The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-01
EDUCATION IN JAPAN.
MILWAUKEE, Wis.,, May %, 1872.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, May 49, 1872
10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Everything relating Japan is Just now OF special
interest. In 1868 was attached to Perry's Japan
expedition, and the first offlcer OF that expe-
diton to put foot on Japanese soil. At HakOdadi
made several purchases OF Japanese books. In
China almost every store has books for sale, but
there is no establishment for their exclusive sale
in Japan, however, there are regular book stores,
where books are kept and nothing else. In such a
store made my purchases, but not understanding
a word Of Japanese, much less their written char
acters, sought only for such books as were Illus
trated by pictures. The keeper OF the store, like
many OF his countrymen spoke tolerably good Eng
lish, and recommended me to buy work in nine
WORK on theology Iregret now that did not take it.
but there being pictorial Illustrations In 1t and the
text being perfectly incomprehensible to me, re-
jected IL and selected some smaller Illustrated
pamphlets which would better serve my
purpose as specimens Of Japanese art.
seller, however, would have probably been better
specimen OF their literature, and would have been
priced by many scientific libraries In the United
states, where persons could be found to decipher
the text, though could not.
One Of the books purchased represented In it's
first picture number OF young persons, each with
a book, apparently learning to read; q second pic.
ture represented them all writing; In third each
sat by an instrument consisting OF balls strung on
wires, such as are used In all Japanese schools and
counting houses for arithmetic, notation or &C
counts; In q fourth picture all were drawing, and
in fifth all were playing on musical
instruments, sort or Lutte which lay upon
the noor, with the performer kneefing
by its side, so that l came to the cOnclu-
sion that the book narrative or description of
a seminary Of learning. But the most remarkable
thing about IL that the persons portrayed were
all young girls; not boy among them. And IN all
other Eastern nations The education OF the female
sex Is entirely neglected, though In China
that OF boys Is carried to an extent
In its universal dissemination unequalled nv
any other nation, either In Europe or America
II IL almost impossible to find Chinese boy who
cannot read and write; and an appointment In the
lowest capacity, or employment Of any Kind, Ia
made to depend on a literary examination. But
to be unnecessary for girls, and none IL provided
for them. Struck by this feature In my Japanese
purchase, lately requested friend OF mine holding
a high official position in Washington and whose
connection with the government would be likely to
bring him In communication with the Japanese EN-
bassy, to make suitable inquiries OF Iwakura, and
have just received his reply. lie says, II have in
teryiewed the Heather Japanee and find you are
right. They have had female schools separate
from male schools for about century more or less
which in their loose talk means from fifty to one
thousand years. This fact Is interesting as show
ing them to be In advance, in this respect, OF all
other Eastern nations.
That they hold female education in high estima-
ton is further shown by the fact that several young
girls of distinguished japanese families arc attached
to the present embassy for the purpose OF obtaining
education in Europe or America.
WILLIAM B. WHITING,
Commodore United States Navy.