Great　as　has　been　the　influence　of　the　tea…masters　in　the　field　of　art；　it　is　as　nothing　compared　to　that　which　they　have　exerted　on　the　conduct　of　life。　　Not　only　in　the　usages　of　polite　society；　but　also　in　the　arrangement　of　all　our　domestic　details；　do　we　feel　the　presence　of　the　tea…masters。　　Many　of　our　delicate　dishes；　as　well　as　our　way　of　serving　food；　are　their　inventions。　　They　have　　taught　us　to　dress　only　in　garments　of　sober　colors。　　They　have　instructed　us　in　the　proper　spirit　in　which　to　approach　flowers。　They　have　given　emphasis　to　our　natural　love　of　simplicity；　and　　shown　us　the　beauty　of　humility。　　In　fact；　through　their　teachings　tea　has　entered　the　life　of　the　people。
  Those　of　us　who　know　not　the　secret　of　properly　regulating　our　own　existence　on　this　tumultuous　sea　of　foolish　troubles　which　we　call　life　are　constantly　in　a　state　of　misery　while　vainly　trying　to　appear　happy　and　contented。　　We　stagger　in　the　attempt　to　　keep　our　moral　equilibrium；　and　see　forerunners　of　the　tempest　in　every　cloud　that　floats　on　the　horizon。　　Yet　there　is　joy　and　beauty　in　the　roll　of　billows　as　they　sweep　outward　toward　eternity。　　Why　not　enter　into　their　spirit；　or；　like　Liehtse；　ride　upon　the　hurricane　itself？
  He　only　who　has　lived　with　the　beautiful　can　die　beautifully。　The　last　moments　of　the　great　tea…masters　were　as　full　of　　exquisite　refinement　as　had　been　their　lives。　　Seeking　always　to　be　in　harmony　with　the　great　rhythm　of　the　universe；　they　were　ever　prepared　to　enter　the　unknown。　　The　〃Last　Tea　of　　Rikiu〃　will　stand　forth　forever　as　the　acme　of　tragic　grandeur。
  Long　had　been　the　friendship　between　Rikiu　and　the　Taiko…　Hideyoshi；　and　high　the　estimation　in　which　the　great　warrior　held　the　tea…master。　　But　the　friendship　of　a　despot　is　ever　a　dangerous　honour。　　It　was　an　age　rife　with　treachery；　and　men　trusted　not　even　their　nearest　kin。　　Rikiu　was　no　servile　courtier；　and　had　often　dared　to　differ　in　argument　with　his　fierce　patron。　Taking　advantage　of　the　coldness　which　had　for　some　time　existed　　between　the　Taiko　and　Rikiu；　the　enemies　of　the　latter　accused　　him　of　being　implicated　in　a　conspiracy　to　poison　the　despot。　It　was　whispered　to　Hideyoshi　that　the　fatal　potion　was　to　be　administered　to　him　with　a　cup　of　the　green　beverage　prepared　by　the　tea…master。　　With　Hideyoshi　suspicion　was　sufficient　ground　for　instant　execution；　and　there　was　no　appeal　from　the　will　of　the　angry　ruler。　　One　privilege　alone　was　granted　to　the　condemned　the　honor　of　dying　by　his　own　hand。
  On　the　day　destined　for　his　self…immolation；　Rikiu　invited　his　chief　disciples　to　a　last　tea…ceremony。　　Mournfully　at　the　appointed　time　　the　guests　met　at　the　portico。　　As　they　look　into　the　garden　path　the　trees　seem　to　shudder；　and　in　the　rustling　of　their　leaves　are　heard　the　whispers　of　homeless　ghosts。　　Like　solemn　sentinels　before　　the　gates　of　Hades　stand　the　grey　stone　lanterns。　　A　wave　of　rare　incense　is　wafted　from　the　tea…room；　it　is　the　summons　which　bids　the　guests　to　enter。　　One　by　one　they　advance　and　take　their　places。　　In　the　tokonoma　hangs　a　kakemon；a　wonderful　writing　by　an　ancient　monk　dealing　with　the　evanescence　of　all　earthly　things。　　The　singing　kettle；　as　it　boils　over　the　brazier；　sounds　like　some　cicada　pouring　forth　his　woes　to　departing　summer。　　Soon　the　host　enters　the　room。　Each　in　turn　is　served　with　tea；　and　each　in　turn　silently　drains　his　cup；　　the　host　last　of　all。　　according　to　established　etiquette；　the　chief　guest　now　asks　permission　to　examine　the　tea…equipage。　　Rikiu　places　the　various　articles　before　them；　with　the　kakemono。　　After　all　have　expressed　admiration　of　their　beauty；　Rikiu　presents　one　of　them　to　each　of　the　assembled　company　as　a　souvenir。　　The　bowl　alone　he　keeps。　　〃Never　again　shall　this　cup；　polluted　by　the　lips　of　misfortune；　be　used　by　man。〃　　He　speaks；　and　breaks　the　vessel　into　fragments。
  The　ceremony　is　over；　the　guests　with　difficulty　restraining　their　tears；　take　their　last　farewell　and　leave　the　room。　　One　only；　the　nearest　and　dearest；　is　requested　to　remain　and　witness　the　end。　Rikiu　then　removes　his　tea…gown　and　carefully　folds　it　upon　the　mat；　thereby　disclosing　the　immaculate　white　death　robe　　which　it　had　hitherto　concealed。　　Tenderly　he　gazes　on　the　shining　blade　of　the　fatal　dagger；　and　in　exquisite　verse　thus　addresses　it：
  〃Welcome　to　thee；/　O　sword　of　eternity！/　Through　Buddha/　And　through　Daruma　alike/　Thou　hast　cleft　thy　way。〃
  With　a　smile　upon　his　face　Rikiu　passed　forth　into　the　unknown。
  End