The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-09-17
PROGRESSIVE JAPAN.
CHANGE IN MANNERS AND COSTUME
DURING THE LAST DECADE.

dhism-Schools and Coilegcs-The En-
peror's Promises-Trade OF the Island.
Among the late arrivals from Japan were
w. &. De Lano Eastlake and his mother, who
are visiting San Francisco ON their way cast.
Mr.. Eastlake is secretary of the Society for
the Advancement of Medical Science in
Japan and n member OF the Asiatic society,
and has, during the three years of his res
idence in the orient, become thoroughly ac-
quainted with the manners and customs of
the people and not less familiar with the
country, both in a political and physical sense.
In an interview with reporter Mr.. East
lake portrayed in glowing colors the country
and its people.
The people, he said, are fast advancing in
the civilization of their political, moral and
intellectual lives, and scarcely without excep-
ton are anxious to reap the benefits of Euro
pean and American education In the Gus
toms of dress there has been marked change
during the last decade until now the officials
and the better classes assume the English COS
tune Among the former it is compulsory,
and upon the street the old japanese garb is
seldom seen except on tho poorer classes.
Among the ladies, however, the loose gowns
of the olden days are still popular, but even
these are gradually growing obsolete and at
fashionable balls the European dress is gen
orally assumed, while the programmes of the
of English music.
BANGS AND WHITE TEETH.
The odd yet picturesque style of hair dress
ing which has 50 long prevailed in the coun-
try has been superseded by that of the Amer
lean women, and the fair foreheads of the
royal ladies are already hidden by the bang 50
common i'll our own country. The fashions,
however, are not set by the empress The
style adopted by the minister's wives is con
sidered quite the proper thing, and, following
their example, all ladies of culture have
dropped the custom of backing their teeth
and shaving their eyebrows
The intellectual progress of the people of
Japan" said Mr.. Eastlalie, has been almost
unparalleled. Not only has the educational
system been established all over the empire,
but the capital city boasts OF n university that
can compare favorably with the best colleges
of the continent. German professors promi-
ncnt for scientific ability and research, have
filled the chairs i'll the scientific and medical
departments of the Imperial university, while
III literature, both ancient and modern, Eng
lSh and American men of advanced thought
have been chosen as instructors. Recently
the staff of foreign professors has been Iii
minished and the vacancies filled by Japan
csc literati who have returned from study
abroad.
The works of Huxley, Spencer, Darwin
and others have been translated into Japan
eSe and are familiar handbooks to students IN
Japan. The promulgators of Christianity
find that they have a proud skepticism To con
tend with. The japanese talk of the 'cvolu-
ton of species and the nebular hypothesis as
glibly our learned men. Buddhism is still
the predominating faith, but Christianity is
rapidly establishing itself among the more
intellectual classes, although many of the
high officials express extreme bitterness TO the
doctrine and its Introduction This bitterness
is so great that to profess Christianity means
the loss of an official position. The people
arc not conservative, however, and it is only
a question of time when the Christian faith
will be accepted throughout the country. In
all the large cities public schools are main
tanned, and it is compulsory that after attain
ing a certain age children shall be sent to
school In Toxic there are two large law
schools, one of which il conducted in the
French and the other in the English language.
Added to these is am engineering college, with
its library of over 10000 volumes and its ex-
tensivc laboratories, which have been recently
merged with the Imperial college.
THE EMPERoR'S PROMISES.
political affairs are not behind i'll the on
ward march of civilization, and the chief OK
element of the country now is the prcpaTa-
ton for the national assembly promised for
1890. The ground is already purchased ami
the assembly buildings commenced, although
there is naturally some miSapprehension on
the part of suspicious minds that the govern
ment may not carry out its promises to the
people. As it now stands, the government is
in the hands of the emperor, assisted 10y the
senate and house of lords, which i'll japanese
is called 'Gen-ro-n.' The national ASSEMBLE
will be composed of representatives elected
by the people from the various districts into
which the country is divided, thus making
the empire partial republic. Laws regard
ing press criticism and public speech are very
stringent, and in neither is criticism of tie
government allowed. Regarding Japan's re
lations with America L am able to speak at
length My visit to this country is in the in
terest of an extension of the mercantile
traffic. The United States and its people are
regarded with great respect by the japanese,
and in their eyes, as The Jill Shimpo, one of
the leading journals, expresses it, America
stands out in the world like a blossomigg
plum branch among a thicket of brambles,
diffusinS a rich fragrance and compelling the
admiration of all for her great name and
vigorous policy
America is Japan's largest customer i'll a
commercial way, while, on the other hand,
none of the staple products of the United
States, except kerosene, find their way TO
Japan.
THE railroads of Japan are constantly be-
ing extended and there are now SIX com
panics, embracing about 200 miles of road.
These are equipped with English locOmo-
tives, cars and rails, but Germany is making
every effort to secure this trade, and n con
tract has recently been awarded to German !
firms for furnishing the rails for eight years. |
You would be surprised to see American |
street cars rolling along the streets of Toxic, !
but there are many of them, and these with !
the jinrikishu, or pullman ears, are the prin-
cipal public conveyances. The latter may bc
hired for seventy-five cents n day, and the /
street cars carry passengers for "A moderate |
charge ranging from two to eight cents, ac- /
cording to the distance travelled. San Fran /.
cisco Chronicle.
Girls ut the Seaside.
have carefully looked around me for !