LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

29/372

JOY AT HIS BIRTH. 13 "I was born in a family which served a prince of Japan, who had his palace in the city of Y edo (called Tokyo, the eastern capital, since 1868), within a short distance of the Shogun's castle, and his possession of land in a province of Kodzuke, the castle town of which is called Annaka, and is situated on one of the two roads directly extending from Yedo to Kyoto. It is a humble town having a population not exceed­ing four thousand, and lies seventy miles nearly north of the capital. His palace at Yedo was surrounded by the extensive houses of his retainers, which exactly formed a square inclosure. "I was born within this inclosure on the 14th of January, in the year of 1843.1 Previous to my birth four girls were born. So I was the first son in the family. In those days, when the feudal system was still in full sway, boys were much preferred to girls in those families which are entitled to wear two swords as a mark of the rank called Samurai by the native tongue; for there must be a male heir to the family in order to perpetuate its rank and allowance in case of the father's death. For that reason my birth caused great joy to the family, and particu­larly to my grandfather. When he heard a boy was born he exclaimed Shimeta I which is a most joyous exclamatory phrase often used by our people when they come to realize some long cherished hopes or wishes. "Just about that time it was a part of our New Year days, as our old lunar month came a month later than our solar year.2 It was then a high time with us. 1 Old Japanese style. According to our mode of reckoning, Feb­ruary 12, 1843. 2 The Gregorian calendar was not adopted by the Japanese govern-

※このページを正しく表示するにはFlashPlayer10.2以上が必要です