TŌKYŌ, November, 1901.
DEAR MR. YASUKOCHI,--Not the least of my pleasure in looking at the fine
photograph, so kindly sent to my little son, was in observing how very
well and strong you appear to be. Let me also have the privilege of
thanking you--though my boy, of course, sends his small recognition of
the favour.
Your letter of September 3d interested me very much; for I had not heard
anything about you at all since the last visit you made to my little
house in Tomihisa-chō. For example, I had not heard of your going to
Kumamoto Ken; and although I often wondered about you, I knew nobody who
could inform me. (I had, indeed, one Kumamoto pupil, Mr. Gōshō;
but I quite forgot about his having been in my class at Kumamoto, until
he came to see me after graduating--to say good-bye.) The experience of
army-life which you have had must have been somewhat hard as discipline;
but I imagine that, after all those years of severe study and mental
responsibility, the change to another and physical discipline must have
been good from the point of health. I think that it probably made you
stronger; and I am glad you were in the artillery-corps,--where one has
an opportunity to learn so many things of lasting value. But I trust
that many years will elapse before Japan again needs your services in a
military capacity.
It was kind of you to remember Numi. A curious thing happened after the
last time we saw him. One in my household dreamed that he came back, in
his uniform, looking very pale, and speaking of a matter concerning his
family. The next day, the papers began to print the first accounts of
the ship being missing. The coincidence was curious. The matter of which
he seemed to have spoken was looked after, as he would have wished.
I have no doubt at all of good things to come for you, if you keep as
strong as your picture now proves you to be. The rest will be, I think,
only a question of time and patience. I look forward with pleasure to
the probability of seeing you again. (Except that I have got greyer, I
fear you will find me the same as of old,--somewhat queer, etc.) I have
been working very steadily, rather than hard; but by systematically
doing just exactly so much every day, neither more nor less, I find
that I am able to do a good deal in the course of a year. I mean "good
deal" in the sense of "quantity"--the quality, of course, depends upon
circumstances rather than effort.
Thanks, again, for your kindness in sending the photograph, and for the
pleasant letter about yourself. May all good fortune be yours is the
earnest wish of