Wichita eagle., 1888-05-23
ALMOND EYED YANKEES
OUR JAPANESE BUSINESS MEN AND
THEIR THRIFTY WAYS.

Their THRIFTY WAYS.
Anericanized Japs and Their Occupa-
Enthusiastically Home Loving Peo-
ple-Japanese Business Houses in This
Country-In a Wholesale Store.
HAS it occurred to you" said gentleman
to reporter, as a couple of japanese gen.
tlemen walked up Broadway with their
characteristic rapid stride, ''that among all
the nations represented on American soil it
may be exceptionally recorded Of the Jap
anese that not one has been convicted of a
great criminal oifense in an American court!"
The reporter was unable to state to the
contrary, and a cursory examination shows
that save an occasional misdemeanor result
ing from undue familiarity with John Bar
leycorn, and confined chiefly to the japanese
sailors who now and then visit the Pacific
coast, the page is clean whereon may be
written any transgression of the law. 1t is
true that there are comparatively few in the
country, probably not more than 500 or 500,
but these stand out in such sharp contrast
with the Chinese as to command unqualified
respect.
Since the expedition of Commodore Perry
in 1858, undertaken for the purpose of estab-
fishing friendly and commercial relations
with hitherto comparatively unknown en-
pire, the japanese have been remarkable in
their eagerness to break down ell the ancient
barriers by which they were restrained at
home and adapt themselves TO the manners
and customs of western civilization. In New
\ ork they constitute little colony of their
own, but they live in elegantly furnished
houses, dress with taste indicative of the
utmost refinement, are enterprising in bust
ness and in every respect model American
citizens. They are either merchants engaged
in the Importation and sale of raw silk, tea,
lacquer work and japanese bric-a-brac, or
are students in some Of our colleges prepar-
ing to introduce our arts and sciences at
home, OF they occupy official government po-
sitions, in imitation of American customs.
They have a coy club room, where they as
semble after the cares of the day to inter-
change views, and there is not more exclu-
1--WE body of gentlemen in the city.
JAPANESE PECULIARITIES.
Keenness of observation is one of the pecu-
liarities of the japanese. Having started in
the race, it is their ambition TO keep abreast
Of the progress of civilization, and hence you +,
will find them patrons of the best literary,
railway and agricultural mage
zines, and eager to learn everything but
American politics. On practical subjects |
they are better posted than the majority Of
our own people, Another popularity is that
the nation is more homogeneous than even
the Germans. and hence you find kind of |
II
the consuls who represent their government. I
Each member of the little family in the
United States is known at official headQuar-
ters, and by glance at carefully kept rec |
ord of addresses one may learn the where
abcuts of any of the permanently located |
Japanese in the country. For instance, one
is in Cornell studying physics. another In |
Harvard in the law class, third In Chicago |
bordering over the intricacies Of the railway |
system, fourth in Iowa studying the SCI |
ence of agriculture, and so on. Nor do these
energetic people come here unprepared Be |
fore leaving Japan they had already &C |
luired the rudiInents Of education and laid |
the foundation for the higher knowledge |
which they intend TO make available In their |
OWN country.
A reporter in making inquiries, learned OF |
, japanese gentleman that 1t was much /
EASIER for Gn American to learn the japanese
tongue than for a japanese to master the /
English. Although he continued, "our |
alphabet is not unlike the English in sound. |
It contains forty-eight letters, and these en- |
sble Us to pronounce with more or less ac-
,uracy any Of the languages Of civilization.
From ancient times, however, having uSed
lie Chinese character, the two languages ,
having. become somewhat interIni1ed, but :,e
ire trying 70 remove the Chinese character
sites, and in the hope to have a form of writ
en- and spoken speech that viii be distinc-
lively our own
'Why is it, continued the reporter, that
re see 50 few OF tae working peopie-the
a5oring classes from your country"
81 presume" was the reply, 1t Is because
hey find abundant employment at home
Besides, it IS contrary to our public policy to
oster promiscuous legislation such es you
AVE in America. Our people are essentially
lone loving. Although there are number
# japanese sailors who come to San Fran
.isco and ether ports-and 1 SIN proud TO say
hey are regarded as the most efficient sailors
n the world-they seem to prefer their own
'ountry, and it certainly is beautiful and ct
ractive, because IT is ancient, highly culti-
'ated, rich in scenery and works OF archi-
ecture that ara the wonder OF travellers, and,
more than eli, productive Of Terythins that
life and gives content
BUSINESS HOUSES
How many business houses are there II
his countryF asked TIE reporter
- cannot accurately tell. but IN this city
here are two OF three establishments,
ranches Of the Doshin SILK eomTany and
he NipoD Mercantile company and several
ru1s engaged in ths Importation OF p.o--
elain, lacquer work, fancy goods toys and
Their articles Of japanese Manufacture
here are also japanese houses IN Boston,
San Francisco and many
laces where our merchandise is sold by
americans or foreigners who have their
representatives. II Japan"
An hour spent IN japanese wholesale
tore IS as Interesting as WISH 70 museum
he clerks II attendance are yog-g Haen,
suaIiy under % years Of age, ard with
are poiitaneSs and almost wosnanly gsEtsa-
ess seem to take plesxuze N dsscTshllx tie