Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1879-12-06
Ieeture on Japan.

On being introduced by Sir. David Howell. III e
Reverend rentiomln remarked shat in giving
this lecture. he bad been somewhat At loss
whether 20 begin Tar back ia the past and come
down 10 The present. 90 begin az the present and
90 back. or to do as one not loag since had been
said % do-begin In the middle aud lslye OF at
both crds. His desire, however, was % give an
idea Of Japan as 10 gov is--as he had recently
seen H. lie then spoke OF the i1uruey-across
che A ucghcues, over the praries over the Desert
across the Rocky Mountains aud Sierra Neyadas
I 90 san Francisco, whence he voyage across the
Pacific, OF near 8 900 miles, IS made in the finest,
and second in size 20 the Great EasterR, ocean
( steamer in the world built in Chester, Peunsyl-
yania. aud furnished with all the luxurics and
comforts Of a modern Grst-class hotel. Going in
I to the Bay Of Ncjdo, by Pt. King, the scenery is
/ surprisingly lovely, The grand inimitable' or
I Peerless Moantaia-Fuj Nana-risiug 1900 feet
above The p,ain-a symmetrical cone with snow-
capped summit guarding he pass between the
/ Eastern and Western portions OF the Island. The
first thing that strikes the traveller Is the appear
anccof Yokohama, a city built in the style Of the
provincial towns OF Europe Jouracyias on he
comes 60 whatwas once Jedio .Yei3l now called
/ losio. or the Eastern Capitll On, O; its notice
I able features is tac lowuess of the houscs-uone
over two stories high buii- So oa account Of the
prevalence OF earthquakes and the ucwness Of
,Ls bindings On iagairiug for The antiquities
ol Yeio, YOU are told there are none-eyery thing
IS ucg, bccsvse Jae ,atire city is burned ~ oacc
e. Cen rcars-the houses being builto such Zig bt,
inaamabic material chat fires sweep the city
almost unchecked. During the iccturcrs rosi-
delce os seven years az least two-shigds OF the
city lad bcca consumed. The 0aly substantial
edidce is the castle OF Ycdo which he described
as being castle aad m0lt withia castle aad moat-
the Imperial residence. For $50 years the Elm
rirc was governed ia a peculiarly peaceful man
uer The Emperor or 5likalo lived secluded in
his castle at Kioto the Western Cspital given
up % pleasure aad taking but little account Of bis
reaim-surrounded by poets, wits aud hterafy
ladies. The appointments Of his palnce perfect
and simple in their puri,y-Uithogt color aud the
ONLY ornament carved wood, wh;ie the Empire,
alter contentious FOR supremacy came under the
dominion Of a Shogun named lyeyasu, the great
cs, man IN japanese history, though IN iudigi-
dual small OF stature and Insignificant in appear
succession, Japan was in comparative peace until
1851 The Princes and Daimaios lived in Parks
at Ycdo-and when il was essential that they
saould quit their homes, their families remained
as hostages for their proper department The
lecturer gave some account OF the expedition OF
Commodore Perry in 1883, and ais successful
oycrtores-resu ting in a treaty Of commerce
The NAN object, however, % the expedition was
10 secure proper treatment Of shipwrecked sailors
on the Islands Of japan Many years prior to
Commodore Perry adventure. tho the japanese
had determined they would no;allow intercourse
with foreigne Rs. Portuguese, Spanish, English,
aud Dutch merchants visited the Empire. Mis-
s'oua-ies Of tac Romanish Church fomen,ed dis
orders; devotion 90 the Pope, more tlan 20 the
Sovereign, excited Jealousy. The Dutch, how
ever, for purposes Of trade, trampied on the
symbols % Chrsuanity the price OF their pfi-
v..-e % remain. and aid continue there 200 years.
The high rock from which Christians were throw
into the sea. and tlc castle ia which some were
Imprisoned and lombard ID by guns from Dutch
ships, were graphically described. lie adverted 20
The Withdrawal Of Commodore Perry 20 Chinese
waters aud his subsequent return, Ia 1884, when
nc ll- 4N' tti- N.tt a. ~t~.- 4'' ta''~
tho' not the Supreme Ruiey- % sign a treaty with
che T.. s opening the ports % Sinoda and Hako-
dadi % commerce. 10 less other Foreign Pow
cts also made treaties. A0e- the Shotgun was
deposed the Mikad0 was disposed % disregard the
treaty. but ;h1 Foreign Ambassadors Insisted upon
bis respecting it, and uaally commerce was se-
cured vi,a the uati,a. The Emperor, TO longer
secluded, is Young man Of energy and Ia,
promised % bis people constitutional govern
ueut with representative Institutions. TIE lee
tlrer said ,ae Press is a great power Ia japan
Wih 50 o0o 600 people has 40 newspapers,
wl;le China, With 400. 100000 has only to'erat,d
a rew-Gur, p,rtap. being an. The "ress a
bused is privileges Cor sahue, bg, a limited
censorship reduced things goa condition that was
tolc7at'e AID useful japan in advance Of
Eo- .and and the G.. : has a Minister OF Public
Instruction. Thc merchant class at one time were
regarded only as ,ric.s tc-s. butnow the a,oca-
tions q trade and commerce are considered as
comparatively honorable. The japanese Island.
were, undo 5;elly, peoqed by tribes from Kan
scha,ka, probably by some from Corea and the
Malay Archipelago: that's, by the Amos, Non
gol,a1s and Ma.ays. He enlarged on ;ie currents
and uinds-the gulf stream, the t-ade wirds-aH
exceedingly Interesting, which we regret not to
be able o. give IN detail Historical societies,
t3A .oseisn and rl,ive. aave been Instituted ia
Japan. Asa Go.j Tor scientific observation, ia
pal. lying Within the volcanic range, is intense =
Interesting. Do ,a-,e bs lag OF earthquakes we
shall fuI IL by udyiug volcanic action here
Their religion is ;ls worship ct Ueagcaly bodies
oud % Nature exceedingly simple. \ descrip-
lion OF tleir temples was given differing from
those Of the E-la.s1 in extreme simplicity,
while those og the latter re.ig 'on-iupor,ci .som
Cbns-acc4 eltedaad 3ruamcnt,d. I4c tlree
De-. g.ors o. .ae Empire may be described as
Siiut.ism, Ladiisn aul Coz uc.a1ism. Hs ei-
lul o. ,h-.r tradition % tbo origin Of their
Isanl5-as ,hs Jrip7ings from the tridsn, of
Ne.,uuc. U. ,hc cg.,o.s OF ,he people De gave
nany interesting dcuis, as, forins;auec, when O
ro5'cman has offended tae Emperor, IL graciousiy
permitted Co. commit suicide, tae Chinese, who
ore opposed O. mutilatior. swallow god leaf and
aye sudoeated; bat tle japanese performs Hsra-
Lni-tiseuboweHny himself, with bis ari,y as
witnesses, and just before expiring bis " b-s.
friend" catso a his bead This IS called the chap
py patch" Che speaker ia conclusion alluded
90 tac r,c'rg o. aeighbo-hip between Japan and
c. = and o. The chain which, though O long oae,
connects san Francisco and japan, snt the strong
lee-ug oil friendship for and leaning upon the L.