The following poem was written by His Majesty Mutsuhito, the Emperor
of Japan, for the students at the Peeresses’ School of Tokyo. It is
translated by Arthur Lloyd:
The water placed in goblet, bowl or cup
Changes its form to its receptacle;
And so our plastic souls take various shapes
And characters of good or ill, to fit
The good or evil in the friends we choose.
Therefore, be ever careful in your choice of friends,
And let your special love be given to those
Whose strength of character may prove the whip,
That drives you ever to fair wisdom’s goal.
(Text.)--_The Independent._
(1160)
=Friends in Heaven=--See HEAVEN, FRIENDS IN.