AFTER MANY YEARS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11478, 28 August 1915, Page 8

AFTER MANY YEARS.

BUDDI.'BT'S AXBinON REALISED VISITS THE UNITED STATES. A rhiy dream of seventy years ago, when he-, a lad of thirteen, edged his way through a crowd of countrymen in Tokio harbour to grasp Commodore iYrry's hand, Jia,s come, true for Niehimio Asabj. At that time he dreamed of Perry's native umd and vow»-d tluit some day he- would visit it. On July 10, purpta dad in the, robes of the Archbishop of the Unddhist churches of Japan, he came to the exposition to see tho two things ho wanted to &eo more than anything—-the exposition and Indians. Like an eigltiy-three-year-old child ho marveled at the exposition city. "It mg-it-cns me, it is so marvellous. An old man who has never been in this wonderful country which gave io .Japan its civilisation cannot help but marvel at tho richness and immensity of your exposition. It's unbelievable. It does not seem natural.'' ho commented, with tho aid of si.ij interpreter.. " When the great Perry cam© to Tokio and we saw a ship that spouted lire, it fired m.v imagination. I yearned to visit the country where such tilings are conceived. As the years went on the thought .came to me constantly. 1 wanted to' see the ploeo where the nations of the world intermingled and produced the American idea from the melting pot of the races, " I only came yesterday and I have only .seen little, but it is beyond my drea ms. 1 ' Well might the Archbishop have marvelled at the American" ideal. When an escort of his countrymen left him sitting alone for a minute on a bench, he was treated to a bit of high life. A smartly gowned woman sat, down beside him and admiring bis. fan indit a led «i.o wcuid like to ha.ve it. Genially the patriarchal Archbishop waved hi* assent. Am'thoj' iem'nino M/in'onir .hunter took his Mring ot heads. A third ha-> admiring hj :; handsome staff hher: ih" escort returned. The Archbishop iiiAv resiles in Kioto. forme'd v capita! of .f-'pan. A <ijimp.se of fie Glacier I'ajk Indians of the Croat, Nortuoru Uail■road afF('rded rhe Japane-e much pleasure.. He e>ked why it was that the race, which once, held sole possession (if North At'-cnca should Viceouie so nearly extinct. 'Che Arc.ibi.dwp said he has crossed the China Sea iifty-three times. He has served as missionary in India, Siani, China and many other countries of the Ea-t where tho Buddhist reiii'ion floui ishcs,