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to take in my card to His Excellency, and request permission to pay my respects. He could not understand my English and politely referred me to the interpreter, a pleasant looking “Jap,” whose knowledge of English was not very extensive. He looked at me with surprise, as I repeated my request, glanced at the card and spelled out the name which he pronounced with a deciedly foreign accent, and asked me who I was, I told him I was an American gentleman traveling for information and pleasure, au independent “citizen sovereign” in my own country, who expected to see somewhat of the world before I returned home, and named some of the countries which I designed to visit—that it would afford me great pleasure to pay my respects to one of the Micado’s family and a high officer of the government of Japan. I did not mention that I was “connected with the Press,” which would have been an open sesame to any great man’s presence in America—for I do not suppose that any Japanese is civilized enough to appreciate the importance and value of newspapers. With some hesitation he took in my card, and returning in a few minutes he handed it back and courteously informed me that His Excellency was to remain but a short time and begged to be excused from receiving any private traveler. Nothing daunted, I then played my best trump, which I had held in reserve. I took my card and wrote on it the military title which I held by virtue of a commission from the Governor of Ohio, and explained to the officers the rank it signified, which at once raised me many degrees in their estimation. I said that I would detain His Excellency but a moment. In the meantime I had formed a rapid acquaintance with a young fellow, the captain of one of the Japanese men-of-war, and pleased him by admiring his sword, which he told me was presented to him by the Micado. He went into the room with the interpreter and immediately came back with the request for me to enter. Literally my last card had won. At the door I was met by an officer next in rank to the Minister, who shook hands and led me to the other end of the large room and presented me to the great man, who rose from his seat, shook hands very cordially and offered me a chair. He seemed about fifty years old, short and fat, with a very intelligent face and remarkably bright and sparkling eyes. I noticed on the table some bottles, which showed me that he had washed down his
