whatever the matter may be, he seldom thinks of running away. If he takes a spree, he hides himself after it for a day or two;--then returns of his own accord to confess, and ask pardon. He will be forgiven for two, three, perhaps even four escapades,--provided that he shows no signs of a really evil heart,--and be lectured about his weakness in its relation to his prospects, to the feelings of his family, to the honor of his ancestors, and to business requirements in general. The difficulties of his position are kindly considered, and he is never discharged for a small misdemeanor. A dismissal would probably ruin him for life; and every care is taken to open his eyes to certain dangers. Osaka is really the most unsafe place in Japan to play the fool in;--its dangerous and vicious classes are more to be feared than those of the capital; and the daily news of the great city furnishes the apprentice with terrible examples of men reduced to poverty or driven to self-destruction through neglect of those very rules of conduct which it is part of his duty to learn.

In cases where detchi are taken into service

at a very early age, and brought up in the shop almost like adopted sons, a very strong bond of affection between master and apprentice is sometimes established. Instances of extraordinary devotion to masters, or members of masters' households, are often reported. Sometimes the bankrupt merchant is reestablished in business by his former clerk. Sometimes, again, the affection of a detchi may exhibit itself in strange extremes. Last year there was a curious case. The only son of a merchant--a lad of twelve--died of cholera during the epidemic. A detchi of fourteen, who had been much attached to the dead boy, committed suicide shortly after the funeral by throwing himself down in front of a train. He left a letter, of which the following is a tolerably close translation,--the selfish pronouns being absent in the original:

"Very long time in, august help received; honorable mercy even, not in words to be declared. Now going to die, unfaithful in excess;--yet another state in, making rebirth, honorable mercy will repay. Spirit anxious only in the matter of little sister

O-Noto;--with humble salutation, that she be honorably seen to, supplicate.
"To the August Lord Master,
"From