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TEE CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 241
the books, bound with flexible covers and stitched
with silk, were laid sidewise flat upon each other in
the boxes, the number of each volume being marked
in ink on the edges. On a writing-desk one foot
high from the floor lay a black ink-stone, sticks of
solid vermilion and jet "India" ink, brushes for writing,
a water-drip for furnishing moisture to the stone,
a paper-knife, and other writing materials. In one
corner stood a clock, shaped like a pyramid, with
brass works at the top, and a dial-plate running down
the face, which was graduated like a thermometer.
The brass pointer attached to a leaden weight inside
indicated the hour, which was marked on the righthand
side by a number and on the left hand by a
zodiac sign. The dial-plate had to be changed once
a month, and the indicator was rarely nearer than
several minutes of the exact time, yet this was one
of the best native clocks then known. The doctor,
however, was one of the very few men in Echizen
who owned and carried a watch and knew practically
what minutes, and even seconds, were.
Doctor Sano was not alone this evening
late in
September, 1854. He had invited two of his gentlemen
friends to view his chrysanthemums, of which
he was very proud as well as fond. He reared the
plants with his own hands, giving them almost as
much care as he gave to his children. Among his
collection were many varieties, sizes, and colors ;
but
in order to secure the finest results on selected
specimens, he cut off all other buds and raised but
one flower on a single stem. Most of these were