Route of Cave Pioneering (cont’d)
Dr. Haeckel in Germany is aging and there was even a news report on his critical illness. Soon Shiraishi sent a letter to Dr. McCabe in London and asked him to send back an autograph of Dr. Haeckel, which he had, for the doctor’s memorial. McCabe immediately sent him a postcard he received from Haeckel. Suzuki cherished it very much and does not show it to others easily, but he says that he wants to put it in a fine frame.
There is another story. Dr. McCabe has written about Japanese Bushido and published it in London. Suzuki read his article and found part of his interpretation unconvincing. He wrote the doctor to call his attention, and received a very polite gratitude letter.
However, it is wrong to admire him for being that knowledgeable. I would say that it is bottomlessly idiotic of him to hang out in the cave while having such high education.
In fact, he says that he will use all the money he earned from his brothel for his education and will become a middle school teacher in his hometown once he returns to Japan. It is embarrassing for the middle school students to receive tutelage from a brothel owner from Canada. Shiraishi’s addition to the already-firm-foundation made by Ishida and then Kawamoto makes Nelson invincible. Shiraishi has already been in an advisory position in Nelson.
I would like to make a note on the reason why caves in Nelson have a good reputation of the police and the city. Currently they do not distribute money. Without doing so the city representatives view them in favor and protect them. In addition, these cave fellows have collectively appointed a white former lawyer to deal with the authorities. They also have an agreement on where to buy clothes, meat, or medicine and make sure to support store owners who are powerful figures of the city, such as members of the Chamber of Commerce. Their prostitutes have a disciplined lifestyle, rotating the tasks of mopping and other things. They do not appear in front of outsider Japanese and it is decided that the brothel owner handle them.
Therefore, there is no other place than Nelson that is as quiet and untroubled, economically successful and reputable to the police and the city, and having caves operate peacefully and proudly. After all, while it sounds ridiculous, Nelson has the firmest foundation.