The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-04-05


of Chinese, who make their living by
preparing the pupils lessons outside of
school hours. I think the majority of
students make 1t rule to go every
day to some teacher to be taught the
next days lesson. The teacher takes
one book, and reads the Chinese char
acters as loudly and as rapidly as pos
sible, and the pupil, with his book, re-
peats, just one syllable behind, what
the teacher reads. All last year, from
early morn to late at night, we could
hear from our windows the monoton-
Gus sound which came from the house
of a Chinese teacher, who was our
next door neighbor. Another thing
which the Allen county teachers
would object to, is that the Japanese
have school six days in the week.
When pupils first enter our school it
is very hard for them to learn to keep
quiet and pay attention to what lie be.
ing said. And it is also hard to teach
them to think for themselves; they
want to be taught as parrots are taught.
Many of them are very bright and
quick to learn; they are also indus
trious, more 30, think than the ma
jority Of nupils in America. 1t takes
a great deal of patience to teach them
History Physics. etc. because they
have to express themselves in English,
and it is Of course very difficult, unless
they have an unusually good know
ledge of English.
The eleventh of last month was a
great day in the history of Japan, and
there were very imposing ceremonies
in Toxic. The principal part of
course. was held in the thrOne-roOm of
the new palace. The new constitution
seems to be highly satisfactory, when
we remember that for ages the Japan
csc people have believed that the EN-
peror was descended in a direct line
from the gods, and that all his power
was given him by them, his freely
giving up part of that power seems
great step. 1t is said that on that
day, for the first time in the history of
Japan, the Empress rode in the same
carriage with the Emperor. The city
was gay with decorations. even the
narrow lanes and dark alleys having
their rows of bright colored lanterns;
while or the main streets were nu-
merous arches, and other elaborate
decorations. In the evening were
fireworks and general rejoicings,
while &C the palace very brilliant
reception was held. The only blot on
the day was the assassination of Wis
count Mort, which took place in his
own house just as he was preparing to
go to the palace. 1t seems that a
year or so ago, Viscount Mort visited
one of the shrines at Use, entered it
without removing his shoes, and lifted
sacred curtain with his cane. For
this reason he was killed by some
earnest believer in ShintOOism. Wis.
count Mort was very much in favor of
western civilization and religion, was
a man of great influence, and so as his
example was one which if followed
would soon overthrow Shintooism, he
was cut down. His assassin was i'm
medistely killed by one of the guards,
and everything has now quieted
down.
We were somewhat disappointed
when we learned not long ago, that it
was with Mexico instead Of the United
States, that Japan had completed b
treaty, "on terms of perfect equality"
but we hope and believe that "our
home land" will soon follow.
| MEnE. r. HAYES