Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-10-26
MORE FROM JAPAN.
An Interesting Chat with DIR. Bige-
low, a Four Years Resident,

party OF three more gentlemen from
Japan, one native and two Americans
arrived here this morning and were
taken in hand by Mr.. S. A. Van Praag
OF the Burlington route. The party con
sists of Professor Fenollosa, of the
Japanese Government College at Toxic
and his family; Mr.. 0kakura, an educa.
tional officer of the Government, and DR..
Bigelow, who is travelling with the party
for pleasure. Prof. Fenollosa was form
erly a resident of Salem, Massachusetts,
and has spent eight years in the Mikado's
country. DIR. Bigelow is from Boston
and has been in Japan some four years.
The Professor and Mr.. Okahura are
sent here by the Japanese government
to look into the matter of fine arts, both
in America and Europe, and will visit the
principal cities OF the UnitedStates and of
European countries in the interest of the
government college at Toxic.
A reporter Of the DEIoCRAT had the
pleasure OF meeting DIR. Bigelow at the
Walker House this morning, and learned
from him many facts that will be of in
terest to Americans in general. He said
that 1t was, OF course, needless to men
ton the wonderful progress of japan in
the way Of civilization and general adj
yancement. As is well-knoWn, great
strides have been taken by the govern
ment by the introduction of railroads
telegraphy and other improvements.
Within the past few years they have paid
great attention to the construction of new
railroads and to the building of wagon
roads across the mountains which had
been considered impossible.
The greatest change" said Mr.. Bige-
low, rs that in the condition of women
which has been made within a year or
two" Heretofore the women were, as
they are in all Eastern countries, consid-
cred very inferior, and it is in their eleva-
ton that the greatest sign of advance
ment is seen. The ladies who have been
educated in the United States carried
back the American ideas, and through
them great change has been wrought. |
The ladies have established bazars, have |
learned to dance and to enjoy themselves |
generally IN social way, recognizing the |
wives and daughters of the nobility as |
The leaders of society. A dancing acade-
my has been opened in the capital and |
he natives prove to be much more apt
N the idea of the beauties of motion,
han are the Americans or Europeans.
The waltz, galop, polka, lancers and
luadrilles are danced with grace and
precision that would rival any American
lancing class.
In all their efforts to improve. the Jap
-nese recognize the United States Gov
rnment as their greatest friend, and
heir regard for this nation is very great.
When asked in regard to the politics of
he country and as to what he thought of
he probability OF a change in the form
4 government, DR.. Bigelow said that he
would prefer not to express an opinion
n this subject. In regard to the rela-
ons OF Japan to this and other foreign ;
he said that, whether amicable
otherwise, whether important or I'M {
Important the relations depended entirely
pom the actions of the minister sent to
apan by the foreign country. {
The party spend to-day in viewing the {
ty IN company with Mr.. Van Praag, and
Ill leave tomorrow over the d. & r. G.. 9
n Denver and from there East over the
arlington Route. i