, 1873-02-27

cd from Dr.. Hepburn, through Mr. De Long, a
! copy OF his Invaluable Japanese-Engliah dic.
wo5k Of sleven yeaTs unTemttne
which had been refused several times before,
WAS accepted with thanks, and IN autograph let.
ter from the Mikado. DR.: Hepburn, Of whom
every American is SO proud, is now on a trip to
arduous labors. 70 smooth the way toward to1cr-
| alton. since the Japanese cannot celebrate
| Christmas, the Government has decrced that
| Dec. 25 shall be hereafter celebrated in honor
poIor, zin-mu- The present year is the
2,533d year Of the era Of Zin-mu, OF
| OF the Japanese Empire. From that point
! ego years u. c. C-,-Japanese authentic history be-
called Japan had submitted to Zin-mu, and now
| comprised in the Japanese Empire.
| =. 10 continue the record Of progress: One OF
| the most quiet, but beneficial, advances during
tho past year, has been the establishment Of
| GENERAL rosT-oFF1cE.
| Heretofore, each provincial and small local gov
etn1nent employed special messenger, who
! took letters to tho two capitals, Nyo-to and
Yedo, on the 18th and 25th day OF ench month.
| The more distant provinces wero sent to, aud
! heard from, but once month, and the smaller
| and poorer local authorities send naked post
| man at extremely irregular intervals As for
the farmers and humble folks generally, they
had almost no means of transmitting letters.
HOhs u 414A4 4tHtE6 4EAN OtGA$ tAAA hA4 E45AtLA
day. San-patchi," and It is in jap
anese-whi1e postmen from the prorin-
COS leave on thoso days also Although
these letters are nearly al} carried over noun
thoy reach their destination safely, and often nt
the rate Of GO miles per day, rs hnvo found out
BY experience. This growing department is un-
der the care OF q Japanese who studied our own
postal system at Washington, and, on returning
to his own country, informed friend Of ours,
after his ADpDlDtmept that ha WAS
~ END OF POSTMASTER"
He can now afford to throw of the first three
words OF his announcement. Eventually, 7
have no doubt, tho Consular post-ot1ices in the
ports will be abolished. and all the mal-business
done in Japan will be put into tho hands of the
Japanese.
IN tho days of Old Japan. the Board of Public
Worship was superior in authority to the Su-
iahed, and
established, in which both Buddhism and
shin-to-ism-the two, great religions Of
shinto, the state religion, being largely in
the majority, After trying to manufacture
q new religion, and to propagate it by
money aud influence, nothing but failure, neg-
very fiat failure, the Department. Of Religion was
Incorporated with tho Educational Depart
ment. This means that it has peacefully e1-
pired, and, since that advanced radlcnl-the
Minister Of Edrcation-wants every cont he can
get to carry out his mighty schemes Of education,
thero will be just enough money expended to
bury it. Since others had failed in manufacture
ing religion, tho sensible Head OF the Depart
roeut has sent several priests abroad to
STUDY THE RELIGIONS
OF Europe and America. The only fear now is, that
the Mikado will by ana by issue an edict 'es-
tablishine" the Christian religion, and declaring
TINT il any man Says tho Emperor OF Japan ID
divine he is -- mistaken.
Y,r-Y,F Yr.4er,e e~N-f-rY rY]FrE7c +cNY-4
of Japan has always been tie supreme disgrace
Of, and most profound and peculiar stigma on,
the Japanese character. Amid tho squalid pow
erty OF a .Japanese city, one secs the gorgeous
mansions Of the women in scarlet, adorned
within with gi1ded and luxurious accompani-
ments rising high above tie loW-tlled roofs Of
the humble citizens' dwellings,. It may be safely
said that the most beautiful and attractive
ways situated in ono quarter OF the city. The
nnamo1ous and bottomless ininuity connected
with the places was the manner in which re-
cruits were gathered and the ranks of sin kept
parents we're poor, we're sold to the brothel-
keepers, when from 4 to II years old, and were
indentnred to serve their masters and act as
prostitutes for a series Of years,-untl withor-
ed, ugly, or diseased. These indentures we're
RECOGNIZED As LEGAL CONTRACTS
By Japanese law. For centuries this system has
cursed Japan, but now-al honor to the Japan
csc Goyernment-the law that doomed thou
sands OF innocent children to horrible slavery
has been repealed, and henceforth Japan refuses
to acknowledge or allow any such contracts to bo
made. -
TWO INCIDENTS
that have occurred within the present month
(January) will illustrate the past and present
textures or thIs subject: The regular Japanese
New Years day was not to have come until Jan.
27, 1878. The change in the calendar, however,
made 1t fall this year, nearly ono month earlier,
The notice being very sudden. and the people
r,nr tvraa ffnuhEa hn{h DeCuniarv and
as relates to housekeeping, decoration etc, was
occasioned. It seems that the Japanese Govern
ment has been in the habit Of 1oaning money to
certain merchants and mercantile companies, at |
Q fair rate of interest, to encourage trade, etc.
yAMA5H1Ro
being severely put out by the change OF calen- |
lar, and his own deep speculations, found hln-
self, at tho end OF the year, nearly 100000 |
Tho Government, though generous |
tn lend in mnrcfess to non-payiuR debtors and |