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A NEW NATION. 373
gers, living to preside at the opening of the School
of Western Languages and Science, established in
Fukui, and finally to see the feudal system pass
away. He himself was appointed the special agent
of the imperial government
to hand over the lands,
castles, public works, and appurtenances of the fief
of Fukui to the emperor and to the nation. The
impressive ceremonies attendant upon the transfer
of the loyalty of the retainers of the house of
Echizen to the Mikado were with sadness and dignity,
blended with mingled hope and fear for the
future. They took place in the great castle hall on
a lovely Sunday morning in October, 1871. The
next day, amid the tears and smiles of a people both
loyal and patriotic, the lord and the lady of the
castle departed from Fukui for their permanent
abode in the capital to live as private persons ;
and
the spectacular glories and feudal display disappeared
from Fukui forever. Henceforth in Tokyo,
with sufficient means to live in a style becoming
his rank, Fujimaro lived while his little son prepared
for entrance into the University of Oxford.