The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-02-21

for more women. 1 think, however, the
mere mention of that fact may not cause
any general exodus from Honolulu.
can only spare time to say that good
roads are greatly needed in Japan. Rail-
ways are fast multiplying, some 400 miles
now being in use. Two large steamship
companies fostered by the Government
are doing large and increasing business.
very large proportion of inland carry
ing as done by men, horses and bulls.
AS bearing upon the general subject of
transportation the following comparison
between the relative number of horses
and cattle in Japan and the United
States may prove interesting. In Japan
her 100000 people have 900, PA
horses. The United States, in 1870, with
81, LOCO, 900 people had in round numbers
10, COG, 900 horses and mules. Japan had
814, 1924 cattle; the United States 10000
900.
The mail service in Japan as now es-
tablished, is excellent. The dwellings of
the laborers are cheap, but generally
clean and attractive, and almost without
exception Cndeed know of no exception)
contains bath which is in daily use. I
am reminded in this connection of A
criticism that appeared in home paper,
shortly after the first publication of this
report in which Miss Bird is quoted as
questioning the claim of the Japanese to
cleanliness; and the writer, stating that
as Cleanliness is next to Goodness" Ia
sentence that did not strike me as entirely
new) expressed amazement at my temeri-
ty in claiming that ''Heathen Japanese
were as clearly as Christian Europeans
and Americans" Il quote his exact Ian
guage.( I replied that 1 must maintain
the exactitude of my original statement
and would now add without the fear of
intelligent contradiction, that the class of
laborers referred to by me in Japan were
more clearly than the same class of
laborers anywhere else in the world; and
that good hot water when applied to the
person must, to some extent perform it's
work of publication, despite the religious
sentiments of the bather.
Time will not permit my dwelling upon
the habits of the farmers, the food and
the fuel, the holidays, taxes, sports, pas
times. and more particulars of the life of
this interesting people.
Referring for moment TO the cultiva-
ton of rice which has reached a very high
figure let me relate a little incident that
| occurred on one of my delightful trips
through one of the most prolific por-
tons of the country.
While on a steamer on Lake Biron. and
approaching a small port where we were
boo erections over the water, from which
were depending large quantities of rice in
the straw to dry. Imagining that some
peculiar advantage must be secured to
the rice by thus drying it over the water,
FASTENED to make inquiries. Imagine
nay surprize then when informe ed that they
had no other place on which to dry it
save the distant hills. The grooming
earth, then being prepared for another
crop, had absolutely borne more than it
L
and silk crops are of very great value, and
capable of increase.
The lacquer and bronze industries ex-
hibit the ingenuity, taste, skill, and
patience of the workers. The modern
bronzes are exquisite in design and finish,
and as good lacquer can be produced now,
as in the past, if paid for. OF the porce-
lain, especially of the exquisite decora-
tions of Japanese artists I need hardly
speak. They have established a world
wide fame. 1 cannot either, as 1 should
like, notice the extensive fisheries of the
Empire, her labor organizations, her
labor finances, her paupers, or her food.
The remarkable scenery of Japan has won
enthusiastic admiration from all visitors.
Her grand mountains, of which Fuji-yama
(peerless mountain) is the pride and
browning glory her rapid rivers, her
lonely valleys clothed in perpetual green,
and blOssoming with flowers of a thousand
hues her numerous and picturesque
islands and indented coasts, bays, and
harbors her varieties of shrubs and
trees, and her skies of purest blue, all
combine to make their impress On the
character of her people.
Labor is the great factor that moves
the world, and that now, and more and
more hereafter, Will demand the most
serious consideration of mankind. LABOR
is the producer of every necessity and
every luxury used by man, save those
which nature deals out with lavish hand
Let labor cease, and ruin, desolation, and
death would soon envelope the world.
The accommodations of wealth would lose
all value the productions of genius would
mould away, and creation sink into woe
and despair. That Government, there
fore, which best protects, cares for, fosters
and encourages its intelligent labor is the
wisest and the best, and is laying deepest
the foundations of prosperity and stability.
That Government that neglects its labor,
that laughs at its reasonable demands,
that overwhelms it with burdensome con-
ditions, that degrades it by the introduce
ton and competition of slave or other
IL,