The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-19

houses reaching 10 The railway station.
This street appears 10 be the Broadway
Of Yeddo and ID filled with fne stores.
making q magnificent display Of silks
porcelain and various articles Of mer.
chandise in their plate glass show win.
doWs. Bookstores with illustrated vol.
umes are Of frequent occurrence, and
places Of amusement with glaring show.
bills posted on the walls on which | no.
ticed the burlesqued figures Of the light
haired Anglo Saxon:
Reaching the railroad station with the
tall cone Of Fusiama forever overlook.
Ing US, we returned 10 Yokohama,
| was very fayorably impressed with
the Japanese character. They are very
friendly 10 strangers and are exceedingly
lively and joyous. In Yeddo they ap.
peared to be very well disposed, crowding
around and trying to enter into CONVEX.
sation with us, but with poor success. ]
heard, SOHO" repeated very often, and
that being the name Of my native State,
supposed they were greeting me in the
California fashion. They knew nothing
Of my antecedents, however, but merely
meant 10 wish me good morning. l was
in blisstul ignorance at the time OF the
playful propensity manifested by the two
Sworded. Jaconins to cut OF an unsuspect.
ing strangers head merely to show him
their skill in swordmanship.
They are surprisingly clearly, there
being no signs OF filth in their most dense.
ly populated quarters. They always
take of their shoes on entering their
dwellings, and the floors where not GOV.
cred with mating, shine as II polished
or waxed., They excel in the manuiac.
ture Of bronze and Japanned wares, and
are only equalled by the Chinese in silk
embroideries, ivory carving and pOrce:
lain.
There has been a great change in the
ideas and government OF Japan within
the last five years. From being the most
exclusive Of nations they now throw open
their doors and invite the adventures Of
the world 10 prey upon them. II Is said
that after the expulsion Of the Jesuits
and Portuguese, they enjoyed a period Of
unexampled peace and prosperity, which
lasted until the time Of their throwing
open their Ports again TO foreigners. Il
required several thousand years to per.
feet their peculiar civilization, and ii Ia
not 10 be expected that they can get rid
OF It and acquire another within quar-
ter Of century. The higher classes
Affect the European dress and manners,
dnd1try to force them upon the people,
who are probably not yet prepared for
such change. This may lead to rev.
olution when the British beast Of prey,
who is now lying in wait with eager eyes
and hungry nav for fitting opportuni-
~, will pounce upon them.
Their young men are sent to Europe
and America for M education, and they
learn very rapidly. On board our yes.
sci were two sons Of the japanese Minis.
ter OF War, who were returning from
school at Philadelphia. They were sur.
prisingly intelligent for boys Of their age,
and aboard the English steamer on which
| left were two young men returning to
resume their studies at Oxford. One OF
them said he intended to devote his time
and attention to international law.
In their insatiate thnrst for novelty
or knowledge, they must learn at last the
truth Of their own old adage, "Stay at
home in your own country" +.