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Buddhist graveyard of the ancient kind； so that my ghostly company
should be ancient； caring nothing for the fashions and the changes and the
disintegrations of Meiji （1）。 That old cemetery behind my garden would be
a suitable place。 Everything there is beautiful with a beauty of exceeding
and startling queerness； each tree and stone has been shaped by some old；
old ideal which no longer exists in any living brain； even the shadows are
not of this time and sun； but of a world forgotten； that never knew steam
or electricity or magnetism or kerosene oil！ Also in the boom of the big
bell there is a quaintness of tone which wakens feelings； so strangely far…
away from all the nineteenth…century part of me； that the faint blind
stirrings of them make me afraid； deliciously afraid。 Never do I hear that
billowing peal but I become aware of a striving and a fluttering in the
abyssal part of my ghost； a sensation as of memories struggling to reach
the light beyond the obscurations of a million million deaths and births。 I
hope to remain within hearing of that bell。。。 And； considering the
possibility of being doomed to the state of a Jiki…ketsu…gaki； I want to have
my chance of being reborn in some bamboo flower…cup； or mizutame；
whence I might issue softly； singing my thin and pungent song； to bite
some people that I know。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
ANTS
I
This morning sky； after the night's tempest； is a pure and dazzling
blue。 The air the delicious air！ is full of sweet resinous odors； shed
from the countless pine…boughs broken and strewn by the gale。 In the
neighboring bamboo…grove I hear the flute…call of the bird that praises the
Sutra of the Lotos； and the land is very still by reason of the south wind。
Now the summer； long delayed； is truly with us： butterflies of queer
Japanese colors are flickering about； semi （1） are wheezing； wasps are
humming； gnats are dancing in the sun； and the ants are busy repairing
their damaged habitations。。。 I bethink me of a Japanese poem：
Yuku e naki： Ari no sumai ya！ Go…getsu ame。
＇Now the poor creature has nowhere to go！。。。 Alas for the dwellings of
the ants in this rain of the fifth month！＇
But those big black ants in my garden do not seem to need any
sympathy。 They have weathered the storm in some unimaginable way；
while great trees were being uprooted； and houses blown to fragments； and
roads washed out of existence。 Yet； before the typhoon； they took no other
visible precaution than to block up the gates of their subterranean town。
And the spectacle of their triumphant toil to…day impels me to attempt an
essay on Ants。
I should have like to preface my disquisitions with something from
the old Japanese literature； something emotional or metaphysical。 But all
that my Japanese friends were able to find for me on the subject；
excepting some verses of little worth； was Chinese。 This Chinese
material consisted chiefly of strange stories； and one of them seems to me
worth quoting； faute de mieux。
*
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
In the province of Taishu； in China； there was a pious man who； every
day； during many years； fervently worshiped a certain goddess。 One
morning； while he was engaged in his devotions； a beautiful woman；
wearing a yellow robe； came into his chamber and stood before him。 He；
greatly surprised； asked her what she wanted； and why she had entered
unannounced。 She answered： 〃I am not a woman： I am the goddess whom
you have so long and so faithfully worshiped； and I have now come to
prove to you that your devotion has not been in vain。。。 Are you acquainted
with the language of Ants？〃 The worshiper replied： 〃I am only a low…born
and ignorant person； not a scholar； and even of the language of superior
men I know nothing。〃 At these words the goddess smiled； and drew from
her bosom a little box； shaped like an incense box。 She opened the box；
dipped a finger into it； and took therefrom some kind of ointment with
which she anointed the ears of the man。 〃Now；〃 she said to him； 〃try to
find some Ants； and when you find any； stoop down； and listen carefully to
their talk。 You will be able to understand it； and you will hear of
something to your advantage。。。 Only remember that you must not frighten
or vex the Ants。〃 Then the goddess vanished away。
The man immediately went out to look for some Ants。 He had
scarcely crossed the threshold of his door when he perceived two Ants
upon a stone supporting one of the house…pillars。 He stooped over them；
and listened； and he was astonished to find that he could hear them talking；
and could understand what they said。 〃Let us try to find a warmer place；〃
proposed one of the Ants。 〃Why a warmer place？〃 asked the other； 〃what
is the matter with this place？〃 〃It is too damp and cold below；〃 said the
first Ant； 〃there is a big treasure buried here； and the sunshine cannot
warm the ground about it。〃 Then the two Ants went away together； and the
listener ran for a spade。
By digging in the neighborhood of the pillar； he soon found a number
of large jars full of gold coin。 The discovery of this treasure made him a
very rich man。
Afterwards he often tried to listen to the conversation of Ants。 But he
was never again able to hear them speak。 The ointment of the goddess had
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
opened his ears to their mysterious language for only a single day。
*
Now I； like that Chinese devotee； must confess myself a very ignorant
person； and naturally unable to hear the conversation of Ants。 But the
Fairy of Science sometimes touches my ears and eyes with her wand； and
then； for a little time； I am able to hear things inaudible； and to perceive
things imperceptible。
II
For the same reason that it is considered wicked； in sun