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82 THE WONDERFUL CITY OF TOKIO.
" We have none," was the calm reply.
" The Yokohama
merchants use specie, while we have not seen any for some
time."
"What?" said Johnnie, producing a bank bill. "Do you
really mean to say that you could not give me silver or gold
for this if I very much wanted it."
" We could not," said the official.
" There is not a bank
in Tokio that could do it. A few years ago your banks were
just as unable to redeem their notes."
"When will you resume specie payments?" demanded the
The gentleman sighed, shook his head and said:
w Nobody knows. So long as the people will take this
paper money, everything will go right; but if they were to
refuse it, all the banks would break, and the nation would be
irretrievably bankrupted."
The official explained the system of keeping the books,
then invited the visitors to partake ol refreshments. On part-
ing with them he said:
" I would like to spend a few years in your honorable
country. I read your newspapers, and know all about Wall
Street. We are now establishing a Stock Exchange and
Clearing House, after the American model."
They bade him adieu, and, as they entered their jin-riki-
sha, Oto said:
"The next time I have a holiday the cherry trees will be
in bloom. You know the old saying: 'If you want a beautiful
perfume go to the ume (plum blossom). But when
you behold the glorious sakura (cherry) you forget that it is
scentless.'"