So we fell to talking of a recent trip he had made to Yokohama. He said a great foreign fleet was visiting the port. The festivities and the gaieties were unending. He had been only a looker-on, but a deeply-interested observer.
He spoke of how his country had strained its every resource to give welcome to this fleet, making a neighborly call, though armed to the ship's last rail. He continued:
"The whole scene give me reminder of one very small boy who had grand record of good fight, also he has the great exhaustion of strength from last battle with tall giant. Small boy has poverty too, but he draw forth his many ancient toy for guest to play. Makes big debt of money to give him feast. He very much desire to keep face of big boy all covered with smiles."
Then from the way my visitor half shut his eyes and looked at me, I knew something more was coming.
"Americans are a great people, but disagree with their wonderfulness."
"You mean they are inconsistent?" I suggested.
Kishimoto San, being too much in earnest to search for the proper English, dropped into Japanese—
"Yes, the old proverb fits them, 'A physician breaking the rules of health.'"
"Why do you say that of my people?" I asked in a moment on the defensive.
"Because you literally strain your bodies to hold very high a moral standard for other nations, that you, yourselves fail to follow."