191 1 3 The Fine Art of Dwarfing 



Bishi ("three lotus leaves"), was then reputed to be 

 the richest man in Japan. Certainly he was one of the 

 most attractive in personality. "The people love 

 Iwasaki," I was told; "he was rich before the war. ' : 

 It was also often said that "one cannot tell where the 

 Mitsu Bishi Company leaves off and the Government 

 begins." Iwasaki himself assured me that this was 

 literally true so far as governmental use of the 

 company's plant was concerned. The training in 

 America of promising Japanese youths has long 

 interested him, and the considerable number person- 

 ally aided by him (of whom Kuma was one) form 

 the so-called " Mitsu Bishi Club," an affectionate 

 recognition of his generosity. 



After luncheon our hostess conducted the ladies A talented 

 over the fine grounds and into the conservatory, 

 where she grows her scores of tiny dwarfed plants 

 in little blue and white porcelain pots. Of these she 

 kindly presented several to Mrs. Jordan, one of them 

 a maple. Unfortunately, however, our lack of proper 

 care or the change to California proved disastrous, 

 and the little things died shortly after our return 

 home. In the art of dwarfing Madame Okuma was 

 said to be unusually successful. This was only one 

 of her many talents, evidences of which were numer- 

 ous in the home. And among the treasures we 

 brought back, my wife prizes a beautiful cardcase 

 and purse of gold tissue carrying a delicate design in 

 blue, woven by the Countess. 



Everything else being now over, Okuma brought 

 in a photographer who took a group picture of the 

 Count, his wife, myself, and Mrs. Jordan. This was 

 reproduced in several Japanese newspapers. 



In 1900, the time of my previous visit, women 



c 371 3 



