Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-02-28
Home Of The Mikado.
A Japanese Student Talks About His
Native Land.
Ii is Surprising How Little We Know
About the Japanese.

Mr.. Seliohi Tokito was sitting in dig
armchair, luxurionsly upholstered and
drawn mp within easy range of the glow
ing anthracite IRE in the CRATE. He
seemed to be on pretty good terms with
himself and the world in general. He
was somewhere about the middle of a
thrilling French novel, and was accom-
panying the detective of the story on a
still hunt after the girl, who had been
spirited away in some mysterious man
per by the lowbrowed villain Mr. Tokito
speaks very good and correct English.
There is slight teaplantation aroma in
che manner in which he wrestles with
some of the more difficult and long
wasted consonants, but, ON the whole,
il II quite passable. He has been in this
country for about two years, engaged
III the study of practical engiu eering.
A portion of the time has been spent as
student az the university at Ann Arbor,
the remainder in travelling about the
country in quest of practical experience
upon the subject. He is nov on his re-
turn 10 Ann Arbor after several months
spent in a Kansas City engineering Office.
Mr.. Tokito lie a SCION OF a very promin-
emit Japanese family, one of his brothers
being Governor of something or Other
oyeS there and another high officer in
the navy. He is exceedingly intelligent
and, IA he sat In his handsome Russell
House apartment yesterday afternoon,
talked In an interesting and instructive
manner OF his native land.
"My home ia in Toxic" he said. at is
n city of over million inhabitants, and
IL the literary, educational artistic and
commercial center of Japan. Az far "a
securing an education is concerned
there is no reason in the world why we
should come to this country. We have in
Toxic the Imperial university, 40 insti-
tuition which outranks in all important
respects the university at Aun Arbor.
The professors and teachers are all Eng
lish, and the studies are conducted in
that language. am opposed TO the idea
OF our young men coming to this ooun-
try for the purpose OF acquiring gen
eral education, There IL no necessity for
1t. or course, u is only the sons OF the
rich who do come, and the principal OBJ
lect in DONG so is to secure a knowledge
of the manners aud customs OF the
country. In Toxic, also, the whole edu-
oational system 10 excellent. Education
over there is com pulsory. We have good
primary, intermediate and grammar
schools all over Japan. In these branches,
the study of the English language was
only introduced couple of years ago.
l. myself graduated from tho Imperial
University of Toxic before coming TO
this country, but desired to pick up few
American ideas on engineering"
"ls Japan advancing in the arts and
! soiehoeeYn
Mr.. Tokito smiled.
eve claim to have known great deal
about such things in my country before
the existence of America was sus peoted
by the civilized world" he said, "Still,
10 is always possible to advance, OF course.
! think know what you mean. You de-
aire TO learn whether we are falling into
English aud American ways in such mat
ters We have musical institute in
Toxic, under direction OF Boston pro-
fessor, where our ladies are taught TO
play and sing after the most approved
style OF your fashionable circles. The
Japanese girls are very ready to fall in
with that sort of thing, | can assure You.
q: oouree, you must understand that all
| say about Japan refers only 10 the up.
per GLASSES. The poor are very poor, and
have neither time nor money for prog
ress in any direction Our girls are rap
idly picking up all sorts of English ac-
oJmplishments at seminar es and finish
ing schools, which have been established
for that purpose"
How about dressY"
Mr.. Tokito smiled again.
III you entertain an idea that the bet
ter classes in Japan sull appear ~ the
outlandish attire pictured ia the Mikado,
and other supposed sketches and histo-
ries OF my country, please disRbuse your
mind OF 10 at once" he said. "Tbat idea
is more romantic aud picturesque, per
hHps, but II Is not true "a nature. IA
you see me now" throwing open hand
some Prince Albert coat and exposing
full and perfect fitting American attire
throughout, "you see all the better GLASS
es Of my oOuntrymsn at home. / have
worn nothing else since ! was q child.
Our ladies dress handsomely aud in per-
feet taste, appearing at receptions aud
parties In fun dress costumes which equal
any thing ever seen in this country, Eng
lan1, or even France. IL Is juet the
same with the men. Our dances there al
inc present time are Just the same "a
you're here, and think I am justified by
the fscts IN saying that they are just as
we'll and gracefully danced.
"HOw are your theatresP
ain that respect WIS differ from this
country. Ia that we have neither come
dies nor faroes upon the stage. Pe5-
formanoes are all given in the Japanese
! language, and the plays are tragic or his
torical in character. Some OF the acting
ia superb. There are no variety shows in
Japan. Juggling, and that class Of
amusement, is confined to the streets.
Wrestling is the great national game IN
Japan
"And the native literaturew
1T Ia excellent, much of il being of q
high order. / am great novel reader,
and do not hesitate 20 say--after mas
tering most of the best works of fiction
in the English language-that our native
noyelists compare favoraby with any
with which | am familiar. Like the
plays, the best japanese novels are his
torical in character"
Mr.. Tokito expects TO remain two or
three years longer in this country before
returning TO Japan.
I
Jay Gouds Baked Potatoes.
phuadetpbia Tffoea