Tempestuous Brazilian

Throngs of Japanese patriots surged excitedly about the great gates of the Imperial Akasaka Palace at Tokyo. Slowly the gates expanded, and amid much rat-tat-ting of drums the Imperial Mounted Guard prepared to ride forth, escorting the popular Prince Hirohito of Japan.

Instantly the crowd parted and drew back upon the sidewalks, shepherded by smiling Japanese policemen. The Imperial family is popularly supposed to be directly descended from the gods. When Hirohito rides forth in his low-slung limousine, the common people consider it almost a sacrilege to cross in front of the Imperial Guard. Hence they scuttled out of the way and stood tiptoeing excitedly.

Suddenly a tall powerfully built Brazilian shouldered his way through the crowds and started across the imperial right of way. He carried a short heavy cane. He was followed by a large powerfully built dog. With his free hand he helped a slight and rather frightened Senhora over the cobbles.

A Japanese policeman waved them back. The tall swart man exclaimed impatiently, "I am the Brazilian Ambassador!" and strode on. Two policemen rushed up. Swiftly Ambassador R. de Lima Silva rapped one of them across the knuckles with his cane, and as the other still came on whacked him over the head. Then the crowd rushed him, his dog, his wife.

Observers opined that only the actual arrival of Prince Hirohito prevented several untimely deaths. As the people fell back a dozen policemen seized Ambassador Silva, overpowered him, dragged him out of the way, while Senhora Silva screamed and kicked at them. The dog scuttled to cover.

Amid shouts of "Banzai!" "Hail, Illustrious One!" "Greetings!" the Prince Regent proceeded unruffled on his way. Later Ambassador Silva explained that he thought the first policeman had said "Come, please" instead of "Comes Prince." Since the policeman's gesture made his intent clear, this explanation was considered very lame.* The Japanese Government was rumored to have entered an official protest against the "unwarranted tempestuousness" of the Ambassador.

* Since many Japanese policemen know a few words of "pidgin English," there is no improbability in the verbal misunderstanding.