New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-07-30

Dr.. Newman in Japan.

The Rev DR. J. P. Newman, late chap
lain of me United States Senate, and pas
tor of the Metropolitan Methodist Episco
pal Church, Washington, started about VIC
months since TO travel around the world
Beginning at New York, he and Mrs. New
man went to San Francisco by railroad, and
there EN- barked on the steamship japan
and arrived at Yokohama on the tenth of
June. We are permitted to publish the fol-
lowing extract from letter. written by
DR.. Newman to Thomas Eelso, Esq, OF
this city, and dated at Yokohama, une u,
1873:
We have been in Japan about ten days,
and more beautiful country is not on all
the globe. There are noble plains of many
mile. in extent; there are charming valleys
covered with growing rice, pleasant to the
eye: there are grand mountains. which
touch the clouds. Eusizama is 1900 feet
high, anu is the sacred mountain Of the
japanese. The rich soil is carefully cult
waited, and yields two crops year. Rice is
the great staple, but wheat, corn, garden
vegetables, many kinds Of fruir, tea and
raw silk, and produced in considerable
quantities. Yokohama, where we now are,
is half European and half Japanese; but
Jeddo, which is the seat of government, is
thoroughly japanese. 1t covers many
miles, and its temples and palaces are very
grand. The people are Industrious, and
seem happy. The chief vehicle for
travellers i. the gin-lich a-sha, which
is tw0-wheeied baby wagon. large
enough for . mar TO ride in. and 10
drawn by native called coolle, and YOU
would smile TO see US in one of those car
riages going about - fast as one of your
street cars go. Bat you will be more inter
ested in the great changes which have
taken place of late, and which indicate the
advancement Of the Japanese 60 better
civilization. Some Of these changes are
apparently trivial, yet to one here they
have deep significance. Fifteen years
ago Japan was a walled city, and that wall
touched the clouds. Non-intercOurse with
outside nations was the rule. SeclusiOn for
themselves and exclusion for foreigners was
the political maxim OF the empire, but to-
day all Europe and America are searched
for lawyers. school teachers, physicians,
engineers, mechanics and artists, and such
are entreated TO cone to Japan, with the
promise OF large p9cunIary rewards. An
American is at the head of the educational
interests of Japan. With a salary of $4,000.
An Englishman is the superintendent of
railways and tele?raph=. at a salary of
$4,000 year. An American is Commits
/. sionar of Agriculture. and another is legal
advise. TO the Sta,e Department of the
empire.
Between Yokohama and Jeddo is the
river Logo, beyond which, not four years
ago, an unofficial foreigner was not per-
mitted to pass; but now he can travel
safely through the whole empire. The cal
endar Of Christian hnds has been adopted;
the divisions of tinei1to weeks is accepted;
hence the Sabbath i forced upon the atten-
ton OF the people, who Will soon learn that
it is more than da- Ot cest-that it is the
day on which Christ rose from the dead.
Christmas is religious festival with all
the Europeans here, and is a holiday with
all the japanese III deir employ. To avoid
it being recognized Is Christ's birthday the
government ha. commanded the people to
observe it as the birthday OF the first Japan
ese Emperor. who vas born on some other
day IN the calendar If the world.
1t has been the cjstom in Japan for many
centuries for the mn to shave the fore part
Of their heads, a1l to allow the hair to
grow Ion. on the sides and back part of
the head, which vas dressed like wo-
mems hair. but thegovernOlent has recon-
mended that the mai wear their haic after
the style Of the Europeans. Sensible re-
conlmendation,
Until within 4 yesr the WikadO was
deemed too sacred to be seen by the COM
mon people; bu. .ow lie shows himself to
his subjects as would any European
sovereign. Nor ar. the people required to
prostrate themseiys on their faces when
he passes: but. insead, they bow graceful
to his Majesty. Bit the grandest of all
the fac's is relig igiouFtoleration. Not year
ago along all the hi ighways were posted
interdictions agains Christianity; but, by
order of the government. these have been
removed and Chritianity is left free to
develop her selt-susaining and conquering
power. De0 GRATIS,