The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-19
.THE LAND OF SUNRISE.
INTERESTING TALK AsoUr yApAN
Euha n,nb,r Of tn, American Legation, 4 Son
tn.L,w Of nlnIstsr Blsshsp, New on aylslt
to Friend. In this silgAbOrhOOd-rhs
Land, til. F.Opl. and aor.rnnsnt.

rELLI0EScER OF the fact that Rev. Samuel 2.
p son.in.law of Hon. John A.
Bingham, United States Minister 10
Japan, and himself an attache Of the Amer.
can Legation at Toxic, Is paying . visit
to Belmont county friends. Mr.. Fra
zIer arrived from San Francisco last
week at his fathers residence ut 81 Clairs'
willie. Yesterday he was visiting bis sister
Mrs John Dubois, at Bellaire, ard there an
INrELLIaEEcER envoy called on him for the
purpose OF obtaining some information OF the
Japan Of the present
Mr. Frazier s trip to this country at this
in tue hope OF recovering his health,
which has been very poor for several months
His native climate has already had an appre'
ciable elect In the desired direction. He ex'
pscts 10 remain In this vicinity q month OF
so yet.
Mr.. Frazier says he would not be surprised
to learn OF Mr.. Blpgham's resignation and re-
turn TO this country any day. He knows
that Il Is not the Minister intention 10 10
main In Japan beyond the end Of the present
administration, II indeed he remains that
long. He was disposed to resign some time
ago but for the fact that he was engaged In
negotiating important treaties. These nov
being completed and ratified, he feels that
his mission is in q sense accomplished, and
as he Is getting well advanced In years he
feels a stronger inclination to return home,
One consideration which induces him TO re-
main abroad il the beneficial effect OF the
country and climate on his health, which
has been very good since his residence there.
The talk about Mr.. Bingham for the Re
publican nomination for Congress In the dis
irict over the river last year was. Mr.. Frazier
saws, news to him when intelligence OF the
use Of his name reached him. The fact thai
he had been talked Of as q possible candidate
for Governor OF Ohio this fallhad notreached
him when Mr.. Frazier left Japan.
III JAPASEsE PEOPLE.
Mr.. Frazler speaks highly Of the character
of the people OF Japan, and says the nation
IA civilized beyond the conception OF any per
son who has not visited the country Of late
wears. About nine years ago q change took
place in the government. Prior 10 that time
the immediate ruler was the Tycoon, but oil
matters OF importance had 10 be referred 70
the Mikado, who held q sort OF spiritual
sway over the empire, and receive his sane.
lion before they were OF any authority. Al
the time spoken OF q revolution took place,
which resulted in placing the Mikado him
self upon the throne as the real ruler OF the
people, while the Tycoon wa deposed. The
present Mikado has ruled since. He has a
First and q Second minister, and twelve
councillors select ed by himself from among
the men OF high rank. Besides these, who form
the emperors household proper, the head
officials OF the various departments OF The
government form the Assembly. All these
are appointed by the Mikado, and anything
like suffrage Is unknown in the empire. The
Mikado has given his promise, however, thai
at the end OF a period Of which about seven
years now remains, the question OF adopting
be submitted to the people. The Mikado
himself iavors It's adoption.
TIE JAPs As ARTISTS.
Mr.. Frazier says all the Japanese are nat
ural artists. They use a small plant brush
In writing, and thus become very sklllful
with It, Some OF their work Is really marvel.
Gus, especially paintings Of birds and flowers.
Work OF this kind Is much cheaper there
than In other countries, but not 80 much
cheaper as formerly. They have learned
what value foreigners put on the work, and
demand pay accordingly. Most OF the cheap
work exported Is made by inferior artists and
sold for a mere soug. A great deal OF color
printing Is done. The Japanese are advanced
In the Art Preservalive as in all arts, and
have numerous printing presses, issuing daily
papers modelled after the American, with
telegraphic news, sensational head lines
and all.
The present prevailing religion in the EN-:
pire Is the Buddhist, which wss introduced
from China. The original religion was q
sort Of q worship OF ancestors. The empire
proper consists OF two islands, Nippon and
Yesso. Toxic, the capital, formerly Yeddo,
Is on the former of these. The interior oil
the latter 10 still occupied by q peculiar race
OF hairy people called Amos, supposed to be
the Aborignes, from whom many believe the
present japanese people TO be descended,
though this Is o disputed theory. These
Amos have the merest rudiments OF q Ian
guage, which nobody else has ever been able
toa6quire, but they are ~inotiensive and semi
civilized.
NEW ooDE OF LAVE.
The prfsent ruler has had an entire new
code OF criminal and civil laws, as well as a
code Of procedure, promulgated. These are
based on the French system, and have been
highly praised by foreigners. The cities have
police systems resembling the French Gen
Darmeris.
The old laws, Mr.. Frtzter says, were incred'
ibiy severe. theft was punched with de.
pitation after the third otiense. Murder Ii
still punished with death. Formerly faith.
to the marriage vows was punished
by boiling alive In oil or tearing asunder BY
oxen. As a consequence OF this state oil
theft Is very I'M among the
natives, and q lapse from COZ j1gal virtue Is
unheard Of. The simple habirs OF dress oil
the people, especially in the rural districts,
are astonishing 10 o stranger.
The new laws modify the penalties some
what, among other things abolishinr torture,
which was common underthe old regia.e.
THE FoREi0S lN%FLu2sCE.
Since Japan became accessible to the nj.
tons Of the world, she has made immense
forward In the arts, sciences and
manufactures. Gradually the Il flnence OF
foreigners Is shown in the adoption Of for.
eign clothes by many OF the people who min
gle with those OF. other countries This, II Ia
has had a delsterious tiisct on the
health OF the people. Consumption has be.
come prevalent where It was never heard OF,
and other diseases are increasing.
In all the cities there are now good foreign
with beds aud foreign yictuals. The
sleep on nats, and thick padded
coverlets. American and European yege.
nave Deen hnu grow nne
and large, with delicious flavor.
Arailroad eighteen miles in length is in
operation In Niphon, aud one OF thirtv.two
miles In Yesso, The latter running from Yoka-
hama, the seaport, 10 Toxic, the capital 0De
Of these was built and equipped by the Eng
and the other by Americans. The latter
is more popular, aud the road
cost much lees. the English having swindled
the Government out OF vast sums OF money
means otits construction.
Glass Is now made In the empire, and nails
Mr.. Frazier pronouncss superior even
to Wheeling nails, are turned out Incredibly
fast and cheap, all the work being done by
and the iron being wrought.
There Is q fine mint at Osaka, and the Gov.
eminent has coined some money for China.
The machinery Is largely from Germany.
The army, which Is modelled after the French
military System, Is also furnished with Ger.
man armsof modern patterns. The Govern
ment has a good equipment Of heavy Krupp
guns. About the oily American product
used In Japan Is kerosene. which Is
burned al over the country. Toxic Is light
ed with gas, and when Mr.. FrsEier left one
light bad been introduced. A tfine