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9
THE WONDERFUL CITY OF TOKIO.
would not a Boston maker put on his sign 'New York ink
made here '
? "
" Well, he might," returned the lad.
the meaning of your announcement. People
" Now I understand
think more of
your article because you advertise it as Nara ink. Yes, we do
that sort of thing in the States. New York restaurateurs put
c
on their signs Boston baked beans.' '
The man smiled and taking a number of boxes from
JIURO, GOD OF LEARNING.
the shelves surrounding the store, ex-
hibited cakes of ink ranging in value
from one rin (mill) to ten yen (dol-
lars) .
" This is from Nara," he said, show-
ing them a small, closely grained specimen;
"it is very fine, and is stamped
with the figure of Jiu-ro the patron of
scholars. I once had some Chinese
ink that I sold for twenty-five yen a
cake. It smelt like the breath of the
gods."
He replaced the boxes on the
shelves and bowing, said:
"Now if you are rested, I will show
you over my manufactory."
As the proprietor led the way to
the rear of the building, Fitz eagerly inquired:
" Do you use anything in your business which is liable to
affect us injuriously? Last month I went to see the lacquer-
head swelled to
workers, and was so badly poisoned that my
twice its natural size, and I had a rash come out all over
me.
" Mine is a very delightful business compared with lacquer-