St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-05

MinOru Tanaka, for that is his name, is
about nineteen years old, and received
his whole education at Toxic, the largest
city and the seat of government of
Japan. Here the schools all give
thorough English course, in addition to
teaching the native language. This
gives great impetus to the wonderful
changes that are being worked out SO
rapidly, and makes it easy for the mass of
the people to comprehend the use and
blessing of the railroads that are being
constructed so extensively all over the
country. The telegraph and telephone
also flourish like green bay tree, and
apart from the differently constructed
buildings and layout of the towns, ow-
ing to the difference of climate, he
claimed there was not SO much differ
ence, after all, between our mode of
living and theirs. The social manners
of his cOuntrymen he spoke of graph
ically. When asked if courtship was
carried on the same he said no. Like
in France, it was largely a matter of
convenience. The parents made all
the arrangements, the couple met once
or twice and the knot was tied. The
theaters entered largely into the every
day life. They. were large-very large;
that is, not high. but covered a big
space. No ladies acted on the stage, but
a reform party had sprung up, and
down the barrier preventing the
fair sex from sharing in his
trionic honors. All the great actors
were direct descendants from their
predecessors-that is, often family for
centuries were famous on the stage,
The greatest living actor is DanjurO
IchikaWa; he is tragedian and stands
in the estimation of his countrymen the
same as Booth does in the United
States. An idea of how practical these
remarkable little people are, may be
judged from the fact that one of the
first things they organized when they
commenced trying American institu-
lions was a fire department with steam
engines. Their navy is a model one.
having the latest style gunboats and
ironclads made in Europe, especially
made to their own order. While Eng
lish and Germans are favorably re-
ceived, Americans are by far the most
popular, being looked upon by the gov
eminent and people as their very best
of friends. The ways OF mankind are
materially the same all over the.
world; parties direct over there as
we'll as here in politics, and while
the Democrats and Republicans will be
SqudDDllng over the merits OF tariff re-
form; Cleveland and the man from
Maine, this year the meek-eyed, earnest
little, Japs will be abusing and insulting
one another Oh their national question,
which is about the treaty they made
with the civilized powers some twenty
years ago, and which they want modi-i
fed, or something to that effect. Jour-
nalism is largely similar to the publica-l
tons of this country. They likewise
have their funny men, and the editors
get hot with one another and then set
tie their differences over an amicable
glass of beer, which, by the way. is the
latest innovation introduced. Minoru'
Tanaka is decided acquisition to Min
neapOlis. He evidently possesses largely
the best qualities of his native land.
From his Olive-cOlOred eyes comes alook
that is earnest, hard working and perse-
verlng; his manners show intelligence
and good breeding, and that bashful-
ness, which is rather a charm about
them than otherwise, and which showed
itself quantity in Tanaka's case, as he
hung his head when asked what he
thought of American girls, and coyly
answered: "Well, me thin1a them berry
pretty, but none of them tickle me
vet"