious, he swept the coins back +to my desk, and flung back, "Quit fooling." So he really meant to +treat me, eh? + +"No fooling; I mean it," I said. "I have no reason to accept your treat, +and that's why I pay you back. Why don't you take it?" + +"If you're so worried about that one sen and a half, I will take it, but +why do you pay it at this time so suddenly?" + +"This time or any time, I want to pay it back. I pay it back because I +don't like you treat me." + +Porcupine coldly gazed at me and ejaculated "H'm." If I had not been +requested by Red Shirt, here was the chance to show up his cowardice and +make it hot for him. But since I had promised not to reveal the secret, +I could do nothing. What the deuce did he mean by "H'm" when I was red +with anger. + +"I'll take the price of the ice water, but I want you leave your +boarding house." + +"Take that coin; that's all there is to it. To leave or not,--that's my +pleasure." + +"But that is not your pleasure. The boss of your boarding house came to +me yesterday and wanted me to tell you leave the house, and when I heard +his explanation, what he said was reasonable. And I dropped there on my +way here this morning to hear more details and make sure of everything." + +What Porcupine was trying to get at was all dark to me. + +"I don't care a snap what the boss was damn well pleased to tell you," I +cried. "What do you mean by deciding everything by yourself! If there is +any reason, tell me first. What's the matter with you, deciding what the +boss says is reasonable without hearing me." + +"Then you shall hear," he said. "You're too tough and been regarded +a nuisance over there. Say, the wife of a boarding house is a wife, +not a maid, and you've been such a four-flusher as to make her wipe +your feet." + +"When did I make her wipe my feet?" I asked. + +"I don't know whether you did or did not, but anyway they're pretty sore +about you. He said he can make ten or fifteen yen easily if he sell a +roll of panel-picture." + +"Damn the chap! Why did he take me for a boarder then!" + +"I don't know why. They took you but they want you leave because they +got tired of you. So you'd better get out." + +"Sure, I will. Who'd stay in such a house even if they beg me on their +knees. You're insolent to have induced me to go to such a false accuser +in the first place." + +"Might be either I'm insolent or you're tough." Porcupine is no less +hot-tempered than I am, and spoke with equally loud voice. All the other +teachers in the room, surprised, wondering what has happened, looked in +our direction and craned their necks. I was not conscious of having done +anything to be ashamed of, so I stood up and looked around. Clown alone +was laughing amused. The moment he met my glaring stare as if to say +"You too want to fight?" he suddenly assumed a grave face and became +serious. He seemed to be a little cowed. Meanwhile the bugle was heard, +and Porcupine and I stopped the quarrel and went to the class rooms. + +In the afternoon, a meeting of the teachers was going to be held to +discuss the question of punishment of those students in the dormitory +who offended me the other night. This meeting was a thing I had to +attend for the first time in my life, and I was totally ignorant about +it. Probably it was where the teachers gathered to blow about their own +opinions and the principal bring them to compromise somehow. To +compromise is a method used when no decision can be delivered as to the +right or wrong of either side. It seemed to me a waste of time to hold a +meeting over an affair in which the guilt of the other side was plain as +daylight. No matter who tried to twist it round, there was no ground for +doubting the facts. It would have been better if the principal had +decided at once on such a plain case; he is surely wanting in decision. +If all principals are like this, a principal is a synonym of a +"dilly-dally." + +The meeting hall was a long, narrow room next to that of the principal, +and was used for dining room. About twenty chairs, with black leather +seat, were lined around a narrow table, and the whole scene looked like +a restaurant in Kanda. At one end of the table the principal took his +seat, and next to him Red Shirt. All the rest shifted for themselves, +but the gymnasium teacher is said always to take the seat farthest down +out of modesty. The situation was new to me, so I sat down between the +teachers of natural history and of Confucius. Across the table sat +Porcupine and Clown. Think how I might, the face of Clown was a +degrading type. That of Porcupine was far more charming, even if I was +now on bad terms with him. The panel picture which hung in the alcove of +the reception hall of Yogen temple where I went to the funeral of my +father, looked exactly like this Porcupine. A priest told me the picture +was the face of a strange creature called Idaten. To-day he was pretty +sore, and frequently stared at me with his fiery eyes rolling. "You +can't bulldoze me with that," I thought, and rolled my own in defiance +and stared back at him. My eyes are not well-shaped but their large size +is seldom beaten by others. Kiyo even once suggested that I should make +a fine actor because I had big eyes. + +"All now here?" asked the principal, and the clerk named Kawamura +counted one, two, three and one was short. "Just one more," said the +clerk, and it ought to be; Hubbard Squash was not there. I don't know +what affinity there is between Hubbard Squash and me, but I can never +forget his face. When I come to the teachers' room, his face attracts me +first; while walking out in the street, his manners are recalled to my +mind. When I go to the hot springs, sometimes I meet him with a +pale-face in the bath, and if I hallooed to him, he would raise his +trembling head, making me feel sorry for him. In the school there is no +teacher so quiet as he. He seldom, if ever, laughs or talks. I knew the +word "gentleman" from books, and thought it was found only in the +dictionary, but not a thing alive. But since I met Hubbard Squash, I was +impressed for the first time that the word represented a real substance. + +As he is a man so attached to me, I had noticed his absence as soon as I +entered the meeting hall. To tell the truth, I came to the hall with the +intention of sitting next to him. The principal said that the absentee +may appear shortly, and untied a package he had before him, taking out +some hectograph sheets and began reading them. Red Shirt began polishing +his amber pipe with a silk handkerchief. This was his hobby, which was +probably becoming to him. Others whispered with their neighbors. Still +others were writing nothings upon the table with the erasers at the end +of their pencils. Clown talked to Porcupine once in a while, but he was +not responsive. He only said "Umh" or "Ahm," and stared at me with +wrathful eyes. I stared back with equal ferocity. + +Then the tardy Hubbard Squash apologetically entered, and politely +explained that he was unavoidably detained. "Well, then the meeting is +called to order," said Badger. On these sheets was printed, first the +question of the punishment of the offending students, second that of +superintending the students, and two or three other matters. Badger, +putting on airs as usual, as if he was an incarnation of education, +spoke to the following effect. + +"Any misdeeds or faults among the teachers or the students in this +school are due to the lack of virtues in my person, and whenever +anything happens, I inwardly feel ashamed that a man like me could hold +his position. Unfortunately such an affair has taken place again, and I +have to apologize from my heart. But since it has happened, it cannot be +helped; we must settle it one way or other. The facts are as you already +know, and I ask you gentlemen to state frankly the best means by which +the affair may be settled." + +When I heard the principal speak, I was impressed that indeed the +principal, or Badger, was saying something "grand." If the principal was +willing to assume all responsibilities, saying it was his fault or his +lack of virtues, it would have been better stop punishing the students +and get himself fired first. Then there will be no need of holding such +thing as a meeting. In the first place, just consider it by common +sense. I was doing my night duty right, and the students started +trouble. The wrong doer is neither the principal nor I. If Porcupine +incited them, then it would be enough to get rid of the students and +Porcupine. Where in thunder would be a peach of damfool who always +swipes other people's faults and says "these are mine?" It was a stunt +made possible only by Badger. Having made such an illogical statement, +he glanced at the teachers in a highly pleased manner. But no one opened +his mouth. The teacher of natural history was gazing at the crow which +had hopped on the roof of the nearby building. The teacher of Confucius +was folding and unfolding the hectograph sheet. Porcupine was still +staring at me. If a meeting was so nonsensical an affair as this, I +would have been better absent taking a nap at home. + +I became irritated, and half raised myself, intending to make a +convincing speech, but just then Red Shirt began saying something and I +stopped. I saw him say something, having put away his pipe, and wiping +his face with a striped silk handkerchief. I'm sure he copped that +handkerchief from the Madonna; men should use white linen. He said: + +"When I heard of the rough affairs in the dormitory, I was greatly +ashamed as the head teacher of my lack of discipline and influence. When +such an affair takes place there is underlying cause somewhere. Looking +at the affair itself, it may seem that the students were wrong, but in a +closer study of the facts, we may find the responsibility resting with +the School. Therefore, I'm afraid it might affect us badly in the future +if we administer too severe a punishment on the strength of what has +been shown on the surface. As they are youngsters, full of life and +vigor, they might half-consciously commit some youthful pranks, without +due regard as to their good or bad. As to the mode of punishment itself, +I have no right to suggest since it is a matter entirely in the hand of +the principal, but I should ask, considering these points, that some +leniency be shown toward the students." + +Well, as Badger, so was Red Shirt. He declares the "Rough Necks" among +the students is not their fault but the fault of the teachers. A crazy +person beats other people because the beaten are wrong. Very grateful, +indeed. If the students were so full of life and vigor, shovel them out +into the campus and let them wrestle their heads off. Who would have +grasshoppers put into his bed unconsciously! If things go on like this, +they may stab some one asleep, and get freed as having done the deed +unconsciously. + +Having figured it out in this wise, I thought I would state my own views +on the matter, but I wanted to give them an eloquent speech and fairly +take away their breath. I have an affection of the windpipe which clog +after two or three words when I am excited. Badger and Red Shirt are +below my standing in their personality, but they were skilled in +speech-making, and it would not do to have them see my awkwardness. I'll +make a rough note of composition first, I thought, and started mentally +making a sentence, when, to my surprise, Clown stood up suddenly. It was +unusual for Clown to state his opinion. He spoke in his flippant tone: + +"Really the grasshopper incident and the whoop-la affair are peculiar +happenings which are enough to make us doubt our own future. We teachers +at this time must strive to clear the atmosphere of the school. And +what the principal and the head teacher have said just now are fit and +proper. I entirely agree with their opinions. I wish the punishment be +moderate." + +In what Clown had said there were words but no meaning. It was a +juxtaposition of high-flown words making no sense. All that I understood +was the words, "I entirely agree with their opinions." + +Clown's meaning was not clear to me, but as I was thoroughly angered, I +rose without completing my rough note. + +"I am entirely opposed to......." I said, but the rest did not come at +once. ".......I don't like such a topsy-turvy settlement," I added and +the fellows began laughing. "The students are absolutely wrong from the +beginning. It would set a bad precedent if we don't make them apologize +....... What do we care if we kick them all out ....... darn the kids +trying to guy a new comer......." and I sat down. Then the teacher of +natural history who sat on my right whined a weak opinion, saying "The +students may be wrong, but if we punish them too severely, they may +start a reaction and would make it rather bad. I am for the moderate +side, as the head teacher suggested." The teacher of Confucius on my +left expressed his agreement with the moderate side, and so did the +teacher of history endorse the views of the head teacher. Dash those +weak-knees! Most of them belonged to the coterie of Red Shirt. It would +make a dandy school if such fellows run it. I had decided in my mind +that it must be either the students apologize to me or I resign, and if +the opinion of Red Shirt prevailed, I had determined to return home and +pack up. I had no ability of out-talking such fellows, or even if I had, +I was in no humor to keeping their company for long. Since I don't +expect to remain in the school, the devil may take care of the rest. If +I said anything, they would only laugh; so I shut my mouth tight. + +Porcupine, who up to this time had been listening to the others, stood +up with some show of spirit. Ha, the fellow was going to endorse the +views of Red Shirt, eh? You and I got to fight it out anyway, I thought, +so do any way you darn please. Porcupine spoke in a thunderous voice: + +"I entirely differ from the opinions of the head teacher and other +gentlemen. Because, viewed from whatever angle, this incident cannot be +other than an attempt by those fifty students in the dormitory to make +a fool of a new teacher. The head teacher seems to trace the cause of +the trouble to the personality of that teacher himself, but, begging +his pardon, I think he is mistaken. The night that new teacher was on +night duty was not long after his arrival, not more than twenty days +after he had come into contact with the students. During those short +twenty days, the students could have no reason to criticise his +knowledges or his person. If he was insulted for some cause which +deserved insult, there may be reasons in our considering the act of the +students, but if we show undue leniency toward the frivolous students +who would insult a new teacher without cause, it would affect the +dignity of this school. The spirit of education is not only in +imparting technical knowledges, but also in encouraging honest, +ennobling and samurai-like virtues, while eliminating the evil tendency +to vulgarity and roughness. If we are afraid of reaction or further +trouble, and satisfy ourselves with make-shifts, there is no telling +when we can ever get rid of this evil atmosphere[G]. We are here to +eradicate this very evil. If we mean to countenance it, we had better +not accepted our positions here. For these reasons, I believe it proper +to punish the students in the dormitory to the fullest extent and also +make them apologize to that teacher in the open." + +All were quiet. Red Shirt again began polishing his pipe. I was greatly +elated. He spoke almost what I had wanted to. I'm such a simple-hearted +fellow that I forgot all about the bickerings with Porcupine, and looked +at him with a grateful face, but he appeared to take no notice of me. + +After a while, Porcupine again stood up, and said. "I forgot to mention +just now, so I wish to add. The teacher on night duty that night seems +to have gone to the hot springs during his duty hours, and I think it a +blunder. It is a matter of serious misconduct to take the advantage of +being in sole charge of the school, to slip out to a hot springs. The +bad behavior of the students is one thing; this blunder is another, and +I wish the principal to call attention of the responsible person to +that matter." + +A strange fellow! No sooner had he backed me up than he began talking me +down. I knew the other night watch went out during his duty hours, and +thought it was a custom, so I went as far out as to the hot springs +without considering the situation seriously. But when it was pointed out +like this, I realised that I had been wrong. Thereupon I rose again and +said; "I really went to the hot springs. It was wrong and I apologize." +Then all again laughed. Whatever I say, they laugh. What a lot of boobs! +See if you fellows can make a clean breast of your own fault like this! +You fellows laugh because you can't talk straight. + +After that the principal said that since it appeared that there will be +no more opinions, he will consider the matter well and administer what +he may deem a proper punishment. I may here add the result of the +meeting. The students in the dormitory were given one week's +confinement, and in addition to that, apologized to me. If they had not +apologized, I intended to resign and go straight home, but as it was it +finally resulted in a bigger and still worse affair, of which more +later. The principal then at the meeting said something to the effect +that the manners of the students should be directed rightly by the +teachers' influence, and as the first step, no teacher should patronize, +if possible, the shops where edibles and drinks were served, excepting, +however, in case of farewell party or such social gatherings. He said he +would like no teacher to go singly to eating houses of lower kind--for +instance, noodle-house or dango shop.... And again all laughed. Clown +looked at Porcupine, said "tempura" and winked his eyes, but Porcupine +regarded him in silence. Good! + +My "think box" is not of superior quality, so things said by Badger were +not clear to me, but I thought if a fellow can't hold the job of teacher +in a middle school because he patronizes a noodle-house or dango shop, +the fellow with bear-like appetite like me will never be able to hold +it. If it was the case, they ought to have specified when calling for a +teacher one who does not eat noodle and dango. To give an appointment +without reference to the matter at first, and then to proclaim that +noodle or dango should not be eaten was a blow to a fellow like me who +has no other petty hobby. Then Red Shirt again opened his mouth. + +"Teachers of the middle school belong to the upper class of society and +they should not be looking after material pleasures only, for it would +eventually have effect upon their personal character. But we are human, +and it would be intolerable in a small town like this to live without +any means of affording some pleasure to ourselves, such as fishing, +reading literary products, composing new style poems, or haiku +(17-syllable poem). We should seek mental consolation of higher order." + +There seemed no prospect that he would quit the hot air. If it was a +mental consolation to fish fertilisers on the sea, have goruki for +Russian literature, or to pose a favorite geisha beneath pine tree, it +would be quite as much a mental consolation to eat dempura noodle and +swallow dango. Instead of dwelling on such sham consolations, he would +find his time better spent by washing his red shirts. I became so +exasperated that I asked; "Is it also a mental consolation to meet the +Madonna?" No one laughed this time and looked at each other with queer +faces, and Red Shirt himself hung his head, apparently embarrassed. Look +at that! A good shot, eh? Only I was sorry for Hubbard Squash who, +having heard the remark, became still paler. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +That very night I left the boarding house. While I was packing up, the +boss came to me and asked if there was anything wrong in the way I was +treated. He said he would be pleased to correct it and suit me if I was +sore at anything. This beats me, sure. How is it possible for so many +boneheads to be in this world! I could not tell whether they wanted me +to stay or get out. They're crazy. It would be disgrace for a Yedo kid +to fuss about with such a fellow; so I hired a rikishaman and speedily +left the house. + +I got out of the house all right, but had no place to go. The rikishaman +asked me where I was going. I told him to follow me with his mouth shut, +then he shall see and I kept on walking. I thought of going to +Yamashiro-ya to avoid the trouble of hunting up a new boarding house, +but as I had no prospect of being able to stay there long, I would have +to renew the hunt sooner or later, so I gave up the idea. If I continued +walking this way, I thought I might strike a house with the sign of +"boarders taken" or something similar, and I would consider the first +house with the sign the one provided for me by Heaven. I kept on going +round and round through the quiet, decent part of the town when I found +myself at Kajimachi. This used to be former samurai quarters where one +had the least chance of finding any boarding house, and I was going to +retreat to a more lively part of the town when a good idea occurred to +me. Hubbard Squash whom I respected lived in this part of the town. He +is a native of the town, and has lived in the house inherited from his +great grandfather. He must be, I thought, well informed about nearly +everything in this town. If I call on him for his help, he will perhaps +find me a good boarding house. Fortunately, I called at his house once +before, and there was no trouble in finding it out. I knocked at the +door of a house, which I knew must be his, and a woman about fifty years +old with an old fashioned paper-lantern in hand, appeared at the door. I +do not despise young women, but when I see an aged woman, I feel much +more solicitous. This is probably because I am so fond of Kiyo. This +aged lady, who looked well-refined, was certainly mother of Hubbard +Squash whom she resembled. She invited me inside, but I asked her to +call him out for me. When he came I told him all the circumstances, and +asked him if he knew any who would take me for a boarder. Hubbard Squash +thought for a moment in a sympathetic mood, then said there was an old +couple called Hagino, living in the rear of the street, who had asked +him sometime ago to get some boarders for them as there are only two in +the house and they had some vacant rooms. Hubbard Squash was kind enough +to go along with me and find out if the rooms were vacant. They were. + +From that night I boarded at the house of the Haginos. What surprised me +was that on the day after I left the house of Ikagin, Clown stepped in +and took the room I had been occupying. Well used to all sorts of tricks +and crooks as I might have been, this audacity fairly knocked me off my +feet. It was sickening. + +I saw that I would be an easy mark for such people unless I brace up +and try to come up, or down, to their level. It would be a high time +indeed for me to be alive if it were settled that I would not get three +meals a day without living on the spoils of pick pockets. Nevertheless, +to hang myself,--healthy and vigorous as I am,--would be not only +inexcusable before my ancestors but a disgrace before the public. Now I +think it over, it would have been better for me to have started +something like a milk delivery route with that six hundred yen as +capital, instead of learning such a useless stunt as mathematics at the +School of Physics. If I had done so, Kiyo could have stayed with me, +and I could have lived without worrying about her so far a distance +away. While I was with her I did not notice it, but separated thus I +appreciated Kiyo as a good-natured old woman. One could not find a +noble natured woman like Kiyo everywhere. She was suffering from a +slight cold when I left Tokyo and I wondered how she was getting on +now? Kiyo must have been pleased when she received the letter from me +the other day. By the way, I thought it was the time I was in receipt +of answer from her. I spent two or three days with things like this in +my mind. I was anxious about the answer, and asked the old lady of the +house if any letter came from Tokyo for me, and each time she would +appear sympathetic and say no. The couple here, being formerly of +samurai class, unlike the Ikagin couple, were both refined. The old +man's recital of "utai" in a queer voice at night was somewhat telling +on my nerves, but it was much easier on me as he did not frequent my +room like Ikagin with the remark of "let me serve you tea." + +The old lady once in a while would come to my room and chat on many +things. She questioned me why I had not brought my wife with me. I asked +her if I looked like one married, reminding her that I was only twenty +four yet. Saying "it is proper for one to get married at twenty four" as +a beginning, she recited that Mr. Blank married when he was twenty, that +Mr. So-and-So has already two children at twenty two, and marshalled +altogether about half a dozen examples,--quite a damper on my youthful +theory. I will then get marred at twenty four, I said, and requested her +to find me a good wife, and she asked me if I really meant it. + +"Really? You bet! I can't help wanting to get married." + +"I should suppose so. Everybody is just like that when young." This +remark was a knocker; I could not say anything to that. + +"But I'm sure you have a Madam already. I have seen to that with my +own eyes." + +"Well, they are sharp eyes. How have you seen it?" + +"How? Aren't you often worried to death, asking if there's no letter +from Tokyo?" + +"By Jupiter! This beats me!" + +"Hit the mark, haven't I?" + +"Well, you probably have." + +"But the girls of these days are different from what they used to be and +you need a sharp look-out on them. So you'd better be careful." + +"Do you mean that my Madam in Tokyo is behaving badly?" + +"No, your Madam is all right." + +"That makes me feel safe. Then about what shall I be careful?" + +"Yours is all right. Though yours is all right......." + +"Where is one not all right?" + +"Rather many right in this town. You know the daughter of the Toyamas? + +"No, I do not." + +"You don't know her yet? She is the most beautiful girl about here. She +is so beautiful that the teachers in the school call her Madonna. You +haven't heard that? + +"Ah, the Madonna! I thought it was the name of a geisha." + +"No, Sir. Madonna is a foreign word and means a beautiful girl, +doesn't it?" + +"That may be. I'm surprised." + +"Probably the name was given by the teacher of drawing." + +"Was it the work of Clown?" + +"No, it was given by Professor Yoshikawa." + +"Is that Madonna not all right?" + +"That Madonna-san is a Madonna not all right." + +"What a bore! We haven't any decent woman among those with nicknames +from old days. I should suppose the Madonna is not all right." + +"Exactly. We have had awful women such as O-Matsu the Devil or Ohyaku +the Dakki. + +"Does the Madonna belong to that ring?" + +"That Madonna-san, you know, was engaged to Professor Koga,--who brought +you here,--yes, was promised to him." + +"Ha, how strange! I never knew our friend Hubbard Squash was a fellow of +such gallantry. We can't judge a man by his appearance. I'll be a bit +more careful." + +"The father of Professor Koga died last year,--up to that time they had +money and shares in a bank and were well off,--but since then things +have grown worse, I don't know why. Professor Koga was too good-natured, +in short, and was cheated, I presume. The wedding was delayed by one +thing or another and there appeared the head teacher who fell in love +with the Madonna head over heels and wanted to many her." + +"Red Shirt? He ought be hanged. I thought that shirt was not an ordinary +kind of shirt. Well?" + +"The head-teacher proposed marriage through a go-between, but the +Toyamas could not give a definite answer at once on account of their +relations with the Kogas. They replied that they would consider the +matter or something like that. Then Red Shirt-san worked up some ways +and started visiting the Toyamas and has finally won the heart of the +Miss. Red Shirt-san is bad, but so is Miss Toyama; they all talk bad of +them. She had agreed to be married to Professor Koga and changed her +mind because a Bachelor of Arts began courting her,--why, that would be +an offense to the God of To-day." + +"Of course. Not only of To-day but also of tomorrow and the day after; +in fact, of time without end." + +"So Hotta-san a friend of Koga-san, felt sorry for him and went to the +head teacher to remonstrate with him. But Red Shirt-san said that he had +no intention of taking away anybody who is promised to another. He may +get married if the engagement is broken, he said, but at present he was +only being acquainted with the Toyamas and he saw nothing wrong in his +visiting the Toyamas. Hotta-san couldn't do anything and returned. Since +then they say Red Shirt-san and Hotta-san are on bad terms." + +"You do know many things, I should say. How did you get such details? +I'm much impressed." + +"The town is so small that I can know everything." + +Yes, everything seems to be known more than one cares. Judging by her +way, this woman probably knows about my tempura and dango affairs. Here +was a pot that would make peas rattle! The meaning of the Madonna, the +relations between Porcupine and Red Shirt became clear and helped me a +deal. Only what puzzled me was the uncertainty as to which of the two +was wrong. A fellow simple-hearted like me could not tell which side he +should help unless the matter was presented in black and white. + +"Of Red Shirt and Porcupine, which is a better fellow?" + +"What is Porcupine, Sir?" + +"Porcupine means Hotta." + +"Well, Hotta-san is physically strong, as strength goes, but Red +Shirt-san is a Bachelor of Arts and has more ability. And Red Shirt-san +is more gentle, as gentleness goes, but Hotta-san is more popular among +the students." + +"After all, which is better?" + +"After all, the one who gets a bigger salary is greater, I suppose?" + +There was no use of going on further in this way, and I closed the talk. + +Two or three days after this, when I returned from the school, the old +lady with a beaming smile, brought me a letter, saying, "Here you are +Sir, at last. Take your time and enjoy it." I took it up and found it +was from Kiyo. On the letter were two or three retransmission slips, and +by these I saw the letter was sent from Yamashiro-ya to the Iagins, then +to the Haginos. Besides, it stayed at Yamashiro-ya for about one week; +even letters seemed to stop in a hotel. I opened it, and it was a very +long letter. + +"When I received the letter from my Master Darling, I intended to write +an answer at once. But I caught cold and was sick abed for about one +week and the answer was delayed for which I beg your pardon. I am not +well-used to writing or reading like girls in these days, and it +required some efforts to get done even so poorly written a letter as +this. I was going to ask my nephew to write it for me, but thought it +inexcusable to my Master Darling when I should take special pains for +myself. So I made a rough copy once, and then a clean copy. I finished +the clean copy, in two days, but the rough copy took me four days. It +may be difficult for you to read, but as I have written this letter with +all my might, please read it to the end." + +This was the introductory part of the letter in which, about four feet +long, were written a hundred and one things. Well, it was difficult to +read. Not only was it poorly written but it was a sort of juxtaposition +of simple syllables that racked one's brain to make it clear where it +stopped or where it began. I am quick-tempered and would refuse to read +such a long, unintelligible letter for five yen, but I read this +seriously from the first to the last. It is a fact that I read it +through. My efforts were mostly spent in untangling letters and +sentences; so I started reading it over again. The room had become a +little dark, and this rendered it harder to read it; so finally I +stepped out to the porch where I sat down and went over it carefully. +The early autumn breeze wafted through the leaves of the banana trees, +bathed me with cool evening air, rustled the letter I was holding and +would have blown it clear to the hedge if I let it go. I did not mind +anything like this, but kept on reading. + +"Master Darling is simple and straight like a split bamboo by +disposition," it says, "only too explosive. That's what worries me. If +you brand other people with nicknames you will only make enemies of +them; so don't use them carelessly; if you coin new ones, just tell them +only to Kiyo in your letters. The countryfolk are said to be bad, and I +wish you to be careful not have them do you. The weather must be worse +than in Tokyo, and you should take care not to catch cold. Your letter +is too short that I can't tell how things are going on with you. Next +time write me a letter at least half the length of this one. Tipping the +hotel with five yen is all right, but were you not short of money +afterward? Money is the only thing one can depend upon when in the +country and you should economize and be prepared for rainy days. I'm +sending you ten yen by postal money order. I have that fifty yen my +Master Darling gave me deposited in the Postal Savings to help you start +housekeeping when you return to Tokyo, and taking out this ten, I have +still forty yen left,--quite safe." + +I should say women are very particular on many things. + +When I was meditating with the letter flapping in my hand on the porch, +the old lady opened the sliding partition and brought in my supper. + +"Still poring over the letter? Must be a very long one, I +imagine," she said. + +"Yes, this is an important letter, so I'm reading it with the wind +blowing it about," I replied--the reply which was nonsense even for +myself,--and I sat down for supper. I looked in the dish on the tray, +and saw the same old sweet potatoes again to-night. This new boarding +house was more polite and considerate and refined than the Ikagins, but +the grub was too poor stuff and that was one drawback. It was sweet +potato yesterday, so it was the day before yesterday, and here it is +again to-night. True, I declared myself very fond of sweet potatoes, but +if I am fed with sweet potatoes with such insistency, I may soon have to +quit this dear old world. I can't be laughing at Hubbard Squash; I shall +become Sweet Potato myself before long. If it were Kiyo she would surely +serve me with my favorite sliced tunny or fried kamaboko, but nothing +doing with a tight, poor samurai. It seems best that I live with Kiyo. +If I have to stay long in the school, I believe I would call her from +Tokyo. Don't eat tempura, don't eat dango, and then get turned yellow by +feeding on sweet potatoes only, in the boarding house. That's for an +educator, and his place is really a hard one. I think even the priests +of the Zen sect are enjoying better feed. I cleaned up the sweet +potatoes, then took out two raw eggs from the drawer of my desk, broke +them on the edge of the rice bowl, to tide it over. I have to get +nourishment by eating raw eggs or something, or how can I stand the +teaching of twenty one hours a week? + +I was late for my bath to-day on account of the letter from Kiyo. But I +would not like to drop off a single day since I had been there everyday. +I thought I would take a train to-day, and coming to the station with +the same old red towel dangling out of my hand, I found the train had +just left two or three minutes ago, and had to wait for some time. While +I was smoking a cigarette on a bench, my friend Hubbard Squash happened +to come in. Since I heard the story about him from the old lady my +sympathy for him had become far greater than ever. His reserve always +appeared to me pathetic. It was no longer a case of merely pathetic; +more than that. I was wishing to get his salary doubled, if possible, +and have him marry Miss Toyama and send them to Tokyo for about one +month on a pleasure trip. Seeing him, therefore, I motioned him to a +seat beside me, addressing him cheerfully: + +"Hello[H], going to bath? Come and sit down here." + +Hubbard Squash, appearing much awe-struck, said; "Don't mind me, +Sir," and whether out of polite reluctance or I don't know what, +remained standing. + +"You have to wait for a little while before the next train starts; sit +down; you'll be tired," I persuaded him again. In fact, I was so +sympathetic for him that I wished to have him sit down by me somehow. +Then with a "Thank you, Sir," he at last sat down. A fellow like Clown, +always fresh, butts in where he is not wanted; or like Porcupine +swaggers about with a face which says "Japan would be hard up without +me," or like Red Shirt, self-satisfied in the belief of being the +wholesaler of gallantry and of cosmetics. Or like Badger who appears to +say; "If 'Education' were alive and put on a frockcoat, it would look +like me." One and all in one way or other have bravado, but I have +never seen any one like this Hubbard Squash, so quiet and resigned, +like a doll taken for a ransom. His face is rather swollen but for the +Madonna to cast off such a splendid fellow and give preference to Red +Shirt, was frivolous beyond my understanding. Put how many dozens of +Red Shirt you like together, it will not make one husband of stuff to +beat Hubbard Squash. + +"Is anything wrong with you? You look quite fatigued," I asked. + +"No, I have no particular ailments......." + +"That's good. Poor health is the worst thing one can get." + +"You appear very strong." + +"Yes, I'm thin, but never got sick. That's something I don't like." + +Hubbard Squash smiled at my words. Just then I heard some young girlish +laughs at the entrance, and incidentally looking that way, I saw a +"peach." A beautiful girl, tall, white-skinned, with her head done up +in "high-collared" style, was standing with a woman of about forty-five +or six, in front of the ticket window. I am not a fellow given to +describing a belle, but there was no need to repeat asserting that she +was beautiful. I felt as if I had warmed a crystal ball with perfume +and held it in my hand. The older woman was shorter, but as she +resembled the younger, they might be mother and daughter. The moment I +saw them, I forgot all about Hubbard Squash, and was intently gazing at +the young beauty. Then I was a bit startled to see Hubbard Squash +suddenly get up and start walking slowly toward them. I wondered if she +was not the Madonna. The three were courtesying in front of the ticket +window, some distance away from me, and I could not hear what they were +talking about. + +The clock at the station showed the next train to start in five +minutes. Having lost my partner, I became impatient and longed for the +train to start as soon as possible, when a fellow rushed into the +station excited. It was Red Shirt. He had on some fluffy clothes, +loosely tied round with a silk-crepe girdle, and wound to it the same +old gold chain. That gold chain is stuffed. Red Shirt thinks nobody +knows it and is making a big show of it, but I have been wise. Red +Shirt stopped short, stared around, and then after bowing politely to +the three still in front of the ticket window, made a remark or two, +and hastily turned toward me. He came up to me, walking in his usual +cat's style, and hallooed. + +"You too going to bath? I was afraid of missing the train and +hurried up, but we have three or four minutes yet. Wonder if that +clock is right?" + +He took out his gold watch, and remarking it wrong about two minutes sat +down beside me. He never turned toward the belle, but with his chin on +the top of a cane, steadily looked straight before him. The older woman +would occasionally glance toward Red Shirt, but the younger kept her +profile away. Surely she was the Madonna. + +The train now arrived with a shrill whistle and the passengers hastened +to board. Red Shirt jumped into the first class coach ahead of all. One +cannot brag much about boarding the first class coach here. It cost only +five sen for the first and three sen for the second to Sumida; even I +paid for the first and a white ticket. The country fellows, however, +being all close, seemed to regard the expenditure of the extra two sen a +serious matter and mostly boarded the second class. Following Red Shirt, +the Madonna and her mother entered the first class. Hubbard Squash +regularly rides in the second class. He stood at the door of a second +class coach and appeared somewhat hesitating, but seeing me coming, took +decisive steps and jumped into the second. I felt sorry for him--I do +not know why--and followed him into the same coach. Nothing wrong in +riding on the second with a ticket for the first, I believe. + +At the hot springs, going down from the third floor to the bath room in +bathing gown, again I met Hubbard Squash. I feel my throat clogged up +and unable to speak at a formal gathering, but otherwise I am rather +talkative; so I opened conversation with him. He was so pathetic and my +compassion was aroused to such an extent that I considered it the duty +of a Yedo kid to console him to the best of my ability. But Hubbard +Squash was not responsive. Whatever I said, he would only answer "eh?" +or "umh," and even these with evident effort. Finally I gave up my +sympathetic attempt and cut off the conversation. + +I did not meet Red Shirt at the bath. There are many bath rooms, and one +does not necessarily meet the fellows at the same bath room though he +might come on the same train. I thought it nothing strange. When I got +out of the bath, I found the night bright with the moon. On both sides +of the street stood willow trees which cast their shadows on the road. I +would take a little stroll, I thought. Coming up toward north, to the +end of the town, one sees a large gate to the left. Opposite the gate +stands a temple and both sides of the approach to the temple are lined +with houses with red curtains. A tenderloin inside a temple gate is an +unheard-of phenomenon. I wanted to go in and have a look at the place, +but for fear I might get another kick from Badger, I passed it by. A +flat house with narrow lattice windows and black curtain at the +entrance, near the gate, is the place where I ate dango and committed +the blunder. A round lantern with the signs of sweet meats hung outside +and its light fell on the trunk of a willow tree close by. I hungered to +have a bite of dango, but went away forbearing. + +To be unable to eat dango one is so fond of eating, is tragic. But to +have one's betrothed change her love to another, would be more tragic. +When I think of Hubbard Squash, I believe that I should, not complain if +I cannot eat dango or anything else for three days. Really there is +nothing so unreliable a creature as man. As far as her face goes, she +appears the least likely to commit so stony-hearted an act as this. But +the beautiful person is cold-blooded and Koga-san who is swollen like a +pumpkin soaked in water, is a gentleman to the core,--that's where we +have to be on the look-out. Porcupine whom I had thought candid was said +to have incited the students and he whom then I regarded an agitator, +demanded of the principal a summary punishment of the students. The +disgustingly snobbish Red Shirt is unexpectedly considerate and warns me +in ways more than one, but then he won the Madonna by crooked means. He +denies, however, having schemed anything crooked about the Madonna, and +says he does not care to marry her unless her engagement with Koga is +broken. When Ikagin beat me out of his house, Clown enters and takes my +room. Viewed from any angle, man is unreliable. If I write these things +to Kiyo, it would surprise her. She would perhaps say that because it is +the west side of Hakone that the town had all the freaks and crooks +dumped in together.[7] + +[Footnote 7: An old saying goes that east of the Hakone pass, there are +no apparitions or freaks.] + +I do not by nature worry about little things, and had come so far +without minding anything. But hardly a month had passed since I came +here, and I have begun to regard the world quite uneasily. I have not +met with any particularly serious affairs, but I feel as if I had grown +five or six years older. Better say "good by" to this old spot soon and +return to Tokyo, I thought. While strolling thus thinking on various +matters, I had passed the stone bridge and come up to the levy of the +Nozeri river. The word river sounds too big; it is a shallow stream of +about six feet wide. If one goes on along the levy for about twelve +blocks, he reaches the Aioi village where there is a temple of Kwanon. + +Looking back at the town of the hot springs, I see red lights gleaming +amid the pale moon beams. Where the sound of the drum is heard must be +the tenderloin. The stream is shallow but fast, whispering incessantly. +When I had covered about three blocks walking leisurely upon the bank, +I perceived a shadow ahead. Through the light of the moon, I found +there were two shadows. They were probably village youngsters returning +from the hot springs, though they did not sing, and were exceptionally +quiet for that. + +I kept on walking, and I was faster than they. The two shadows became +larger. One appeared like a woman. When I neared them within about sixty +feet, the man, on hearing my footsteps, turned back. The moon was +shining from behind me. I could see the manner of the man then and +something queer struck me. They resumed their walk as before. And I +chased them on a full speed. The other party, unconscious, walked +slowly. I could now hear their voice distinctly. The levy was about six +feet wide, and would allow only three abreast. I easily passed them, and +turning back gazed squarely into the face of the man. The moon +generously bathed my face with its beaming light. The fellow uttered a +low "ah," and suddenly turning sideway, said to the woman "Let's go +back." They traced their way back toward the hot springs town. + +Was it the intention of Red Shirt to hush the matter up by pretending +ignorance, or was it lack of nerve? I was not the only fellow who +suffered the consequence of living in a small narrow town. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +On my way back from the fishing to which I was invited by Red Shirt, and +since then, I began to suspect Porcupine. When the latter wanted me to +get out of Ikagin's house on sham pretexts, I regarded him a decidedly +unpleasant fellow. But as Porcupine, at the teachers' meeting, contrary +to my expectation, stood firmly for punishing the students to the +fullest extent of the school regulations, I thought it queer. When I +heard from the old lady about Porcupine volunteering himself for the +sake of Hubbard Squash to stop Red Shirt meddling with the Madonna, I +clapped my hands and hoorayed for him. Judging by these facts, I began +to wonder if the wrong-doer might be not Porcupine, but Red Shirt the +crooked one. He instilled into my head some flimsy hearsay plausibly and +in a roundabout-way. At this juncture I saw Red Shirt taking a walk with +the Madonna on the levy of the Nozeri river, and I decided that Red +Shirt may be a scoundrel. I am not sure of his being really scoundrel at +heart, but at any rate he is not a good fellow. He is a fellow with a +double face. A man deserves no confidence unless he is as straight as +the bamboo. One may fight a straight fellow, and feel satisfied. We +cannot lose sight of the fact that Red Shirt or his kind who is kind, +gentle, refined, and takes pride in his pipe had to be looked sharp, for +I could not be too careful in getting into a scrap with the fellow of +this type. I may fight, but I would not get square games like the +wrestling matches it the Wrestling Amphitheatre in Tokyo. Come to think +of it, Porcupine who turned against me and startled the whole teachers' +room over the amount of one sen and a half is far more like a man. When +he stared at me with owlish eyes at the teachers' meeting, I branded him +as a spiteful guy, but as I consider the matter now, he is better than +the feline voice of Red Shirt. To tell the truth, I tried to get +reconciled with Porcupine, and after the meeting, spoke a word or two to +him, but he shut up like a clam and kept glaring at me. So I became +sore, and let it go at that. + +Porcupine has not spoken to me since. The one sen and a half which I +paid him back upon the desk, is still there, well covered with dust. I +could not touch it, nor would Porcupine take it. This one sen and a +half has become a barrier between us two. We two were cursed with this +one sen and a half. Later indeed I got sick of its sight that I hated +to see it. + +While Porcupine and I were thus estranged, Red Shirt and I continued +friendly relations and associated together. On the day following my +accidental meeting with him near the Nozeri river, for instance, Red +Shirt came to my desk as soon as he came to the school, and asked me how +I liked the new boarding house. He said we would go together for fishing +Russian literature again, and talked on many things. I felt a bit +piqued, and said, "I saw you twice last night," and he answered, "Yes, +at the station. Do you go there at that time every day? Isn't it late?" +I startled him with the remark; "I met you on the levy of the Nozeri +river too, didn't I?" and he replied, "No, I didn't go in that +direction. I returned right after my bath." + +What is the use of trying to keep it dark. Didn't we meet actually face +to face? He tells too many lies. If one can hold the job of a head +teacher and act in this fashion, I should be able to run the position of +Chancellor of a university. From this time on, my confidence in Red +Shirt became still less. I talk with Red Shirt whom I do not trust, and +I keep silent with Porcupine whom I respect. Funny things do happen in +this world. + +One day Red Shirt asked me to come over to his house as he had something +to tell me, and much as I missed the trip to the hot springs, I started +for his house at about 4 o'clock. Red Shirt is single, but in keeping +with the dignity of a head teacher, he gave up the boarding house life +long ago, and lives in a fine house. The house rent, I understood, was +nine yen and fifty sen. The front entrance was so attractive that I +thought if one can live in such a splendid house at nine yen and a half +in the country, it would be a good game to call Kiyo from Tokyo and make +her heart glad. The younger brother of Red Shirt answered my bell. This +brother gets his lessons on algebra and mathematics from me at the +school. He stands no show in his school work, and being a "migratory +bird" is more wicked than the native boys. + +I met Red Shirt. Smoking the same old unsavory amber pipe, he said +something to the following effect: + +"Since you've been with us, our work has been more satisfactory than it +was under your predecessor, and the principal is very glad to have got +the right person in the right place. I wish you to work as hard as you +can, for the school is depending upon you." + +"Well, is that so. I don't think I can work any harder than now......." + +"What you're doing now is enough. Only don't forget what I told you the +other day." + +"Meaning that one who helps me find a boarding house is dangerous?" + +"If you state it so baldly, there is no meaning to it....... But that's +all right,...... I believe you understand the spirit of my advice. And +if you keep on in the way you're going to-day ...... We have not been +blind ...... we might offer you a better treatment later on if we can +manage it." + +"In salary? I don't care about the salary, though the more the better." + +"And fortunately there is going to be one teacher transferred,...... +however, I can't guarantee, of course, until I talk it over with the +principal ...... and we might give you something out of his salary." + +"Thank you. Who is going to be transferred?" + +"I think I may tell you now; 'tis going to be Announced soon. Koga +is the man." + +"But isn't Koga-san a native of this town?" + +"Yes, he is. But there are some circumstances ...... and it is partly by +his own preference." + +"Where is he going?" + +"To Nobeoka in Hiuga province. As the place is so far away, he is going +there with his salary raised a grade higher." + +"Is some one coming to take his place?" + +"His successor is almost decided upon." + +"Well, that's fine, though I'm not very anxious to have my salary +raised." + +"I'm going to talk to the principal about that anyway. And, we may have +to ask you to work more some time later ...... and the principal appears +to be of the same opinion....... I want you to go[I] ahead with that in +your mind." + +"Going to increase my working hours?" + +"No. The working hours may be reduced......" + +"The working hours shortened and yet work more? Sounds funny." + +"It does sound funny ...... I can't say definitely just yet ...... it +means that we way have to ask you to assume more responsibility." + +I could not make out what he meant. To assume more responsibility might +mean my appointment to the senior instructor of mathematics, but +Porcupine is the senior instructor and there is no danger of his +resigning. Besides, he is so very popular among the students that his +transfer or discharge would be inadvisable. Red Shirt always misses the +point. And though he did not get to the point, the object of my visit +was ended. We talked a while on sundry matters, Red Shirt proposing a +farewell dinner party for Hubbard Squash, asking me if I drink liquor +and praising Hubbard Squash as an amiable gentleman, etc. Finally he +changed the topic and asked me if I take an interest in "haiku"[8] Here +is where I beat it, I thought, and, saying "No, I don't, good by," +hastily left the house. The "haiku" should be a diversion of Baseo[9] or +the boss of a barbershop. It would not do for the teacher of mathematics +to rave over the old wooden bucket and the morning glory.[10] + +[Footnote 8: The 17-syllable poem] + +[Footnote 9: A famous composer of the poem.] + +[Footnote 10: There is a well-known 17-syllable poem describing the +scene of morning glories entwining around the wooden bucket.] + +I returned home and thought it over. Here is a man whose mental process +defies a layman's understanding. He is going to court hardships in a +strange part of the country in preference of his home and the school +where he is working,--both of which should satisfy most +anybody,--because he is tired of them. That may be all right if the +strange place happens to be a lively metropolis where electric cars +run,--but of all places, why Nobeoka in Hiuga province? This town here +has a good steamship connection, yet I became sick of it and longed for +home before one month had passed. Nobeoka is situated in the heart of a +most mountainous country. According to Red Shirt, one has to make an +all-day ride in a wagonette to Miyazaki, after he had left the vessel, +and from Miyazaki another all-day ride in a rikisha to Nobeoka. Its name +alone does not commend itself as civilized. It sounds like a town +inhabited by men and monkeys in equal numbers. However sage-like Hubbard +Squash might be I thought he would not become a friend of monkeys of his +own choice. What a curious slant! + +Just then the old lady brought in my supper--"Sweet potatoes again?" I +asked, and she said, "No, Sir, it is tofu to-night." They are about the +same thing. + +"Say, I understand Koga-san is going to Nobeoka." + +"Isn't it too bad?" + +"Too bad? But it can't be helped if he goes there by his own +preference." + +"Going there by his own preference? Who, Sir?" + +"Who? Why, he! Isn't Professor Koga going there by his own choice?" + +"That's wrong Mr. Wright, Sir." + +"Ha, Mr. Wright, is it? But Red Shirt told me so just now. If that's +wrong Mr. Wright, then Red Shirt is blustering Mr. Bluff." + +"What the head-teacher says is believable, but so Koga-san does not +wish to go." + +"Our old lady is impartial, and that is good. Well, what's the matter?" + +"The mother of Koga-san was here this morning, and told me all the +circumstances." + +"Told you what circumstances?" + +"Since the father of Koga-san died, they have not been quite well off as +we might have supposed, and the mother asked the principal if his salary +could not be raised a little as Koga-san has been in service for four +years. See?" + +"Well?" + +"The principal said that he would consider the matter, and she felt +satisfied and expected the announcement of the increase before long. She +hoped for its coming this month or next. Then the principal called +Koga-san to his office one day and said that he was sorry but the school +was short of money and could not raise his salary. But he said there is +an opening in Nobeoka which would give him five yen extra a month and he +thought that would suit his purpose, and the principal had made all +arrangements and told Koga-san he had better go......." + +"That wasn't a friendly talk but a command. Wasn't it?" + +"Yes, Sir, Koga-san told the principal that he liked to stay here better +at the old salary than go elsewhere on an increased salary, because he +has his own house and is living with his mother. But the matter has all +been settled, and his successor already appointed and it couldn't be +helped, said the principal." + +"Hum, that's a jolly good trick, I should say. Then Koga-san has no +liking to go there? No wonder I thought it strange. We would have to go +a long way to find any blockhead to do a job in such a mountain village +and get acquainted with monkeys for five yen extra." + +"What is a blockhead, Sir?" + +"Well, let go at that. It was all the scheme of Red Shirt. Deucedly +underhand scheme, I declare. It was a stab from behind. And he means to +raise my salary by that; that's not right. I wouldn't take that raise. +Let's see if he can raise it." + +"Is your salary going to be raised, Sir?" + +"Yes, they said they would raise mine, but I'm thinking of refusing it." + +"Why do you refuse?" + +"Why or no why, it's going to be refused. Say, Red Shirt is a fool; he +is a coward." + +"He may be a coward, but if he raises your salary, it would be best for +you to make no fuss, but accept it. One is apt to get grouchy when +young, but will always repent when he is grown up and thinks that it was +pity he hadn't been a little more patient. Take an old woman's advice +for once, and if Red Shirt-san says he will raise your salary, just take +it with thanks." + +"It's none of business of you old people." + +The old lady withdrew in silence. The old man is heard singing "utai" in +the off-key voice. "Utai," I think, is a stunt which purposely makes a +whole show a hard nut to crack by giving to it difficult tunes, whereas +one could better understand it by reading it. I cannot fathom what is in +the mind of the old man who groans over it every night untired. But I'm +not in a position to be fooling with "utai." Red Shirt said he would +have my salary raised, and though I did not care much about it, I +accepted it because there was no use of leaving the money lying around. +But I cannot, for the love of Mike, be so inconsiderate as to skin the +salary of a fellow teacher who is being transferred against his will. +What in thunder do they mean by sending him away so far as Nobeoka when +the fellow prefers to remain in his old position? Even Dazai-no- +Gonnosutsu did not have to go farther than about Hakata; even Matagoro +Kawai [11] stopped at Sagara. I shall not feel satisfied unless I see +Red Shirt and tell him I refuse the raise. + +[Footnote 11: The persons in exile, well-known in Japanese history.] + +I dressed again and went to his house. The same younger brother of Red +Shirt again answered the bell, and looked at me with eyes which plainly +said, "You here again?" I will come twice or thrice or as many times as +I want to if there is business. I might rouse them out of their beds at +midnight;--it is possible, who knows. Don't mistake me for one coming to +coax the head teacher. I was here to give back my salary. The younger +brother said that there is a visitor just now, and I told him the front +door will do; won't take more than a minute, and he went in. Looking +about my feet, I found a pair of thin, matted wooden clogs, and I heard +some one in the house saying, "Now we're banzai." I noticed that the +visitor was Clown. Nobody but Clown could make such a squeaking voice +and wear such clogs as are worn by cheap actors. + +After a while Red Shirt appeared at the door with a lamp in his hand, +and said, "Come in; it's no other than Mr. Yoshikawa." + +"This is good enough," I said, "it won't take long." I looked at his +face which was the color of a boiled lobster. He seemed to have been +drinking with Clown. + +"You told me that you would raise my salary, but I've changed my mind, +and have come here to decline the offer." + +Red Shirt, thrusting out the lamp forward, and intently staring at me, +was unable to answer at the moment. He appeared blank. Did he think it +strange that here was one fellow, only one in the world, who does not +want his salary raised, or was he taken aback that I should come back so +soon even if I wished to decline it, or was it both combined, he stood +there silent with his mouth in a queer shape. + +"I accepted your offer because I understood that Mr. Koga was being +transferred by his own preference......." + +"Mr. Koga is really going to be transferred by his own preference." + +"No, Sir. He would like to stay here. He doesn't mind his present salary +if he can stay." + +"Have you heard it from Mr. Koga himself?" + +"No, not from him." + +"Then, from who?" + +"The old lady in my boarding house told me what she heard from the +mother of Mr. Koga." + +"Then the old woman in your boarding house told you so?" + +"Well, that's about the size of it." + +"Excuse me, but I think you are wrong. According to what you say, it +seems as if you believe what the old woman in the boarding house tells +you, but would not believe what your head teacher tells you. Am I right +to understand it that way?" + +I was stuck. A Bachelor of Arts is confoundedly good in oratorical +combat. He gets hold of unexpected point, and pushes the other backward. +My father used to tell me that I am too careless and no good, and now +indeed I look that way. I ran out of the house on the moment's impulse +when I heard the story from the old lady, and in fact I had not heard +the story from either Hubbard Squash or his mother. In consequence, when +I was challenged in this Bachelor-of-Arts fashion, it was a bit +difficult to defend myself. + +I could not defend his frontal attack, but I had already declared in my +mind a lack of confidence on Red Shirt. The old lady in the boarding +house may be tight and a grabber, I do not doubt it, but she is a woman +who tells no lie. She is not double faced like Red Shirt, I was +helpless, so I answered. + +"What you say might be right,--anyway, I decline the raise." + +"That's still funnier. I thought your coming here now was because you +had found a certain reason for which you could not accept the raise. +Then it is hard to understand to see you still insisting on declining +the raise in spite of the reason having been eradicated by my +explanation." + +"It may be hard to understand, but anyway I don't want it." + +"If you don't like it so much, I wouldn't force it on you. But if you +change your mind within two or three hours with no particular reason, it +would affect your credit in future." + +"I don't care if it does affect it." + +"That can't be. Nothing is more important than credit for us. Supposing, +the boss of the boarding house......." + +"Not the boss, but the old lady." + +"Makes no difference,--suppose what the old woman in the boarding house +told you was true, the raise of your salary is not to be had by reducing +the income of Mr. Koga, is it? Mr. Koga is going to Nobeoka; his +successor is coming. He comes on a salary a little less than that of Mr. +Koga, and we propose to add the surplus money to your salary, and you +need not be shy. Mr. Koga will be promoted; the successor is to start on +less pay, and if you could be raised, I think everything be satisfactory +to all concerned. If you don't like it, that's all right, but suppose +you think it over once more at home?" + +My brain is not of the best stuff, and if another fellow flourishes his +eloquence like this, I usually think, "Well, perhaps I was wrong," and +consider myself defeated, but not so to-night. From the time I came to +this town I felt prejudiced against Red Shirt. Once I had thought of him +in a different light, taking him for a fellow kind-hearted and +feminished. His kindness, however, began to look like anything but +kindness, and as a result, I have been getting sick of him. So no matter +how he might glory himself in logical grandiloquence, or how he might +attempt to out-talk me in a head-teacher-style, I don't care a snap. One +who shines in argument is not necessarily a good fellow, while the other +who is out-talked is not necessarily a bad fellow, either. Red Shirt is +very, very reasonable as far as his reasoning goes, but however graceful +he may appear, he cannot win my respect. If money, authority or +reasoning can command admiration, loansharks, police officers or college +professors should be liked best by all. I cannot be moved in the least +by the logic by so insignificant a fellow as the head teacher of a +middle school. Man works by preference, not by logic. + +"What you say is right, but I have begun to dislike the raise, so I +decline. It will be the same if I think it over. Good by." And I left +the house of Red Shirt. The solitary milky way hung high in the sky. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +When I went to the school, in the morning of the day the farewell dinner +party was to be held, Porcupine suddenly spoke to me; + +"The other day I asked you to quit the Ikagins because Ikagin begged of +me to have you leave there as you were too tough, and I believed him. +But I heard afterward that Ikagin is a crook and often passes imitation +of famous drawings for originals. I think what he told me about you must +be a lie. He tried to sell pictures and curios to you, but as you shook +him off, he told some false stories on you. I did very wrong by you +because I did not know his character, and wish you would forgive me." +And he offered me a lengthy apology. + +Without saying a word, I took up the one sen and a half which was lying +on the desk of Porcupine, and put it into my purse. He asked me in a +wondering tone, if I meant to take it back. I explained, "Yes. I didn't +like to have you treat me and expected to pay this back at all hazard, +but as I think about it, I would rather have you treated me after all; +so I'm going to take it back." + +Porcupine laughed heartily and asked me why I had not taken it back +sooner. I told him that I wanted to more than once, in fact, but somehow +felt shy and left it there. I was sick of that one sen and a half these +days that I shunned the sight of it when I came to the school, I said. +He said "You're a deucedly unyielding sport," and I answered "You're +obstinate." Then ensued the following give-and-take between us two; + +"Where were you born anyway?" + +"I'm a Yedo kid." + +"Ah, a Yedo kid, eh? No wonder I thought you a pretty stiff neck." + +"And you?" + +"I'm from Aizu." + +"Ha, Aizu guy, eh? You've got reason to be obstinate. Going to the +farewell dinner to-day?" + +"Sure. You?" + +"Of course I am. I intend to go down to the beach to see Koga-san off +when he leaves." + +"The farewell dinner should be a big blow-out. You come and see. I'm +going to get soused to the neck." + +"You get loaded all you want. I quit the place right after I finish my +plates. Only fools fight booze." + +"You're a fellow who picks up a fight too easy. It shows up the +characteristic of the Yedo kid well." + +"I don't care. Say, before you go to the farewell dinner, come to see +me. I want to tell you something." + +Porcupine came to my room as promised. I had been in full sympathy with +Hubbard Squash these days, and when it came to his farewell dinner, my +pity for him welled up so much that I wished I could go to Nobeoka for +him myself. I thought of making a parting address of burning eloquence +at the dinner to grace the occasion, but my speech which rattles off +like that of the excited spieler of New York would not become the place. +I planned to take the breath out of Red Shirt by employing Porcupine who +has a thunderous voice. Hence my invitation to him before we started for +the party. + +I commenced by explaining the Madonna affair, but Porcupine, needless to +say, knew more about it than I. Telling about my meeting Red Shirt on +the Nozeri river, I called him a fool. Porcupine then said; "You call +everybody a fool. You called me a fool to-day at the school. If I'm a +fool, Red Shirt isn't," and insisted that he was not in the same group +with Red Shirt. "Then Red Shirt may be a four-flusher," I said and he +approved this new alias with enthusiasm. Porcupine is physically strong, +but when it comes to such terms, he knows less than I do. I guess all +Aizu guys are about the same. + +Then, when I disclosed to him about the raise of my salary and the +advance hint on my promotion by Red Shirt, Porcupine pished, and said, +"Then he means to discharge me." "Means to discharge you? But you mean +to get discharged?" I asked. "Bet you, no. If I get fired, Red Shirt +will have to go with me," he remarked with a lordly air. I insisted on +knowing how he was going to get Red Shirt kicked out with him, and he +answered that he had not thought so far yet. Yes, Porcupine looks +strong, but seems to be possessed of no abundance of brain power. I told +him about my refusal of the raise of my salary, and the Gov'nur was much +pleased, praising me with the remark, "That's the stuff for Yedo kids." + +"If Hubbard Squash does not like to go down to Nobeoka, why didn't you +do something to enable him remain here," I asked, and Porcupine said +that when he heard the story from Hubbard Squash, everything had been +settled already, but he had asked the principal twice and Red Shirt once +to have the transfer order cancelled, but to no purpose. Porcupine +bitterly condemned Hubbard Squash for being too good-natured. If Hubbard +Squash, he said, had either flatly refused or delayed the answer on the +pretext of considering it, when Red Shirt raised the question of +transfer, it would have been better for him. But he was fooled by the +oily tongue of Red Shirt, had accepted the transfer outright, and all +efforts by Porcupine who was moved by the tearful appeal of the mother, +proved unavailing. + +I said; "The transfer of Koga is nothing but a trick of Red Shirt to cop +the Madonna by sending Hubbard Squash away." + +"Yes," said Porcupine "That must be. Red Shirt looks gentle, but plays +nasty tricks. He is a sonovagun for when some one finds fault with him, +he has excuses prepared already. Nothing but a sound thumping will be +effective for fellows like him." + +He rolled up his sleeves over his plump arms as he spoke. I asked him, +by the way, if he knew jiujitsu, because his arms looked powerful. Then +he put force in his forearm, and told me to touch it. I felt its swelled +muscle which was hard as the pumic stone in the public bathhouse. + +I was deeply impressed by his massive strength, and asked him if he +could not knock five or six of Red Shirt in a bunch. "Of course," he +said, and as he extended and bent back the arm, the lumpy muscle rolled +round and round, which was very amusing. According to the statement of +Porcupine himself, this muscle, if he bends the arm back with force, +would snap a paper-string wound around it twice. I said I might do the +same thing if it were a paper-string, and he challenged me. "No, you +can't," he said. "See if you can." As it would not look well if I +failed, I did not try. + +"Say, after you have drunk all you want to-night at the dinner, take a +fall out of Red Shirt and Clown, eh?" I suggested to him for fun. +Porcupine thought for a moment and said, "Not to-night, I guess." I +wanted to know why, and he pointed out that it would be bad for Koga. + +"Besides, if I'm going to give it to them at all, I've to get them red +handed in their dirty scheme, or all the blame will be on me," he added +discretely. Even Porcupine seems to have wiser judgment than I. + +"Then make a speech and praise Mr. Koga sky-high. My speech becomes sort +of jumpy, wanting dignity. And at any formal gathering, I get lumpy in +my throat, and can't speak. So I leave it to you," I said. + +"That's a strange disease. Then you can't speak in the presence of other +people? It would be awkward, I suppose," he said, and I told him not +quite as much awkward as he might think. + +About then, the time for the farewell dinner party arrived, and I went +to the hall with Porcupine. The dinner party was to be held at +Kashin-tei which is said to be the leading restaurant in the town, but I +had never been in the house before. This restaurant, I understood, was +formerly the private residence of the chief retainer of the daimyo of +the province, and its condition seemed to confirm the story. The +residence of a chief retainer transformed into a restaurant was like +making a saucepan out of warrior's armor. + +When we two came there, about all of the guests were present. They +formed two or three groups in the spacious room of fifty mats. The +alcove in this room, in harmony with its magnificence, was very large. +The alcove in the fifteen-mat room which I occupied at Yamashiro-ya made +a small showing beside it. I measured it and found it was twelve feet +wide. On the right, in the alcove, there was a seto-ware flower vase, +painted with red designs, in which was a large branch of pine tree. Why +the pine twigs, I did not know, except that they are in no danger of +withering for many a month to come, and are economical. I asked the +teacher of natural history where that seto-ware flower vase is made. He +told me it was not a seto-ware but an imari. Isn't imari seto-ware? I +wondered audibly, and the natural history man laughed. I heard afterward +that we call it a seto-ware because it is made in Seto. I'm a Yedo kid, +and thought all china was seto-wares. In the center of the alcove was +hung a panel on which were written twenty eight letters, each letter as +large as my face. It was poorly written; so poorly indeed that I +enquired of the teacher of Confucius why such a poor work be hung in +apparent show of pride. He explained that it was written by Kaioku a +famous artist in the writing, but Kaioku or anyone else, I still declare +the work poorly done. + +By and by, Kawamura, the clerk, requested all to be seated. I chose one +in front of a pillar so I could lean against it. Badger sat in front of +the panel of Kaioku in Japanese full dress. On his left sat Red Shirt +similarly dressed, and on his right Hubbard Squash, as the guest of +honor, in the same kind of dress. I was dressed in a European suit, and +being unable to sit down, squatted on my legs at once. The teacher of +physical culture next to me, though in the same kind of rags as mine, +sat squarely in Japanese fashion. As a teacher of his line he appeared +to have well trained himself. Then the dinner trays were served and the +bottles placed beside them. The manager of the day stood up and made a +brief opening address. He was followed by Badger and Red Shirt. These +two made farewell addresses, and dwelt at length on Hubbard Squash being +an ideal teacher and gentleman, expressing their regret, saying his +departure was a great loss not only to the school but to them in person. +They concluded that it could not be helped, however, since the transfer +was due to his own earnest desire and for his own convenience. They +appeared to be ashamed not in the least by telling such a lie at a +farewell dinner. Particularly, Red Shirt, of these three, praised Hubard +Squash in lavish terms. He went so far as to declare that to lose this +true friend was a great personal loss to him. Moreover, his tone was so +impressive in its same old gentle tone that one who listens to him for +the first time would be sure to be misled. Probably he won the Madonna +by this same trick. While Red Shirt was uttering his farewell buncomb, +Porcupine who sat on the other side across me, winked at me. As an +answer of this, I "snooked" at him. + +No sooner had Red Shirt sat down than Porcupine stood up, and highly +rejoiced, I clapped hands. At this Badger and others glanced at me, and +I felt that I blushed a little. + +"Our principal and other gentlemen," he said, "particularly the head +teacher, expressed their sincere regret at Mr. Koga's transfer. I am of +a different opinion, and hope to see him leave the town at the earliest +possible moment. Nobeoka is an out-of-the-way, backwoods town, and +compared with this town, it may have more material inconveniences, but +according to what I have heard, Nobeoka is said to be a town where the +customs are simple and untainted, and the teachers and students still +strong in the straightforward characteristics of old days. I am +convinced that in Nobeoka there is not a single high-collared guy who +passes round threadbare remarks, or who with smooth face, entraps +innocent people. I am sure that a man like Mr. Koga, gentle and honest, +will surely be received with an enthusiastic welcome there. I heartily +welcome this transfer for the sake of Mr. Koga. In concluding, I hope +that when he is settled down at Nobeoka, he will find a lady qualified +to become his wife, and form a sweet home at an early date and +incidentally let the inconstant, unchaste sassy old wench die ashamed +...... a'hum, a'hum!" + +He coughed twice significantly and sat down. I thought of clapping my +hands again, but as it would draw attention, I refrained. When +Porcupine finished his speech, Hubbard Squash arose politely, slipped +out of his seat, went to the furthest end of the room, and having bowed +to all in a most respectful manner, acknowledged the compliments in the +following way; + +"On the occasion of my going to Kyushu for my personal convenience, I am +deeply impressed and appreciate the way my friends have honored me with +this magnificent dinner....... The farewell addresses by our principal +and other gentlemen will be long held in my fondest recollection....... +I am going far away now, but I hope my name be included in the future as +in the past in the list of friends of the gentlemen here to-night." + +Then again bowing, he returned to his seat. There was no telling how far +the "good-naturedness" of Hubbard Squash might go. He had respectfully +thanked the principal and the head teacher who had been fooling him. And +it was not a formal, cut-and-dried reply he made, either; by his manner, +tone and face, he appeared to have been really grateful from his heart. +Badger and Red Shirt should have blushed when they were addressed so +seriously by so good a man as Hubbard Squash, but they only listened +with long faces. + +After the exchange of addresses, a sizzling sound was heard here and +there, and I too tried the soup which tasted like anything but soup. +There was kamaboko in the kuchitori dish, but instead of being snow +white as it should be, it looked grayish, and was more like a poorly +cooked chikuwa. The sliced tunny was there, but not having been sliced +fine, passed the throat like so many pieces of chopped raw tunny. Those +around me, however, ate with ravenous appetite. They have not tasted, I +guess, the real Yedo dinner. + +Meanwhile the bottles began passing round, and all became more or less +"jacked up." Clown proceeded to the front of the principal and +submissively drank to his health. A beastly fellow, this! Hubbard Squash +made a round of all the guests, drinking to their health. A very onerous +job, indeed. When he came to me and proposed my health, I abandoned the +squatting posture and sat up straight. + +"Too bad to see you go away so soon. When are you going? I want to see +you off at the beach," I said. + +"Thank you, Sir. But never mind that. You're busy," he declined. He +might decline, but I was determined to get excused for the day and give +him a rousing send-off. + +Within about an hour from this, the room became pretty lively. + +"Hey, have another, hic; ain't goin', hic, have one on me?" One or two +already in a pickled state appeared on the scene. I was little tired, +and going out to the porch, was looking at the old fashioned garden by +the dim star light, when Porcupine came. + +"How did you like my speech? Wasn't it grand, though!" he remarked in a +highly elated tone. I protested that while I approved 99 per cent, of +his speech, there was one per cent, that I did not. "What's that one per +cent?" he asked. + +"Well, you said,...... there is not a single high-collared guy who with +smooth face entraps innocent people......." + +"Yes." + +"A 'high-collared guy' isn't enough." + +"Then what should I say?" + +"Better say,--'a high-collared guy; swindler, bastard, +super-swanker, doubleface, bluffer, totempole, spotter, who looks +like a dog as he yelps.'" + +"I can't get my tongue to move so fast. You're eloquent. In the first +place, you know a great many simple words. Strange that you can't make +a speech." + +"I reserve these words for use when I chew the rag. If it comes to +speech-making, they don't come out so smoothly." + +"Is that so? But they simply come a-running. Repeat that again for me." + +"As many times as you like. Listen,--a high-collared guy, swindler, +bastard, super-swanker ..." + +While I was repeating this, two shaky fellows came out of the room +hammering the floor. + +"Hey, you two gents, if won't do to run away. Won't let you off while +I'm here. Come and have a drink. Bastard? That's fine. Bastardly fine. +Now, come on." + +And they pulled Porcupine and me away. These two fellows really had come +to the lavatory, but soaked as they were, in booze bubbles, they +apparently forgot to proceed to their original destination, and were +pulling us hard. All booze fighters seem to be attracted by whatever +comes directly under their eyes for the moment and forget what they had +been proposing to do. + +"Say, fellows, we've got bastards. Make them drink. Get them loaded. You +gents got to stay here." + +And they pushed me who never attempted to escape against the wall. +Surveying the scene, I found there was no dish in which any edibles were +left. Some one had eaten all his share, and gone on a foraging +expedition. The principal was not there,--I did not know when he left. + +At that time, preceded by a coquetish voice, three or four geishas +entered the room. I was a bit surprised, but having been pushed against +the wall, I had to look on quietly. At the instant, Red Shirt who had +been leaning against a pillar with the same old amber pipe stuck into +his mouth with some pride, suddenly got up and started to leave the +room. One of the geishas who was advancing toward him smiled and +courtesied at him as she passed by him. The geisha was the youngest and +prettiest of the bunch. They were some distance away from me and I could +not see very well, but it seemed that she might have said "Good +evening." Red Shirt brushed past as if unconscious, and never showed +again. Probably he followed the principal. + +The sight of the geishas set the room immediately in a buzz and it +became noisy as they all raised howls of welcome. Some started the game +of "nanko" with a force that beat the sword-drawing practice. Others +began playing morra, and the way they shook their hands, intently +absorbed in the game, was a better spectacle than a puppet show. + +One in the corner was calling "Hey, serve me here," but shaking the +bottle, corrected it to "Hey, fetch me more sake." The whole room +became so infernally noisy that I could scarcely stand it. Amid this +orgy, one, like a fish out of water, sat down with his head bowed. It +was Hubbard Squash. The reason they have held this farewell dinner +party was not in order to bid him a farewell, but because they wanted +to have a jolly good time for themselves with John Barleycorn. He had +come to suffer only. Such a dinner party would have been better had it +not been started at all. + +After a while, they began singing ditties in outlandish voices. One of +the geishas came in front of me, and taking up a samisen, asked me to +sing something. I told her I didn't sing, but I'd like to hear, and she +droned out: + +"If one can go round and meet the one he wants, banging gongs and drums +...... bang, bang, bang, bang, bing, shouting after wandering Santaro, +there is some one I'd like to meet by banging round gongs and drums +...... bang, bang, bang, bang, b-i-n-g." + +She dashed this off in two breaths, and sighed, "O, dear!" She should +have sung something easier. + +Clown who had come near us meanwhile, remarked in his flippant tone: + +"Hello, dear Miss Su-chan, too bad to see your beau go away so soon." +The geisha pouted, "I don't know." Clown, regardless, began imitating +"gidayu" with a dismal voice,--"What a luck, when she met her sweet +heart by a rare chance...." + +The geisha slapped the lap of Clown with a "Cut that out," and Clown +gleefully laughed. This geisha is the one who made goo-goo eyes[J] at +Red Shirt. What a simpleton, to be pleased by the slap of a geisha, this +Clown. He said: + +"Say, Su-chan, strike up the string. I'm going to dance the Kiino-kuni." +He seemed yet to dance. + +On other side of the room, the old man of Confucius, twisting round his +toothless mouth, had finished as far as "...... dear Dembei-san" and is +asking a geisha who sat in front of him to couch him for the rest. Old +people seem to need polishing up their memorizing system. One geisha is +talking to the teacher of natural history: + +"Here's the latest. I'll sing it. Just listen. 'Margaret, the +high-collared head with a white ribbon; she rides on a bike, plays a +violin, and talks in broken English,--I am glad to see you.'" Natural +history appears impressed, and says; + +"That's an interesting piece. English in it too." + +Porcupine called "geisha, geisha," in a loud voice, and commanded; "Bang +your samisen; I'm going to dance a sword-dance." + +His manner was so rough that the geishas were startled and did not +answer. Porcupine, unconcerned, brought out a cane, and began performing +the sword-dance in the center of the room. Then Clown, having danced the +Kii-no-kuni, the Kap-pore[K] and the Durhma-san on the Shelf, almost +stark-naked, with a palm-fibre broom, began turkey-trotting about the +room, shouting "The Sino-Japanese negotiations came to a break......." +The whole was a crazy sight. + +I had been feeling sorry for Hubbard Squash, who up to this time had sat +up straight in his full dress. Even were this a farewell dinner held in +his honor, I thought he was under no obligation to look patiently in a +formal dress at the naked dance. So I went to him and persuaded him with +"Say, Koga-san, let's go home." Hubbard Squash said the dinner was in +his honor, and it would be improper for him to leave the room before the +guests. He seemed to be determined to remain. + +"What do you care!" I said, "If this is a farewell dinner, make it like +one. Look at those fellows; they're just like the inmates of a lunatic +asylum. Let's go." + +And having forced hesitating Hubbard Squash to his feet, we were +just leaving the room, when Clown, marching past, brandishing the +broom, saw us. + +"This won't do for the guest of honor to leave before us," he hollered, +"this is the Sino-Japanese negotiations. Can't let you off." He enforced +his declaration by holding the broom across our way. My temper had been +pretty well aroused for some time, and I felt impatient. + +"The Sino-Japanese negotiation, eh? Then you're a Chink," and I whacked +his head with a knotty fist. + +This sudden blow left Clown staring blankly speechless for a second or +two; then he stammered out: + +"This is going some! Mighty pity to knock my head. What a blow on this +Yoshikawa! This makes the Sino-Japanese negotiations the sure stuff." + +While Clown was mumbling these incoherent remarks, Porcupine, believing +some kind of row had been started, ceased his sword-dance and came +running toward us. On seeing us, he grabbed the neck of Clown and +pulled him back. + +"The Sino-Japane......ouch!......ouch! This is outrageous," and Clown +writhed under the grip of Porcupine who twisted him sideways and threw +him down on the floor with a bang. I do not know the rest. I parted from +Hubbard Squash on the way, and it was past eleven when I returned home. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +The town is going to celebrate a Japanese victory to-day, and there is +no school. The celebration is to be held at the parade ground, and +Badger is to take out all the students and attend the ceremony. As one +of the instructors, I am to go with them. The streets are everywhere +draped with flapping national flags almost enough to dazzle the eyes. +There were as many as eight hundred students in all, and it was +arranged, under the direction of the teacher of physical culture to +divide them into sections with one teacher or two to lead them. The +arrangement itself was quite commendable, but in its actual operation +the whole thing went wrong. All students are mere kiddies who, ever too +fresh, regard it as beneath their dignity not to break all regulations. +This rendered the provision of teachers among them practically useless. +They would start marching songs without being told to, and if they +ceased the marching songs, they would raise devilish shouts without +cause. Their behavior would have done credit to the gang of tramps +parading the streets demanding work. When they neither sing nor shout, +they tee-hee and giggle. Why they cannot walk without these disorder, +passes my understanding, but all Japanese are born with their mouths +stuck out, and no kick will ever be strong enough to stop it. Their +chatter is not only of simple nature, but about the teachers when their +back is turned. What a degraded bunch! I made the students apologize to +me on the dormitory affair, and considered the incident closed. But I +was mistaken. To borrow the words of the old lady in the boarding house, +I was surely wrong Mr. Wright. The apology they offered was not prompted +by repentance in their hearts. They had kowtowed as a matter of form by +the command of the principal. Like the tradespeople who bow their heads +low but never give up cheating the public, the students apologize but +never stop their mischiefs. Society is made up, I think it probable, of +people just like those students. One may be branded foolishly honest if +he takes seriously the apologies others might offer. We should regard +all apologies a sham and forgiving also as a sham; then everything would +be all right. If one wants to make another apologize from his heart, he +has to pound him good and strong until he begs for mercy from his heart. + +As I walked along between the sections, I could hear constantly the +voices mentioning "tempura" or "dango." And as there were so many of +them, I could not tell which one mentioned it. Even if I succeeded in +collaring the guilty one I was sure of his saying, "No, I didn't mean +you in saying tempura or dango. I fear you suffer from nervousness and +make wrong inferences." This dastardly spirit has been fostered from the +time of the feudal lords, and is deep-rooted. No amount of teaching or +lecturing will cure it. If I stay in a town like this for one year or +so, I may be compelled to follow their example, who knows,--clean and +honest though I have been. I do not propose to make a fool of myself by +remaining quiet when others attempt to play games on me, with all their +excuses ready-made. They are men and so am I--students or kiddies or +whatever they may be. They are bigger than I, and unless I get even with +them by punishment, I would cut a sorry figure. But in the attempt to +get even, if I resort to ordinary means, they are sure to make it a +boomerang. If I tell them, "You're wrong," they will start an eloquent +defence, because they are never short of the means of sidestepping. +Having defended themselves, and made themselves appear suffering +martyrs, they would begin attacking me. As the incident would have been +started by my attempting to get even with them, my defence would not be +a defence until I can prove their wrong. So the quarrel, which they had +started, might be mistaken, after all, as one begun by me. But the more +I keep silent the more they would become insolent, which, speaking +seriously, could not be permitted for the sake of public morale. In +consequence, I am obliged to adopt an identical policy so they cannot +catch men in playing it back on them. If the situation comes to that, it +would be the last day of the Yedo kid. Even so, if I am to be subjected +to these pin-pricking[L] tricks, I am a man and got to risk losing off +the last remnant of the honor of the Yedo kid. I became more convinced +of the advisability of returning to Tokyo quickly and living with Kiyo. +To live long in such a countrytown would be like degrading myself for a +purpose. Newspaper delivering would be preferable to being degraded so +far as that. + +I walked along with a sinking heart, thinking like this, when the head +of our procession became suddenly noisy, and the whole came to a full +stop. I thought something has happened, stepped to the right out of the +ranks, and looked toward the direction of the noise. There on the corner +of Otemachi, turning to Yakushimachi, I saw a mass packed full like +canned sardines, alternately pushing back and forth. The teacher of +physical culture came down the line hoarsely shouting to all to be +quiet. I asked him what was the matter, and he said the middle school +and the normal had come to a clash at the corner. + +The middle school and the normal, I understood, are as much friendly as +dogs and monkeys. It is not explained why but their temper was +hopelessly crossed, and each would try to knock the chip off the +shoulder of the other on all occasions. I presume they quarrel so much +because life gets monotonous in this backwoods town. I am fond of +fighting, and hearing of the clash, darted forward to make the most of +the fun. Those foremost in the line are jeering, "Get out of the way, +you country tax!"[12] while those in the rear are hollowing "Push them +out!" I passed through the students, and was nearing the corner, when I +heard a sharp command of "Forward!" and the line of the normal school +began marching on. The clash which had resulted from contending for the +right of way was settled, but it was settled by the middle school giving +way to the normal. From the point of school-standing the normal is said +to rank above the middle. + +[Footnote 12: The normal school in the province maintains the students +mostly on the advance-expense system, supported by the country tax.] + +The ceremony was quite simple. The commander of the local brigade read a +congratulatory address, and so did the governor, and the audience +shouted banzais. That was all. The entertainments were scheduled for the +afternoon, and I returned home once and started writing to Kiyo an +answer which had been in my mind for some days. Her request had been +that I should write her a letter with more detailed news; so I must get +it done with care. But as I took up the rolled letter-paper, I did not +know with what I should begin, though I have many things to write about. + +Should I begin with that? That is too much trouble. Or with this? It is +not interesting. Isn't there something which will come out smoothly, I +reflected, without taxing my head too much, and which will interest +Kiyo. There seemed, however, no such item as I wanted I grated the +ink-cake, wetted the writing brush, stared at the letter-paper--stared +at the letter-paper, wetted the writing brush, grated the ink-cake--and, +having repeated the same thing several times, I gave up the letter +writing as not in my line, and covered the lid of the stationery box. To +write a letter was a bother. It would be much simpler to go back to +Tokyo and see Kiyo. Not that I am unconcerned about the anxiety of Kiyo, +but to get up a letter to please the fancy of Kiyo is a harder job than +to fast for three weeks. + +I threw down the brush and letter-paper, and lying down with my bent +arms as a pillow, gazed at the garden. But the thought of the letter to +Kiyo would come back in my mind. Then I thought this way; If I am +thinking of her from my heart, even at such a distance, my sincerity +would find responsive appreciation in Kiyo. If it does find response, +there is no need of sending letters. She will regard the absence of +letters from me as a sign of my being in good health. If I write in case +of illness or when something unusual happens, that will be sufficient. + +The garden is about thirty feet square, with no particular plants worthy +of name. There is one orange tree which is so tall as to be seen above +the board fence from outside. Whenever I returned from the school I used +to look at this orange tree. For to those who had not been outside of +Tokyo, oranges on the tree are rather a novel sight. Those oranges now +green will ripen by degrees and turn to yellow, when the tree would +surely be beautiful. There are some already ripened. The old lady told +me that they are juicy, sweet oranges. "They will all soon be ripe, and +then help yourself to all you want," she said. I think I will enjoy a +few every day. They will be just right in about three weeks. I do not +think I will have to leave the town in so short a time as three weeks. + +While my attention was centered on the oranges, Porcupine[M] came in. + +"Say, to-day being the celebration[N] of victory, I thought I would get +something good to eat with you, and bought some beef." + +So saying, he took out a package covered with a bamboo-wrapper, and +threw it down in the center of the room. I had been denied the pleasure +of patronizing the noodle house or dango shop, on top of getting sick of +the sweet potatoes and tofu, and I welcomed the suggestion with "That's +fine," and began cooking it with a frying pan and some sugar borrowed +from the old lady. + +Porcupine, munching the beef to the full capacity of his mouth, asked me +if I knew Red Shirt having a favorite geisha. I asked if that was not +one of the geishas who came to our dinner the other night, and he +answered, "Yes, I got the wind of the fact only recently; you're sharp." + +"Red Shirt always speaks of refinement of character or of mental +consolation, but he is making a fool of himself by chasing round a +geisha. What a dandy rogue. We might let that go if he wouldn't make +fuss about others making fools of themselves. I understand through the +principal he stopped your going even to noodle houses or dango shops as +unbecoming to the dignity of the school, didn't he?" + +"According to his idea, running after a geisha is a mental consolation +but tempura or dango is a material pleasure, I guess. If that's mental +consolation, why doesn't the fool do it above board? You ought to see +the jacknape skipping out of the room when the geisha came into it the +other night,--I don't like his trying to deceive us, but if one were to +point it out for him, he would deny it or say it was the Russian +literature or that the haiku is a half-brother of the new poetry, and +expect to hush it up by twaddling soft nonsense. A weak-knee like him is +not a man. I believe he lived the life of a court-maid in former life. +Perhaps his daddy might have been a kagema at Yushima in old days." + +"What is a kagema?" + +"I suppose something very unmanly,--sort of emasculated chaps. Say, that +part isn't cooked enough. It might give you tape worm." + +"So? I think it's all right. And, say, Red Shirt is said to frequent +Kadoya at the springs town and meet his geisha there, but he keeps +it in dark." + +"Kadoya? That hotel?" + +"Also a restaurant. So we've got to catch him there with his geisha and +make it hot for him right to his face." + +"Catch him there? Suppose we begin a kind of night watch?" + +"Yes, you know there is a rooming house called Masuya in front of +Kadoya. We'll rent one room upstairs of the house, and keep peeping +through a loophole we could make in the shoji." + +"Will he come when we keep peeping at him?" + +"He may. We will have to do it more than one night. Must expect to keep +it up for at least two weeks." + +"Say, that would make one pretty well tired, I tell you. I sat up every +night for about one week attending my father when he died, and it left +me thoroughly down and out for some time afterward." + +"I don't care if I do get tired some. A crook like Red Shirt should not +go unpunished that way for the honor of Japan, and I am going to +administer a chastisement in behalf of heaven." + +"Hooray! If things are decided upon that way, I am game. And we are +going to start from to-night?" + +"I haven't rented a room at Masuya yet, so can't start it to-night." + +"Then when?" + +"Will start before long. I'll let you know, and want you help me." + +"Right-O. I will help you any time. I am not much myself at scheming, +but I am IT when it comes to fighting." + +While Porcupine and I were discussing the plan of subjugating Red Shirt, +the old lady appeared at the door, announcing that a student was wanting +to see Professor Hotta. The student had gone to his house, but seeing +him out, had come here as probable to find him. Porcupine went to the +front door himself, and returning to the room after a while, said: + +"Say, the boy came to invite us to go and see the entertainment of the +celebration. He says there is a big bunch of dancers from Kochi to dance +something, and it would be a long time before we could see the like of +it again. Let's go." + +Porcupine seemed enthusiastic over the prospect of seeing that dance, +and induced me to go with him. I have seen many kinds of dance in Tokyo. +At the annual festival of the Hachiman Shrine, moving stages come around +the district, and I have seen the Shiokukmi and almost any other +variety. I was little inclined to see that dance by the sturdy fellows +from Tosa province, but as Porcupine was so insistent, I changed my mind +and followed him out. I did not know the student who came to invite +Porcupine, but found he was the younger brother of Red Shirt. Of all +students, what a strange choice for a messenger! + +The celebration ground was decorated, like the wrestling amphitheater at +Ryogoku during the season, or the annual festivity of the Hommonji +temple, with long banners planted here and there, and on the ropes that +crossed and recrossed in the mid-air were strung the colors of all +nations, as if they were borrowed from as many nations for the occasion +and the large roof presented unusually cheerful aspect. On the eastern +corner there was built a temporary stage upon which the dance of Koehi +was to be performed. For about half a block, with the stage on the +right, there was a display of flowers and plant settings arranged on +shelves sheltered with reed screens. Everybody was looking at the +display seemingly much impressed, but it failed to impress me. If +twisted grasses or bamboos afforded so much pleasure, the gallantry of a +hunchback or the husband of a wrong pair should give as much pleasure to +their eyes. + +In the opposite direction, aerial bombs and fire works were steadily +going on. A balloon shot out on which was written "Long Live the +Empire!" It floated leisurely over the pine trees near the castle +tower, and fell down inside the compound of the barracks. Bang! A black +ball shot up against the serene autumn sky; burst open straight above +my head, streams of luminous green smoke ran down in an umbrella-shape, +and finally faded. Then another balloon. It was red with "Long Live the +Army and Navy" in white. The wind slowly carried it from the town +toward the Aioi village. Probably it would fall into the yard of Kwanon +temple there. + +At the formal celebration this morning there were not quite so many as +here now. It was surging mass that made me wonder how so many people +lived in the place. There were not many attractive faces among the +crowd, but as far as the numerical strength went, it was a formidable +one. In the meantime that dance had begun. I took it for granted that +since they call it a dance, it would be something similar to the kind of +dance by the Fujita troupe, but I was greatly mistaken. + +Thirty fellows, dressed up in a martial style, in three rows of ten +each, stood with glittering drawn swords. The sight was an eye-opener, +indeed. The space between the rows measured about two feet, and that +between the men might have been even less. One stood apart from the +group. He was similarly dressed but instead of a drawn sword, he carried +a drum hung about his chest. This fellow drawled out signals the tone of +which suggested a mighty easy-life, and then croaking a strange song, he +would strike the drum. The tune was outlandishly unfamiliar. One might +form the idea by thinking it a combination of the Mikawa Banzai and the +Fudarakuya. + +The song was drowsy, and like syrup in summer is dangling and slovenly. +He struck the drum to make stops at certain intervals. The tune was kept +with regular rhythmical order, though it appeared to have neither head +nor tail. In response to this tune, the thirty drawn swords flash, with +such dexterity and speed that the sight made the spectator almost +shudder. With live men within two feet of their position, the sharp +drawn blades, each flashing them in the same manner, they looked as if +they might make a bloody mess unless they were perfectly accurate in +their movements. If it had been brandishing swords alone without moving +themselves, the chances of getting slashed or cut might have been less, +but sometimes they would turn sideways together, or clear around, or +bend their knees. Just one second's difference in the movement, either +too quick or too late, on the part of the next fellow, might have meant +sloughing off a nose or slicing off the head of the next fellow. The +drawn swords moved in perfect freedom, but the sphere of action was +limited to about two feet square, and to cap it all, each had to keep +moving with those in front and back, at right and left, in the same +direction at the same speed. This beats me! The dance of the Shiokumi or +the Sekinoto would make no show compared with this! I heard them say the +dance requires much training, and it could not be an easy matter to make +so many dancers move in a unison like this. Particularly difficult part +in the dance was that of the fellow with drum stuck to his chest. The +movement of feet, action of hands, or bending of knees of those thirty +fellows were entirely directed by the tune with which he kept them +going. To the spectators this fellow's part appeared the easiest. He +sang in a lazy tune, but it was strange that he was the fellow who takes +the heaviest responsibility. + +While Porcupine and I, deeply impressed, were looking at the dance with +absorbing interest, a sudden hue and cry was raised about half a block +off. A commotion was started among those who had been quietly enjoying +the sights and all ran pell-mell in every direction. Some one was heard +saying "fight!" Then the younger brother of Red Shirt came running +forward through the crowd. + +"Please, Sir," he panted, "a row again! The middles are going to get +even with the normals and have just begun fighting. Come quick, Sir!" +And he melted somewhere into the crowd. + +"What troublesome brats! So they're at it again, eh? Why can't +they stop it!" + +Porcupine, as he spoke, dashed forward, dodging among the running crowd. +He meant, I think, to stop the fight, because he could not be an idle +spectator once he was informed of the fact. I of course had no intention +of turning tail, and hastened on the heels of Porcupine. The fight was +in its fiercest. There were about fifty to sixty normals, and the +middles numbered by some ninety. The normals wore uniform, but the +middles had discarded their uniform and put on Japanese civilian +clothes, which made the distinction between the two hostile camps easy. +But they were so mixed up, and wrangling with such violence, that we did +not know how and where we could separate them. + +Porcupine, apparently at a loss what to do, looked at the wild scene +awhile, then turned to me, saying: + +"Let's jump in and separate them. It will be hell if cops get on them." + +I did not answer, but rushed to the spot where the scuffle appeared +most violent. + +"Stop there! Cut this out! You're ruining the name of the school! Stop +this, dash you!" + +Shouting at the top of my voice, I attempted to penetrate the line which +seemed to separate the hostile sides, but this attempt did not succeed. +When about ten feet into the turmoil, I could neither advance nor +retreat. Right in my front, a comparatively large normal was grappling +with a middle about sixteen years of ago. + +"Stop that!" + +I grabbed the shoulder of the normal and tried to force them apart when +some one whacked my feet. On this sudden attack, I let go the normal and +fell down sideways. Some one stepped on my back with heavy shoes. With +both hands and knees upon the ground, I jumped up and the fellow on my +back rolled off to my right. I got up, and saw the big body of Porcupine +about twenty feet away, sandwiched between the students, being pushed +back and forth, shouting, "Stop the fight! Stop that!" + +"Say, we can't do anything!" I hollered at him, but unable to hear, I +think, he did not answer. + +A pebble-stone whiffled through the air and hit squarely on my cheek +bone; the same moment some one banged my back with a heavy stick +from behind. + +"Profs mixing in!" "Knock them down!" was shouted. + +"Two of them; big one and small. Throw stones at them!" Another shout. + +"Drat you fresh jackanapes!" I cried as I wallopped the head of a normal +nearby. Another stone grazed my head, and passed behind me. I did not +know what had become of Porcupine, I could not find him. Well, I could +not help it but jumped into the teapot to stop the tempest. I wasn't[O] +a Hottentot to skulk away on being shot at with pebble-stones. What did +they think I was anyway! I've been through all kinds of fighting in +Tokyo, and can take in all fights one may care to give me. I slugged, +jabbed and banged the stuffing out of the fellow nearest to me. Then +some one cried, "Cops! Cops! Cheese it! Beat it!" At that moment, as if +wading through a pond of molasses, I could hardly move, but the next I +felt suddenly released and both sides scampered off simultaneously. Even +the country fellows do creditable work when it comes to retreating, more +masterly than General Kuropatkin, I might say. + +I searched for Porcupine who, I found his overgown torn to shreds, was +wiping his nose. He bled considerably, and his nose having swollen was a +sight. My clothes were pretty well massed with dirt, but I had not +suffered quite as much damage as Porcupine. I felt pain in my cheek and +as Porcupine said, it bled some. + +About sixteen police officers arrived at the scene but, all the students +having beat it in opposite directions, all they were able to catch were +Porcupine and me. We gave them our names and explained the whole story. +The officers requested us to follow them to the police station which we +did, and after stating to the chief of police what had happened, we +returned home. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +The next morning on awakening I felt pains all over my body, due, I +thought, to having had no fight for a long time. This is not creditable +to my fame as regards fighting, so I thought while in bed, when the old +lady brought me a copy of the Shikoku Shimbun. I felt so weak as to need +some effort even reaching for the paper. But what should be man so +easily upset by such a trifling affair,--so I forced myself to turn in +bed, and, opening its second page, I was surprised. There was the whole +story of the fight of yesterday in print. Not that I was surprised by +the news of the fight having been published, but it said that one +teacher Hotta of the Middle School and one certain saucy Somebody, +recently from Tokyo, of the same institution, not only started this +trouble by inciting the students, but were actually present at the scene +of the trouble, directing the students and engaged themselves against +the students of the Normal School. On top of this, something of the +following effect was added. + +"The Middle School in this prefecture has been an object of admiration +by all other schools for its good and ideal behavior. But since this +long-cherished honor has been sullied by these two irresponsible +persons, and this city made to suffer the consequent indignity, we have +to bring the perpetrators to full account. We trust that before we take +any step in this matter, the authorities will have those 'toughs' +properly punished, barring them forever from our educational circles." + +All the types were italicized, as if they meant to administer +typographical chastisement upon us. "What the devil do I care!" I +shouted, and up I jumped out of bed. Strange to say, the pain in my +joints became tolerable. + +I rolled up the newspaper and threw it into the garden. Not satisfied, I +took that paper to the cesspool and dumped it there. Newspapers tell +such reckless lies. There is nothing so adept, I believe, as the +newspaper in circulating lies. It has said what I should have said. And +what does it mean by "one saucy Somebody who is recently from Tokyo?" Is +there any one in this wide world with the name of Somebody? Don't +forget, I have a family and personal name of my own which I am proud of. +If they want to look at my family-record, they will bow before every one +of my ancestors from Mitsunaka Tada down. Having washed my face, my +cheek began suddenly smarting. I asked the old lady for a mirror, and +she asked if I had read the paper of this morning. "Yes," I said, "and +dumped it in the cesspool; go and pick it up if you want it,"--and she +withdrew with a startled look. Looking in the mirror, I saw bruises on +my cheek. Mine is a precious face to me. I get my face bruised, and am +called a saucy Somebody as if I were nobody. That is enough. + +It will be a reflection on my honor to the end of my days if it is said +that I shunned the public gaze and kept out of the school on account of +the write-up in the paper. So, after the breakfast, I attended the +school ahead of all. One after the other, all coming to the school would +grin at my face. What is there to laugh about! This face is my own, +gotten up, I am sure, without the least obligation on their part. By and +by, Clown appeared. + +"Ha, heroic action yesterday. Wounds of honor, eh?" + +He made this sarcastic remark, I suppose, in revenge for the knock he +received on his head from me at the farewell dinner. + +"Cut out nonsense; you get back there and suck your old drawing +brushes!" Then he answered "that was going some," and enquired if it +pained much? + +"Pain or no pain, this is my face. That's none of your business," I +snapped back in a furious temper. Then Clown took his seat on the other +side, and still keeping his eye on me, whispered and laughed with the +teacher of history next to him. + +Then came Porcupine. His nose had swollen and was purple,--it was a +tempting object for a surgeon's knife. His face showed far worse (is it +my conceit that make this comparison?) than mine. I and Porcupine are +chums with desks next to each other, and moreover, as ill-luck would +have it, the desks are placed right facing the door. Thus were two +strange faces placed together. The other fellows, when in want of +something to divert them, would gaze our way with regularity. They say +"too bad," but they are surely laughing in their minds as "ha, these +fools!" If that is not so, there is no reason for their whispering +together and grinning like that. In the class room, the boys clapped +their hands when I entered; two or three of them banzaied. I could not +tell whether it was an enthusiastic approval or open insult. While I and +Porcupine were thus being made the cynosures of the whole school, Red +Shirt came to me as usual. + +"Too bad, my friend; I am very sorry indeed for you gentlemen," he said +in a semi-apologetic manner. "I've talked with the principal in regard +to the story in the paper, and have arranged to demand that the paper +retract the report, so you needn't worry on that score. You were plunged +into the trouble because my brother invited Mr. Hotta, and I don't know +how I can apologize you! I'm going to do my level best in this matter; +you gentlemen please depend on that." At the third hour recess the +principal came out of his room, and seemed more or less perturbed, +saying, "The paper made a bad mess of it, didn't it? I hope the matter +will not become serious." + +As to anxiety, I have none. If they propose to relieve me, I intend +to tender my resignation before I get fired,--that's all. However, if +I resign with no fault on my part, I would be simply giving the paper +advantage. I thought it proper to make the paper take back what it +had said, and stick to my position. I was going to the newspaper +office to give them a piece of my mind on my way back but having been +told that the school had already taken steps to have the story +retracted, I did not. + +Porcupine and I saw the principal and Red Shirt at a convenient hour, +giving them a faithful version of the incident. The principal and Red +Shirt agreed that the incident must have been as we said and that the +paper bore some grudge against the school and purposely published such a +story. Red Shirt made a round of personal visits on each teacher in the +room, defending and explaining our action in the affair. Particularly he +dwelt upon the fact that his brother invited Porcupine and it was his +fault. All teachers denounced the paper as infamous and agreed that we +two deserved sympathy. + +On our way home, Porcupine warned me that Red Shirt smelt suspicious, +and we would be done unless we looked out. I said he had been smelling +some anyway,--it was not necessarily so just from to-day. Then he said +that it was his trick to have us invited and mixed in the fight +yesterday,--"Aren't you on to that yet?" Well, I was not. Porcupine was +quite a Grobian but he was endowed, I was impressed, with a better +brain than I. + +"He made us mix into the trouble, and slipped behind and contrived to +have the paper publish the story. What a devil!" + +"Even the newspaper in the band wagon of Red Shirt? That surprises me. +But would the paper listen to Red Shirt so easily?" + +"Wouldn't it, though. Darn easy thing if one has friends in the +paper."[P] + +"Has he any?" + +"Suppose he hasn't, still that's easy. Just tell lies and say such and +such are facts, and the paper will take it up." + +"A startling revelation, this. If that was really a trick of Red Shirt, +we're likely to be discharged on account of this affair." + +"Quite likely we may be discharged." + +"Then I'll tender my resignation tomorrow, and back to Tokyo I go. I am +sick of staying in such a wretched hole." + +"Your resignation wouldn't make Red Shirt squeal." + +"That's so. How can he be made to squeal?" + +"A wily guy like him always plots not to leave any trace behind, and it +would be difficult to follow his track." + +"What a bore! Then we have to stand in a false light, eh? Damn it! I +call all kinds of god to witness if this is just and right!" + +"Let's wait for two or three days and see how it turns out. And if +we can't do anything else, we will have to catch him at the hot +springs town." + +"Leaving this fight affair a separate case?" + +"Yes. We'll have to his hit weak spot with our own weapon." + +"That may be good. I haven't much to say in planning it out; I leave it +to you and will do anything at your bidding." + +I parted from Porcupine then. If Red Shirt was really instrumental in +bringing us two into the trouble as Porcupine supposed, he certainly +deserves to be called down. Red Shirt outranks us in brainy work. And +there is no other course open but to appeal to physical force. No wonder +we never see the end of war in the world. Among individuals, it is, +after all, the question of superiority of the fist. + +Next day I impatiently glanced over the paper, the arrival of which I +had been waiting with eagerness, but not a correction of the news or +even a line of retraction could be found. I pressed the matter on +Badger when I went to the school, and he said it might probably appear +tomorrow. On that "tomorrow" a line of retraction was printed in tiny +types. But the paper did not make any correction of the story. I called +the attention of Badger to the fact, and he replied that that was about +all that could be done under the circumstance. The principal, with the +face like a badger and always swaggering, is surprisingly, wanting in +influence. He has not even as much power as to bring down a country +newspaper, which had printed a false story. I was so thoroughly +indignant that I declared I would go alone to the office and see the +editor-in-chief on the subject, but Badger said no. + +"If you go there and have a blowup with the editor," he continued, "it +would only mean of your being handed out worse stuff in the paper again. +Whatever is published in a paper, right or wrong, nothing can be done +with it." And he wound up with a remark that sounded like a piece of +sermon by a Buddhist bonze that "We must be contented by speedily +despatching the matter from our minds and forgetting it." + +If newspapers are of that character, it would be beneficial for us all +to have them suspended,--the sooner the better. The similarity of the +unpleasant sensation of being written-up in a paper and being +bitten-down by a turtle became plain for the first time by the +explanation of Badger. + +About three days afterward, Porcupine came to me excited, and said that +the time has now come, that he proposes to execute that thing we had +planned out. Then I will do so, I said, and readily agreed to join him. +But Porcupine jerked his head, saying that I had better not. I asked him +why, and he asked if I had been requested by the principal to tender my +resignation. No, I said, and asked if he had. He told me that he was +called by the principal who was very, very sorry for him but under the +circumstance requested him to decide to resign. + +"That isn't fair. Badger probably had been pounding his belly-drum too +much and his stomach is upside down," I said, "you and I went to the +celebration, looked at the glittering sword dance together, and jumped +into the fight together to stop it. Wasn't it so? If he wants you to +tender your resignation, he should be impartial and should have asked me +to also. What makes everything in the country school so dull-head. This +is irritating!" + +"That's wire-pulling by Red Shirt," he said. "I and Red Shirt cannot go +along together, but they think you can be left as harmless." + +"I wouldn't get along with that Red Shirt either. Consider me harmless, +eh? They're getting too gay with me." + +"You're so simple and straight that they think they can handle you in +any old way." + +"Worse still. I wouldn't get along with him, I tell you." + +"Besides, since the departure of Koga, his successor has not arrived. +Furthermore, if they fire me and you together, there will be blank spots +in the schedule hours at the school." + +"Then they expect me to play their game. Darn the fellow! See if they +can make me." + +On going to the school next day I made straightway for the room of the +principal and started firing; + +"Why don't you ask me to put in my resignation?" I said. + +"Eh?" Badger stared blankly. + +"You requested Hotta to resign, but not me. Is that right?" + +"That is on account of the condition of the school......" + +"That condition is wrong, I dare say. If I don't have to resign, there +should be no necessity for Hotta to resign either." + +"I can't offer a detailed explanation about that......as to Hotta, it +cannot be helped if he goes...... ......we see no need of your +resigning." + +Indeed, he is a badger. He jabbers something, dodging the point, but +appears complacent. So I had to say: + +"Then, I will tender my resignation. You might have thought that I +would remain peacefully while Mr. Hotta is forced to resign, but I +cannot do it" + +"That leaves us in a bad fix. If Hotta goes away and you follow him, we +can't teach mathematics here." + +"None of my business if you can't." + +"Say, don't be so selfish. You ought to consider the condition of the +school. Besides, if it is said that you resigned within one month of +starting a new job, it would affect your record in the future. You +should consider that point also." + +"What do I care about my record. Obligation is more important +than record." + +"That's right. What you say is right, but be good enough to take our +position into consideration. If you insist on resigning, then resign, +but please stay until we get some one to take your place. At any rate, +think the matter over once more, please." + +The reason was so plain as to discourage any attempt to think it over, +but as I took some pity on Badger whose face reddened or paled +alternately as he spoke, I withdrew on the condition that I would think +the matter over. I did not talk with Red Shirt. If I have to land him +one, it was better, I thought, to have it bunched together and make it +hot and strong. + +I acquainted Porcupine with the details of my meeting with Badger. He +said he had expected it to be about so, and added that the matter of +resignation can be left alone without causing me any embarrassment +until the time comes. So I followed his advice. Porcupine appears +somewhat smarter than I, and I have decided to accept whatever advices +he may give. + +Porcupine finally tendered his resignation, and having bidden farewell +of all the fellow teachers, went down to Minato-ya on the beach. But he +stealthily returned to the hot springs town, and having rented a front +room upstairs of Masuya, started peeping through the hole he fingered +out in the shoji. I am the only person who knows of this. If Red Shirt +comes round, it would be night anyway, and as he is liable to be seen by +students or some others during the early part in the evening, it would +surely be after nine. For the first two nights, I was on the watch till +about 11 o'clock, but no sight of Red Shirt was seen. On the third +night, I kept peeping through from nine to ten thirty, but he did not +come. Nothing made me feel more like a fool than returning to the +boarding house at midnight after a fruitless watch. In four or five +days, our old lady began worrying about me and advised me to quit night +prowling,--being married. My night prowling is different from that kind +of night prowling. Mine is that of administering a deserved +chastisement. But then, when no encouragement is in sight after one +week, it becomes tiresome. I am quick tempered, and get at it with all +zeal when my interest is aroused, and would sit up all night to work it +out, but I have never shone in endurance. However loyal a member of the +heavenly-chastisement league I may be, I cannot escape monotony. On the +sixth night I was a little tired, and on the seventh thought I would +quit. Porcupine, however, stuck to it with bull-dog tenacity. From early +in the evening up to past twelve, he would glue his eye to the shoji and +keep steadily watching under the gas globe of Kadoya. He would surprise +me, when I come into the room, with figures showing how many patrons +there were to-day, how many stop-overs and how many women, etc. Red +Shirt seems never to be coming, I said, and he would fold his arms, +audibly sighing, "Well, he ought to." If Red Shirt would not come just +for once, Porcupine would be deprived of the chance of handing out a +deserved and just punishment. + +I left my boarding house about 7 o'clock on the eighth night and after +having enjoyed my bath, I bought eight raw eggs. This would counteract +the attack of sweet potatoes by the old lady. I put the eggs into my +right and left pockets, four in each, with the same old red towel hung +over my shoulder, my hands inside my coat, went to Masuya. I opened the +shoji of the room and Porcupine greeted me with his Idaten-like face +suddenly radiant, saying: + +"Say, there's hope! There's hope!" Up to last night, he had been +downcast, and even I felt gloomy. But at his cheerful countenance, I too +became cheerful, and before hearing anything, I cried, "Hooray! Hooray!" + +"About half past seven this evening," he said, "that geisha named Kosuzu +has gone into Kadoya." + +"With Red Shirt?" + +"No." + +"That's no good then." + +"There were two geishas......seems to me somewhat hopeful." + +"How?" + +"How? Why, the sly old fox is likely to send his girls ahead[Q], and +sneak round behind later." + +"That may be the case. About nine now, isn't it?" + +"About twelve minutes past nine," said he, pulling out a watch with +a nickel case, "and, say put out the light. It would be funny to +have two silhouettes of bonze heads on the shoji. The fox is too +ready to suspect." + +I blew out the lamp which stood upon the lacquer-enameled table. The +shoji alone was dimly plain by the star light. The moon has not come up +yet. I and Porcupine put our faces close to the shoji, watching almost +breathless. A wall clock somewhere rang half past nine. + +"Say, will he come to-night, do you think? If he doesn't show up, I +quit." + +"I'm going to keep this up while my money lasts." + +"Money? How much have you?" + +"I've paid five yen and sixty sen up to to-day for eight days. I pay my +bill every night, so I can jump out anytime." + +"That's well arranged. The people of this hotel must have been rather +put out, I suppose." + +"That's all right with the hotel; only I can't take my mind off +the house." + +"But you take some sleep in daytime." + +"Yes, I take a nap, but it's nuisance because I can't go out." + +"Heavenly chastisement is a hard job, I'm sure," I said. "If he gives +us the slip after giving us such trouble, it would have been a +thankless task." + +"Well, I'm sure he will come to-night...--... Look, look!" His voice +changed to whisper and I was alert in a moment. A fellow with a black +hat looked up at the gas light of Kadoya and passed on into the +darkness. No, it was not Red Shirt. Disappointing, this! Meanwhile the +clock at the office below merrily tinkled off ten. It seems to be +another bum watch to-night. + +The streets everywhere had become quiet. The drum playing in the +tenderloin reached our ears distinctively. The moon had risen from +behind the hills of the hot springs. It is very light outside. Then +voices were heard below. We could not poke our heads out of the window, +so were unable to see the owners of the voices, but they were evidently +coming nearer. The dragging of komageta (a kind of wooden footwear) was +heard. They approached so near we could see their shadows. + +"Everything is all right now. We've got rid of the stumbling block." It +was undoubtedly the voice of Clown. + +"He only glories in bullying but has no tact." This from Red Shirt. + +"He is like that young tough, isn't he? Why, as to that young tough, he +is a winsome, sporty Master Darling." + +"I don't want my salary raised, he says, or I want to tender +resignation,--I'm sure something is wrong with his nerves." + +I was greatly inclined to open the window, jump out of the second story +and make them see more stars than they cared to, but I restrained myself +with some effort. The two laughed, and passed below the gas light, and +into Kadoya. + +"Say." + +"Well." + +"He's here." + +"Yes, he has come at last." + +"I feel quite easy now." + +"Damned Clown called me a sporty Master Darling." + +"The stumbling[R] block means me. Hell!" + +I and Porcupine had to waylay them on their return. But we knew no more +than the man in the moon when they would come out. Porcupine went down +to the hotel office, notifying them to the probability of our going out +at midnight, and requesting them to leave the door unfastened so we +could get out anytime. As I think about it now, it is wonderful how the +hotel people complied with our request. In most cases, we would have +been taken for burglars. + +It was trying to wait for the coming of Red Shirt, but it was still more +trying to wait for his coming out again. We could not go to sleep, nor +could we remain with our faces stuck to the shoji all the time our minds +constantly in a state of feverish agitation. In all my life, I never +passed such fretful, mortifying hours. I suggested that we had better go +right into his room and catch him but Porcupine rejected the proposal +outright. If we get in there at this time of night, we are likely to be +prevented from preceding much further, he said, and if we ask to see +him, they will either answer that he is not there or will take us into a +different room. Supposing we do break into a room, we cannot tell of all +those many rooms, where we can find him. There is no other way but to +wait for him to come out, however tiresome it may be. So we sat up till +five in the morning. + +The moment we saw them emerging from Kadoya, I and Porcupine followed +them. It was some time before the first train started and they had to +walk up to town. Beyond the limit of the hot springs town, there is a +road for about one block running through the rice fields, both sides of +which are lined with cedar trees. Farther on are thatch-roofed farm +houses here and there, and then one comes upon a dyke leading straight +to the town through the fields. We can catch them anywhere outside the +town, but thinking it would be better to get them, if possible, on the +road lined with cedar trees where we may not be seen by others, we +followed them cautiously. Once out of the town limit, we darted on a +double-quick time, and caught up with them. Wondering what was coming +after them, they turned back, and we grabbed their shoulders. We cried, +"Wait!" Clown, greatly rattled, attempted to escape, but I stepped in +front of him to cut off his retreat. + +"What makes one holding the job of a head teacher stay over night at +Kadoya!" Porcupine directly fired the opening gun. + +"Is there any rule that a head teacher should not stay over night at +Kadoya?" Red Shirt met the attack in a polite manner. He looked a +little pale. + +"Why the one who is so strict as to forbid others from going even to +noodle house or dango shop as unbecoming to instructors, stayed over +night at a hotel with a geisha!" + +Clown was inclined to run at the first opportunity; so kept I +before him. + +"What's that Master Darling of a young tough!" I roared. + +"I didn't mean you. Sir. No, Sir, I didn't mean you, sure." He insisted +on this brazen excuse. I happened to notice at that moment that I had +held my pockets with both hands. The eggs in both pockets jerked so when +I ran, that I had been holding them, I thrust my hand into the pocket, +took out two and dashed them on the face of Clown. The eggs crushed, and +from the tip of his nose the yellow streamed down. Clown was taken +completely surprised, and uttering a hideous cry, he fell down on the +ground and begged for mercy. I had bought those eggs to eat, but had not +carried them for the purpose of making "Irish Confetti" of them. +Thoroughly roused, in the moment of passion, I had dashed them at him +before I knew what I was doing. But seeing Clown down and finding my +hand grenade successful, I banged the rest of the eggs on him, +intermingled with "Darn you, you sonovagun!" The face of Clown was +soaked in yellow. + +While I was bombarding Clown with the eggs, Porcupine was firing at +Red[S] Shirt. + +"Is there any evidence that I stayed there over night with a geisha?" + +"I saw your favorite old chicken go there early in the evening, and am +telling you so. You can't fool me!" + +"No need for us of fooling anybody. I stayed there with Mr. Yoshikawa, +and whether any geisha had gone there early in the evening or not, +that's none of my business." + +"Shut up!" Porcupine wallopped him one. Red Shirt tottered. + +"This is outrageous! It is rough to resort to force before deciding the +right or wrong of it!" + +"Outrageous indeed!" Another clout. "Nothing but wallopping will be +effective on you scheming guys." The remark was followed by a shower +of blows. I soaked Clown at the same time, and made him think he saw +the way to the Kingdom-Come. Finally the two crawled and crouched at +the foot of a cedar tree, and either from inability to move or to +see, because their eyes had become hazy, they did not even attempt to +break away. + +"Want more? If so, here goes some more!" With that we gave him more +until he cried enough. "Want more? You?" we turned to Clown, and he +answered "Enough, of course." + +"This is the punishment of heaven on you grovelling wretches. Keep +this in your head and be more careful hereafter. You can never talk +down justice." + +The two said nothing. They were so thoroughly cowed that they could +not speak. + +"I'm going to neither, run away nor hide. You'll find me at Minato-ya on +the beach up to five this evening. Bring police officers or any old +thing you want," said Porcupine. + +"I'm not going to run away or hide either. Will wait for you at the same +place with Hotta. Take the case to the police station if you like, or do +as you damn please," I said, and we two walked our own way. + +It was a little before seven when I returned to my room. I started +packing as soon as I was in the room, and the astonished old lady asked +me what I was trying to do. I'm going to Tokyo to fetch my Madam, I +said, and paid my bill. I boarded a train and came to Minato-ya on the +beach and found Porcupine asleep upstairs. I thought of writing my +resignation, but not knowing how, just scribbled off that "because of +personal affairs, I have to resign and return, to Tokyo. Yours truly," +and addressed and mailed it to the principal. + +The steamer leaves the harbor at six in the evening. Porcupine and I, +tired out, slept like logs, and when we awoke it was two o'clock. We +asked the maid if the police had called on us, and she said no. Red +Shirt and Clown had not taken it to the police, eh? We laughed. + +That night I and Porcupine left the town. The farther the vessel steamed +away from the shore, the more refreshed we felt. From Kobe to Tokyo we +boarded a through train and when we made Shimbashi, we breathed as if we +were once more in congenial human society. I parted from Porcupine at +the station, and have not had the chance of meeting him since. + +I forgot to tell you about Kiyo. On my arrival at Tokyo, I rushed into +her house swinging my valise, before going to a hotel, with "Hello, +Kiyo, I'm back!" + +"How good of you to return so soon!" she cried and hot tears streamed +down her cheeks. I was overjoyed, and declared that I would not go to +the country any more but would start housekeeping with Kiyo in Tokyo. + +Some time afterward, some one helped me to a job as assistant engineer +at the tram car office. The salary was 25 yen a month, and the house +rent six. Although the house had not a magnificent front entrance, Kiyo +seemed quite satisfied, but, I am sorry to say, she was a victim of +pneumonia and died in February this year. On the day preceding her +death, she asked me to bedside, and said, "Please, Master Darling, if +Kiyo is dead, bury me in the temple yard of Master Darling. I will be +glad to wait in the grave for my Master Darling." + +So Kiyo's grave is in the Yogen temple at Kobinata. + +--(THE END)-- + +[A: Insitent] +[B: queershaped] +[C: The original just had the Japanese character, Unicode U+5927, sans + description] +[D: aweinspiring] +[E: about about] +[F: atomosphere] +[G: Helloo] +[H: you go] +[I: goo-goo eyes] +[J: proper hyphenation unknown] +[K: pin-princking] +[L: Procupine] +[M: celabration] +[N: wans't] +[O: paper.] +[P: girl shead] +[Q: stumblieg] +[R: Rad] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Botchan (Master Darling) +by Mr. Kin-nosuke Natsume, trans. by Yasotaro Morri + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING) *** + +This file should be named btchn10.txt or btchn10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, btchn11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, btchn10a.txt + +Produced by David Starner +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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