PC_256_Poe_1910_1911_Typescript_015

- 12 -

of the Genro (Elder Statesmen) and founders of Japan.
He has a beautiful home and perhaps the most magnificent
garden I have ever seen. I found him very vigorous for
a man of his years, and so much interested in the ques-
tions we discussed that I do not 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. Shiozawa, of Waseda University --
the great institution founded by Count Okuma; but the Count
semed to understand a good deal of English, as he several
times broke into the Professor's interpretation with some
humorous supplementary remark, a winning and good-natured
old man's laugh adding zest to his conversation. He kept me
so late that I missed another engagement -- with Mr. S. Chiba,
but I saw him later.

Then Ohara came at 3:30 and we spent several hours
at Maruzin's bookstore, after which we had dinner, walked
through the Park, and I wrote some letters. Capt. Buchanan
and I expected to leave tomorrow morning, but his doctor does
not think his carbuncle sufficiently well yet, and I am get-
ting into the swim here so well, from the standpoint of an
investigator, that I am glad to stay another day or so.

September 26th. This morning writing. This afternoon had an
engagement with Baron Yichi Shibusawa, one of the most emi-
nent bankers and financiers in the Empire. He is 70 years old
and Count Okuma 72, but both seem remarkably hale and vigor-
ous for their years. Also called later on Mr. Ihari of the
Japan Times.