Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-09
GEN. HORACE CAPROy ON JAPAN
Interesting Facts About the Country
and the PeOplo.

General Horace Capron, by invitation of
Professor Henry. the distinguished President
of the Philosophical Society of Washington,
lectured before that body last Saturday night
on his mission to Japan as adviser to the
government In the development and settle
ment OF The Islands OF Yesso and Soghalien.
The audience was composed principally OF
the members of the society, of whom there
was full attendance. and among them
General Humphreys, DR.. WOODWARD, DIR.
GIL, Professor Coffin, Professor Hilgari
Hon. Peter Parker, Dr.. Otis, the venerable
Or; Gale, and other philosophers of more
The General introduced his subject by
relating an incident or twoof
THE VOYAGE TO JAPAN,
Wnlcn oegan on August LIST, lS7 |, and LASTED
70 days. AS evidence OF the regularity of the
movements of the vessels OF the lire to
which his belonged he cited the exchanging
mails with the inward bound steamer in
mid ocean. on the sixth day ont, ,0ithin a felo
moments of the time predicted for the meet
ing or the vessels; he also made graphic
mention OF the encounter by his steamer
WHO mat scourge OF the eastern seas, the
typhoon.
ARRIVING AT YOKOHAMA
ne remarked that beautiful Japan laid before
1im clad In richest emerald, while T,Ijid ma,
the peerless mountain" sixty miles away
lowered maje3tically far above all surrounds
nected the morning rays-the whole view
presenting one of the grandest sights youch-
Ssfed to human vision.
70 his residence at Toxic, reception there by
the authorities, and an unlolicitet audience
with
HIS MAJESTY, THE TENNo.
This audience was the first ever granted any
one under the rank of accredited representa-
tive of some foreign government. At all
POINTS the General was received with marked
honors attended by all the pomp and cere-
mOny OF oriental hospitality; imposing pro-
cessions, salutes by Royal troops, as guards
OF honor, and splendid banquet3 were among
n 70 f<xr. al
peror. On this occasion the Tenno was
seated on throne, richly attired in robes of
SILK heavily wrought in gold, while on his
described as unique in form and of oriental
splendor.
WITH REGARD TO YEsso,
the Island, the speaker stated that the island
Lad, until his arrival, been considered q
bleak, barren region, and unproductive. He
found, however. that the climate was semi
torrid rather than semi-frigid, and that 1t
was capable of the productions of the tenn
perate zone or America and Europe. Though
much snow falls in winter, the temperature
heit. A small population was found, princi-
pally engaged In fishing. The fisheries of
1esso, the General states, are immense. He
has seen 900 ofthe largest salmon taken at
one haul, while times as many is no un-
us lal single catch. Properly managed thew
were capable or yielding millions Of dollars
Ia revenue, whereas now tue retu to the
government Is but about $3.50, 900. They are
farmed out by the government, a small tax
being enacted for the privilege. At present
Chinese and Japanese markets are the only
markets for these fisheries, but with the pro-
per methods of curing and canning once un-
derstood, the fish of Japan will find markets
IN all parts OF the world.
AS TO THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN
the General considered them as contented
and happy, though lacking every comfort
considered essential to the happiness OF the
average European or American. They are
quiet, good naturei and easily Controlled:
turbulent assemblages are never known, and
their only demonstrations, when gathered in
crowds, are laughter and applause. Though
traVellng much throughout the empire
during more than four years, the Speaker
had never, either on lonely road in the inte-
rlor or In The crowded street of the city, been
iEsulted by act, word or look! They are
lDdustrlous, frugal, and as workmen geL-
orally expert. Almost every man is a
iaoorer. while the majority are skilled in
which in ne centuries of her exfste ace Japan
has utilized in trifies OF no commercial value
or In temples rapidly perishing from neglect,
ton of the world. There is no government
or Individual wealth, which, however can
scarcely be expected with system of labor
under which an able-bodied, skilled work.
man receives but from 10 to IS cents per day
subsistence included! She has had no foreign
Wsis nor large periodical balances to pay,
and thus deplete her treasury. She presents
no great public works as monuments of
previous condition OF prosperity and wealth.
TEA AND RICE
are the principal exports, but quantities of
The latter are stored throughout the empire
TO guard against famine-a necessary pre-
caution with people depending entirely on
one or two articles OF subsistence. Now,
sary, great revolution having taken place
In the matter OF food supply by the iutroduc-
ton of -four mills. Formerly bread was not
made or used in the empire.
THE COOLIES.
TIL lately the c0olie was both draft and
road morse; now steam and other methods of
transportation are used. When the first saw
mill was started 800 coolies were near by
saving timber by hand, 20 square feet being
the average of each, daily. The capacity Of
the mill being 1900 square feet daily, this
one labor saving machine Is the equivalent to
the muscular energy OF coo natives. Closing,
the speaker referred to the idea advanced by
some that the Introduction OF the luxuries
and expensive habits OF foreigners would not
only entail great expense to this people, but
most likely work their disadvantage aud
unhappiness. AS TO the additional expense,
~ was remarked that this would be more
than offset by the opening OF her ports to
the commerce OF the world, and the expor.
tation or ner surplus tea, rice, silks, &c,
necessary
TO CHRIsTIANIzE THE EMPIRE
and to give her position eventually among
ever, he continued, to eradicate the foreign
ideas already introduced into Japan, it
could not be done. The officials are more
from which they have been shut out so long,
and 1t is doubted whether with the entire
foreign element banished from her shores
Japan would abandon the new regime and
resume the ancient customs she has now
thrown of. "The seeds of western civiliZa-
ton sown In Japan" he added, "haye al
ready yielded much fruit in yearning on
the part OF the higher men OF the empire TO
know more OF nations whence came these
wonderful and powerful germs, while they
have taken such deep root that IL would re.
qufre more than human skill to stay their
reproductive power"
Want of space prevents more extended
notice of this interesting lecture, which
ELECTED, as IL well deserved, an enthusiastic
reception.
Dom PEDRo.-Owing To the bad weather
the Brazilian Emperor did not go to Mount
Vernon this morning, as he intended. He
breakfasted about 10 o'clock, and spent the
remainder of the morning quietly in the
Arlington. he left on the $50 train this ar
ternOOu for philadelnhia