186 ALL ABOARD FOR SUNRISE LANDS.

lighted wick. People are using kerosene lamps in many places.”

The. boys thought it would be fun to listen to a story seated around
a Japanese brazier. The doctor began :

“Tt is claimed that the authentic history of Japan goes back to
the seventh century before Christ. It is not easy to give precise
dates, but when we think of Rome’s long existence, we must remember
that Japan is at least as ancient a country, and probably has had a
longer life. The history of Japan is full of exciting deeds, bristling
with strife, a great many heroes figuring in the contests.

“Japan makes me think of England, in some things. They both are
islands, and both have been jealous of foreign interference, and both have
had civil wars. Just as England had its war of the Roses, so Japan had
its war of the Chrysanthemums, that flower representing a kingly
line. Then England, you know, had its Spanish Armada; that big,
burly collection of old scows coming to overthrow English power.
So Japan was threatened by a Chinese Armada. There were one hun-
dred and seven thousand Chinese, Tartars and Coreans in thirty-five
hundred junks. It is now six centuries almost to a ycar that this
big flock of evil birds, their wings outspread in an evil flight, came
toward Japan. The birds folded their wings off the city of Daizaifu.
Now the Japanese are brave. The children are trained to despise
death, and to have a very delicate sense of honor, which is sometimes
very foolish and very bloody.

“The Japanese sailed out in their lighter craft, showing their spunk
-and daring; but though they annoyed the enemy and did valiant
deeds, they accomplished nothing substantial and decisive. They lost
many lives, as the Chinese junks carried catapults or machines for
throwing stones, and they cruelly pelted the Jupanese navy. The
Chinese finally swung an iron chain from one vessel to another, to
intercept the attacks of the Japanese. The Chinese also sent parties