This digital transcription is a small portion of Usaburo Tsujita’s autobiography describing his time at Bok Tower Gardens in 1955 and is part of the Nellie Lee Bok archive. The Bok family employed Tsujita at the turn of the century, and he would later create the Peace Lantern as a gift to honor his mentor, Edward Bok. This historical account begins with his first visit to the Sanctuary accompanied by Edward Bok’s son, Curtis Bok, and his wife, Nellie Lee Bok.
Part 3
It was thirty years ago that I used to come to this mountain accompanying Edward Bok. The mountain was then covered by wild pinewoods. Edward Bok bought fifty acres of this land and transformed it into a park by cultivating soil, planting various flora, erecting the Singing Tower, digging the moats and providing many facilities. It took him six years to complete it. Erecting the Tower alone took him fully two years. He put his heart in building this park – which is now called “the Sanctuary” here – and dedicated it to the American people. This year happened to be the thirtieth anniversary of the dedication.
Thirty four years ago, I left the Boks in order to study in a shoe-making school in the suburb of Boston. The construction has been started then in these pine woods, but I never dreamed that land would become such a big beautiful park like this. Edward Bok bought more land later and the Sanctuary now occupies eighty acres, or ninety six thousand tsubo. He accomplished this gigantic enterprise all by himself and donated the entire property to the public for their visitation and quiet repose. His lofty and great ideas are really wonderful and I do not know the adequate words to express my admiration.
All this, I think, comes from his family precept that “Wherever your lives may be cast, make you the world a bit better and more beautiful because you lived in it.” And his cherished ideas that “A man can live a life full-square only when he divides it into three periods: – First, that of education. Second, that of achievement. Third, that of service for others.”
In other words, this great Sanctuary must have been created from his belief that one should endeavor to make the world more beautiful and “to make its people better and happier.” The reason for my great respect and deep attachment for him is not because of his many favors he had given me during his life but rather because I was deeply impressed by his great ideals and his power of execution as evidenced by his endeavor to make the world more beautiful and his efforts toward the world peace.
While I had been working for Edward Bok before his death, I used to pray for his health and happiness secretly. Then, I returned to Japan and heard of his death later. Ever since, I am praying that his soul may have a peaceful repose.
Just about fourteen years ago, I had decided to have a stone lantern made, into which I would put my heart and soul. I would request that this stone lantern should be laid near his grave so that I might be able to watch him always and serve him through my soul.
Since then, I began to save money in every possible way. I do not smoke nor drink, but I put away that money as if I had those habits. It was not easy for a mere salaryman like me to save such an amount of money that would pay for a stone lantern I had in mind. It was not until seven years after, that I thought I saved a sufficient amount.
