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A POSTSCRIPT IN 1890. 383
tion is chief, or minister, for the imperial cabinet
changes often. Heretofore, since 1868, the ministers
and men in high office have been those who were
active in the Revolution of 1868, but now there are
younger men educated in Europe or America who
are the emperor's advisers, and in the cabinet."
"Your words remind me of Professor Koba. Is
his widow living yet?"
"Oh, yes, in good health; and his son is now
the pastor of a large Christian church in Tokyo.
He is one of the most active and earnest of our
leaders. He was trained at the Doshisha in Kyoto,
over which Mr. Neesima was president. When
those assassins left Koba's headless trunk in the
streets
of Kyoto, they imagined that Christianity in
Japan was at an end, but they were mistaken. I
myself have the great pleasure of being a member
of Rev. Mr. Koba's church, and of hearing him
preach every Sunday. By the way, Mr. Neesima's
loss seems almost irreparable, but we hope God will
give us others like him. We have several Fukui
lads at the Doshisha in Kyoto."
" What has become of all our old friends ? How
is the old prince of Echizen?"
"Oh, Matsudaira? Alas, he died during the
summer, after the emperor had conferred upon him
the highest rank a living subject could attain.'*
" Indeed ! I feel this as a direct personal loss.
Then we shall have no Echizen nobleman sitting
among the "
princes in the new House of Peers ? " No nor ;
among the :
marquises for since I left