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Show Famous Japanese j Actor Plays Part Of An American TOKIO. Nev. 19. fDy Mall) A famous Japanese aetor, Koshlro, plaod the role i of Townspnd Harris, tho first Amerlrin I minister to Japan In n play presented In the Japanese language in tho Imperial JapanSM theatre the other day. Koshiro jjavo a faithful portrayal of America's first diplomat to Japan, haying borrow-. J a portrait of Mr. Harris from thc American Ameri-can embassy, through the kindness ot Roland S. Morris. Tho play was called "Amorica-m-tsukal" or "Thc American Messenger." and was written by Oknmnio Kldo. Th-gate Th-gate of the Azabu temple in Tokio whin housed the first dlplomati.- mission frjm the fnlted States was thc background for thc first scene of the play. Two samurai, father and son. aie on guard to protect Harris from attack. Suaplolotif eharncters lurk around, ready at the firs; opportunity to assassinate tho Strang ir from overseas- One of them Is caught by the samurai and bound, but at II-j--ris' reqiiest Is set free Etbshfrb's entrance en-trance by the temple gate, carrying tho Stars and Stripes over his arms, was Impressive. The great topic of the day was whether Japan w ould open a port to foreign trad ; and conservatives clashed with progros slvfes on this point This whs shown in a scene in a tea house in which a servl.'g maid overhears a plot of two ruffians who are to lay in wait for tho minister on s nearby hill and kill him. One scene is laid at the approach to tho bridge of the groat temple of ssogojt, where t lie minister was attended by n escort of .samurai. Just as they reieh the place of ambush the tea tioufo insi'i rushes to tho rescue, stops tho retlntu and delivers Information about thc plot. Refore long tv.o parties are engaged In I a hand to hand tight. Townsend Harris in his white dust coat emerges from hi 4 palaquin, pistol In hand But his escort . ndr. the fray before he is obliged to uso his pistol One oi the protecting samurai who is the lover of the tea house maid, la .-.lain In tho final scene Harris Is shown placing n bouquet of white lillles on the coffin of the plain young samur-v.. oo 1 ! |