PC_256_Poe_1910_1911_Typescript_Draft_008

#8
Sept. 22nd.
In morning read with much interest Percival Lowell's "Soul of the Far East" and other
Japanese books after which I did some writing, immediately after tiffin going to see
Dr. Juiche^(i) Soyeda, President of the Industrial Bank of Japan, and one of the Empire's
leading statesmen and financiers, Vice-minister in Okuma's cabinet^(,) etc.^(,) etc. Found
him very interesting. Then went with Ohara through Imperial Pa^(la)ce Grounds, etc.,
seeing statues of Japanese notables, trophies of the Russian War, etc.

Ohara is a descendant of the samurai, and is to give me a letter of in-
troduction to a friend in Kysoto University who may act as a guide for me there and is ^(he says,)
the son of a [begin crossed out] daingo. [end crossed out] ^(daimyo.)
Sept. 23rd.
Arranged this morning to lunch tomorrow with Viscount Kaneko and to call Sunday on
Count Okuma. Also went to Yokohoma Specie Bank to get another $50 note cashed--money
simpl[?]^(y) evaporates here. After tiffin called on Mr. Sonda, President of the Fu^(i)fteenth
Bank, and spent rest of afternoon and eve^(n)ing writing an article for my paper.
Sept. 24th.
Spent morning writing and reading and at 1:45 went to call on Viscount Kentaro Kaneko,
Privy Councilor of^(the Emperor of) Japan and ex-minister of Agriculture and commerce. A graduate
and an [??]^(LL).D. of Harvard and five times a visitor to America. I found him not only
cultured, thoughtful and well informed, but a fluent speaker of English, too. Was
impressed by the obsequiousness of the man-servant who^(humbly) squatted [?] on the floor every
time in addressing the Viscount.
Sept. 25th.
To-day I had the distinguished privilege of over two hours with Count Okuma, former
Prime Minister of Japan, and one of the Gen[begin crossed out]er[end crossed out]^(ro) (Elder s^(S)statemen) and founders of
Japan. He has a beautiful home and perhaps the most magnificent garden I have ever
seen. I found him vigorous for a man of his years, and so much interested in
the question we discussed that I do not know know when we should have quit had not a
servant entered at 12:30 ( I came at 10:00) to remind him of a funeral he was due to
attend. We talked through an interpreter, Prof. Shioz[begin crossed out]o[end crossed out]^(a)wa, of Waseda University--the