freedom. I have set forth the facts in some detail so that the true tradition of America in the matter may clearly appear.

Says Dr. E. B. Greene. Professor of History in the University of Illinois:

"A study of American history shows that the well-established tradition of the Republic has been that of sympathy with popular government abroad; that this sympathy has repeatedly been declared in public utterances of our official representatives; and that we have never felt ourselves bound to suppress in the formal documents of our Government our deep interest in free institutions, and our sense of the essential unity of the cause of liberalism and self-government throughout the world. "*

Have these facts of the past no bearing on struggles for freedom going on in the world now? Have they no bearing upon the greatest of all such struggles, that of the people of India to free themselves from a foreign yoke? If Washington and Monroe and Clay and Webster were alive to-day would great India in her brave and just struggle for freedom and nationhood, lack friends, sympathizers and defenders in America? Who can believe it? Our fathers did not regard the struggle of any oppressed people anywhere, to shake off their yoke and obtain freedom, as the mere domestic affair of the oppressing nation. They regarded it as a matter of world concern, which ought to enlist the interest and sympathy of every liberty-loving nation and person in the world. In an address delivered before the

India Society of New York in February Yorkin 1925, Mr. Oswald Garrison Villard, Editor of "The Nation", said:

"I believe that what is going on in India is of such enormous import to America and to the whole world that no American has a right to overlook it. I think the world needs nothing so much to-day as to see the Indian people set themselves with all their minds and with all their strength to the task of self-government, however great the odds with which they must contend. I believe that the heartfelt sympathy of Americans, yes. even those Americans who love England and as I do, should go forth to the people of India in all their aspirations.

In such words as these we hear the voice of Washington, of Jefferson, of Franklin, of the Adamses, of Patrick Henry, of Webster, of Garrison, of Channing, of Sumner, of Lincoln, of all the men who have done most to make this country illustrious and honored by the world as a leader in the cause of human freedom.

Nothing can be more clear than that the true tradition and spirit of America as manifested in all our noblest history is that expressed in the ringing lines of our honored poet, James Russell Lowell :

set and drawn. Their expression is almost that of a mad dog. Each has the ancient head-dress of his class---the big chonmage. One is short and has a sword-scar across one cheek. His nostrils are distended and

the corners of his eyes wrinkled up with an expression of anger and tenseness. On his hollow cheeks a rough growth of whiskers. His whole appearance betokens weariness. The other, a dark-skinned man, with bushy eyebrows, looks as weary as his companion.

The short man, Torajiro Yoshida, is wearing the typical samurai garb. His friend, Jujiro Kaneko, has his figure concealed beneath a sort of overcoat.

The American ships had come, and for more than a week the two had been loitering about in the hope of getting aboard. First they induced boatmen to row them out to the ships' anchorage in Kanagawa Bay at night, but just as they were about to steal aboard, the boatmen betrayed them. Another time they smuggled themselves aboard one of the boats that took coal and water to the strangers, but there were yoriki (old-style policemen) in charge, who prevented them from boarding the American vessels.

Then they heard that a party party of, the Americans was to land at the village of Yokohama, and they hastened there from their inn at Hodogaya, intending to hand them a letter addressed to the officers in command, pleading for permission to come aboard. But when they reached Yokohama, they found nothing but excited, gossiping crowds. The Americans had already returned to their ships.

One day they stole a boat, intending to row out to the anchorage at night-Kaneko being handy with an oar. But when they returned after dark, the boat had gone. They stood in despair, while the noise of the waves and the yelping of stray dogs seemed to mock them.

"I'm just beginning to learn that stealing is not as easy as it looks," said little Yoshida with a laugh, but with no thought of yielding. Then the rain began to pour down, and they were drenched when they got back to their inn at midnight.

They spent two days at the dirty country. inn, gnashing their teeth in helpless chagrin. The next night, they understood, would be their last

chance. The day was gloriously fine; the beauty of spring seemed to have spread to the ocean. As they waited for night to come, suddenly there was a move

ment on the ships' decks. The black monsters weighed anchor and made off in the direction of Yedo (Tokio), greatly alarming the Japanese officers who had been commissioned to watch their movements. However, after approaching the Yedo offing, they turned towards the open sea. The rumour spread through the village that one of them was returning direct to America and the rest making for Shimoda. In the bitterness of their disappointment Yoshida and Kaneko cried aloud. However, having ascertained where the ships had gone, they set off on foot from Hodogaya to follow them, passing through Kamakura, Odawara and Atami. On the 17th of the month they sat out from Atami for Ito, and as they set down to take their lunch in an orange grove near the beach about three miles from Ito— where the fragrant orange blossoms were already bursting-they heard voices:

"Look, look! The sengoku (thousand-ton) ships! No, bigger than sengoku. See, there are two".

Yoshida looked towards the sea and caught a glimpse of the black monsters far out, furiously ploughing the ocean and belching black smoke-the ships they could not forget even in their dreams with sails set and their big paddle-wheels turning, carrying them over the ocean like huge

whales.

"Look, how splendid!" said Yoshida, forgetting his patriotic resentment for the moment in the enthusiasm of admiration. "They're wonderful people, these Westerners," answered Kaneko, adding, with patriotic fervour, "To hell with them, chasing over our sacred seas as if they owned them He stamped his foot, as if bemoaning that he had no wings to fly.

Yoshida took a mouthful of rice from the bowl he had brought from Atami, and said. "Never mind, mate. Just wait a few years. I'm going to America. I'm going to learn their art of warfare. They will teach and then I'll drive them out with their own weapons-see? Ha, ha, ha!"

II

me

They entered the town of Ito the following morning. The two steamers they had seen were at anchor in the harbour. Having taken a room in an inn, they went to the officials of the port and asked questions in a casual manner. They learned that these two ships had come in advance of the main

squadron, bringing no interpreter able to speak either Japanese, Chinese or Dutch, so that there was much difficulty in arranging even for their supplies of coal and water. Our adventurers decided that it was hopeless to try to approach the Americans without interpreters. There was nothing to do but wait.

The next morning Yoshida noticed that the rash which had appeared on his fingers and wrists was coming to a head. He had first noticed it when they were leaving Kamakura. Each day those tiny pimples itched intolerably, as if innumerable little insects were crawling over his

skin. He scratched and and scratched, but the scratching brought him nothing but more itching. As the days passed, not only did the rash spread, but the itchiness became intense, so more

that he could not sleep at night. The disease spread to his abdomen and loins and, with less virulence, down his thigh. He knew then that it was scabies. He thought he had caught it from a person at the Hodogaya inn, who

and handed them the letter previously prepared. Each night they would leave their inn, pretending that they were going to stay at Shimoda, and would go down to the shore. to seek some means of reaching the American ships. When the night was was far advanced, they would settle down to rest in the open.

On the night of the 25th they stole a boat from a stream that runs through Shimoda, but the sea was stormy and they found it impossible to reach the offing. They were well-nigh exhausted when they got back to shore at Kakizaki. Taking shelter in the Benten shrine there, they were soon asleep.

had scratched the hands frequently. He tried not to worry about it, but the attempt was in vain. He could not but fume to think that so small a thing as this itch might stand in the way of the accomplishment of his great ambition. He would try to cure it while waiting for his chance to board the fleet. He was encouraged to hear that the hot springs at the village of Rentaiji, about three miles from Shimoda, had a great reputation for curing skin-diseases. He went there and took the waters.

The next day the Powhatan, with Commodore Perry aboard, entered the harbour, followed by three other vessels. From the 21st to the 26th of the month Yoshida and Kaneko schemed day and night to get aboard. Once they followed some of the foreigners, who were roving in the suburbs of Shimoda

On the evening of the 27th when they came down to the beach at Hakozaki they found that the Mississippi had changed her anchorage and was less than two cho off shore. (A cho is about 120 yards). And the flagship, the Powhatan, was only about half a cho from the Mississippi. At this good luck Yoshida and Kaneko felt that they were walking on air. And there on the beach below the shrine were two boats, which seemed to be asking to be stolen. They hurried back to the inn at Rentaiji, took supper and made their preparations, pretending, as usual, that they were going to spend the night at Shimoda.

Yoshida packed his few clothes, two Dutch grammar books and a small selection of Chinese poems into two packages. He did not attempt to take anything more.

When they returned to the beach after nightfall, the sea was surprisingly calm, and the dome of heaven was lit with a myriad

twinkling stars. Their stood the great black forms of the six ships, like islands, each with a blue light swinging at the masthead. Their hearts throbbed for joy. It was disappointing to find that they could not move the boats, which had been left high and dry with the ebbing of the tide; but they settled down to rest in the shrine, awaiting the rise of the tide. Waking about midnight, they could see by the starlight that the water was up to the foot of the shrine. It was full tide. They ran eagerly to boats, with never a thought but to seize chance of reaching the stranger ships. their troubles were not over. The long sculling sweeps with which the boats were worked were there, but the little pivots, without which the oars were useless, had been broken. They tried both boats. The one was as bad as the other. By way of makeshift they tied the oars to the gunwale with their cotton obi (sashes). These soon wore through under the strain, and the strong outer obi, made of kokura silk, had to be used.

as

the the

But

The sea had looked very calm from the beach, but in the offing it was quite rough, and they were in no little danger. Moreover, Yoshida had no experience of rowing, he put forth tremendous exertions to very little purpose, rather spoiling the work that his mate was doing. The boat turned this way and that, now headed straight for the Mississippi and a moment later showing the lights of Shimoda or the trees of Kakizaki above its bow. Their arms ached at first and at length became almost numb. But at last they were alongside the Mississippi.

"Hullo, Americans," shouted Kaneko, placing one foot aboard the ship.

They heard strange voices calling shrilly to one another and saw outlines of human figures appear and disappear above them, Then glass lamp was lowered over the side. Looking up they could see several foreigners' faces.

Yoshida took out his yatate (portable inkpot and brush-pen) and wrote in Chinese characters:

"We wish to go to to America. If thou hast kindness, I pray thee introduce us thy Commodore."

to

Holding the paper, he climbed up the accommodation ladder.

Unfortunately, there was no interpreter aboard. One of the foreigners took the paper and wrote something in a foreign

language on it, then pointed to the Powhatan making signs to Yoshida to go there.

Although he understood what was meant, Yoshida felt it was impossible for them to row out to the flagship, well-nigh exhausted as they were by the effort of reaching the Mississippi. He pointed to one of the ship's boats and by signs asked the sailors to lower it and take them to the other ship, but the request was not granted.

There was nothing for it but to face the waves again. The further they went out the rougher the sea became. Tired, and with hands badly blistered, they could not get the boat to go as they wished. When, after a long struggle they reached the Powhatan and were struggling to get to the lee side, they were driven in between the rudder and the hull, and the waves banged their boat against the side of the ship with a thump that was sure to be heard by the men on watch. Quickly came the black figure of a foreigner clambering down the rudder. He held a boat-hook with which he tried to push their boat of, shoutiug and railing at them as he did so.

Quick as thought Yoshida leaped on to the rudder, and Kaneko tried to hand him a painter. But the foreigner interfered. So Kaneko also jumped on to the rudder, dropping the line in the confusion of the moment.

The boat drifted off, with their swords and other belongings. But they had not a moment to think of their loss. They were aboard the flagship.

The sailor, thinking they wanted to see the novelties aboard, showed them the compass and other things. They shook their heads and made signs that they wanted writing materials :-theirs had gone with their boat,

Soon came Williams, the interpreter. He asked them to follow him and led them to a cabin, where a big lamp was burning. Bright as day it seemed to them, as they contrasted the radiance of the lamp with the glimmer of a Japanese andon (black paper lantern).

Two men were there besides the interpreter -Davis, the Lieutenant-Commander of the Powhatan, and Watson, the ship's doctor. Dr. Watson was able to speak and read Dutch and he had some knowledge of the life of Oriental peoples.

They gave Yoshida a quill pen. He had never used one one before, but he wrote in Chinese that it was their earnest wish to go

to America. Williams looked at what he had written and asked in fluent Japanese what language was that.

"It's Japanese," said Yoshida.

"Looks more like Chinese to me," said Willaims laughing.

His familiarity with Japanese delighted them. Indeed they were pleased beyond words with their good luck-like a baby that has found its mother's breast after long seeking.

Their scheme had become a passion. Here was their chance to fulfil it.

III

A conference was called in the Commodore's room to discuss whether the request of the two Japanese should be granted. Commodore Perry and his staff officers, the Commander of the Powhatan and Lieutenant Davis, Dr. Watson and Mr. Williams, the interpreter, were present. It was already after 11 o'clock, but so unusual an affair had created much excitement. Davis was more deeply stirred than any, having caught something of the enthusiasm of his visitors, which had impressed him as soon as he saw them.

The conference seemed inclined to go against them.

"Is that your idea, then-that we ought to turn them down ?" asked Davis, in an argumentative tone.

"Well, I guess it's no use running the risk of complicating things between the two Governments over a little affair like this," said the Commander, who had taken this attitude from the beginning.

us a

thing

Davis rose from his chair saying, “No, No Excuse me Commodore, but I can't see it that way. Even if it should cause little trouble, it's the fair and decent to do. I couldn't help admiring them when we got that letter of theirs the other dayclever, too! I'm for them. I like their enthusiasm. I never knew before that there were fellows like these among the Orientals. And their letter was so reasonable. Don't you think so? Say, chief, wouldn't it be just fine to take these fellows back to God's own country and show them a bit of civilisation! Eh! You'll do it, Commodore, won't you?"

Davis rapped on the table as he spoke and his eyes shone with the enthusiasm of youth. He was little more than thirty years old.

"Take a reef in, boy, you're getting excited. We've got to be a bit careful, you

know. Better look at the thing from both sides, don't you think?" So spoke the bearded Commander, as if soothing a youngster. "We can't tell what there may be behind this little affair. These Japanese have made a pretty appeal to our sympathy, but what's their little game, I'd like to know. They may be straight or they may be out to get the best of us some way. Even in the little time we've been among these people, we've found out that they're as keen as mustard-real cunning. Ever since since we got their letter, I've been wondering whether these two were not spies. Isn't there every reason to think that the Government would employ men who can write in such an appealing way? It looks a sure thing to me that the Government has sent them here--disguised as poverty-stricken beggars---in the hope of tripping us up. You remember what that big highbrow Hayashi told us at Yokohama---that it's against the law of the country to go abroad. So, you see, if we help these young fellows, we'll be running up against the Japanese law, and I'm inclined to think they've been sent here by the Government just to see if they can catch us. See? If we took them away there'd be a hell of a fuss made about it and they might smash up the treaty and everything."

you

"Oh, no, Cap'n. You're too suspicious," said Davis. "You haven't seen these two. You couldn't think that way if you did. Gee, how their eyes shine at the thought that they're going to see America! No--could never believe that they were dirty spies. Their clothes are soaked and their hands covered with blisters---they must have had a deuce of a struggle to get here. If they were spies, I guess they'd have found an easier way than that. And in getting aboard they lost their swords, and you know what that means to these samurai fellows--almost worse than losing dear life. They're all right. They want to go to America, and they were ready to risk anything for it."

Commodore Perry, who had maintained a dignified mien, now began to speak in a grave tone:

"Yes, I'd like them to come with us, and my reason for balking at it isn't quite as you think, Davis. It's this way: We go to a deuce of a lot of bother to get a treaty signed and our Government and their Government bound by it-and then these two fellows come along and want us to help them to break the law of Japan. We'd like