his opponents. For to a man of the proud and
sensitive East, shot and shell are far easier to face than ridicule.

On a certain afternoon I had gone to meet with a committee to discuss a
question pertaining to a school regulation, by which the girl students
of the city schools would be granted liberty in dress and conduct more
equal with the boys. Of course Kishimoto San stood firm against so
radical a measure. Another member of the committee asked him if he did
not believe in progress. The unbending old man answered sternly:

"Progress--yes. But a progress based on the traditions of our august
ancestors, not a progress founded on Western principle, which, if
adopted by us unmodified, means that we, with our legions of years
behind us, our forefathers descended from the gods, as they were, will
be neither wholly East nor West but a something as distorted as a
dragon's body with the heads and wings of an eagle. Progress! Have not
our misconceptions of progress cost us countless lives and sickening
humiliations? Has not the breaking of traditions threatened the very
foundations of our homes? Small wonder the foreign nations offer
careless insult when we stoop to make monkeys of ourselves and adopt
customs and assume a civilization that can no more be grafted on to our
nation than cabbage can be grown on plum trees. Take what is needful to
strengthen and uplift. Make the highest and best of any land your own
standard and live thereby. But remember, in long years ago the divine
gods created you Japanese, and to the end of eternity, struggle as you
may, as such you cannot escape your destiny!"

As he finished his impassioned speech, a ray of sun fell upon his face,
lifted in stern warning to his opponents. He was like a figure of the
Past demanding reverence and a hearing from the Present.

For the time he won his point and I was glad, for it was Kishimoto San's
last public speech. Soon after he was stricken with a lingering illness.

In previous talks he had neither asked after his granddaughter nor
referred to her. But this afternoon, taking advantage of his look of
half-pleasure caused by the victory he had won single handed, I took
occasion, when offering congratulations, to give him every opportunity
to inquire as to Zura and her progress. I was very proud of what I had
done with the girl, of the change her affection for Jane and me had
accomplished.

Naturally I was anxious to exhibit my handiwork. As well tempt a