LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

347/372

FUNERAL SERVICES. 329 that I saw he wore his ceremonial dress. He came in very gently and made a most profound bow; then, as if speaking to a live person, he said: 'Mr. N eesima, while you were living I was much indebted to you. I am sorry I have not accomplished more. In the fu­ture I will try to do better; ' and, shedding tears like a child, he left the room. The next day, as the coffin was being borne away, I heard him say, 'The Marquis --and Mr.--were carried to their graves by the public undertaker; but Mr. Neesima is taken thither on the shoulders of those who will do great honor to their country.' " The two persons referred to were the late prime minister and the wealthiest merchant of Tokyo. The funeral services took place on Monday, Janu­ary 27th, in the presence of the school, graduates from all parts of the empire, the provincial and city author­ities, and representatives of the foreign missions. A large tent had been erected in the college grounds, as the chapel could not accommodate the assembled crowd, which numbered over four thousand. The walk leading from the gate to the chapel was lined by fifty of those immense bouquets of flowers and ever­green of which the Japanese are so lavish on ceremo­nial occasions. The bier was hidden in flowers. A brief sermon was preached by Mr. Kosaki, Mr. Nee­sima's successor, from the text : "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." The pro­cession, a mile and a half in length, was formed in a heavy rain, the students again acting as bearers. They had from the first insisted upon doing everything possible with their own hands, and had themselves pre­pared the grave. Japan is essentially a land of con-

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