The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-08-27
A WONDERFUL RACE.
That Is What Detroit Man Gals
tho Japanese.
Interesting Things Seen In tho Land OK
tho MikaGo =" Japan for the jap
anese" the Popular Sentimental
Decidedly Receptive People.

Mr.. Frederick Stcarns, Of Detroit, has
returned after years residence IN
Japan and has some interesting things
to tell Of that wonderful people. To q
FREQ Press reporter Mr.. Stearns said,
among other things, speaking OF their
agricultural methods:
Their methods are unlike ours in
every respect. We can teach them moth
ing in tho line Of agriculture; on the
contrary, we have many things to learn
from them. Our plows, harrows, reapers,
mowers, etc, while not unknown to them,
have not been adopted, as they consider
their own ideas superior, which they
undoubtedly are"
care the streets in their cities laid
out in similarity with ours?"
"Ycs, in much tho Same style, and
each is named after q favorito god or
deified great man. The houses of tho
majority of the people are but one
story in height and are constructed of
bamboo poles fastened together, sur
mounted by matched roof. There arc
no walls, the Japanese paper, which
serves the double purpose of providing
shelter and light, being substituted
Glass windows and shinglcd roofs may
be seen on some few houses. All views
from the house open upon the garden
the street being entirely closed up. The
Japanese will have his garden If it is
but half the size of an ordinary billiard
table. Tho love Of the beautiful in
nature and art is inherent with the
whole racc-absolutely part OF their
existence. On all sides of the house
are built porchcs, it being the especial
delight of the Japanese to live IN the
open air rs much as possible. Rich
foliage and ho~ers may be seen IN
these gardens. he chrysanthemum IS
the imperial flor, but the cherry bios
som is the most popular With the people.
Japan is populated with an aggre-
rate OF IS. 600, 900 souls, a martial race
that has never yet been invaded. Tho
people are rcsolutc, full of courage, and
are very patriotic. Since the revolution
OF 1865 they have had constitutional
government. The Mikado is the nom
inal ruler, his powers being limited by
BODY of men divided into two
branches, which corresponds to our
Senate and House of Reprcsen' ives.
Their form of government is even moro
liberal than that of Great Britain
There are fewer social distinctions
there than in othcrcountries, the people
living upon +erms of equality. The
men have adopted the regulation En-
glish dress, wherein think they made
mistake, because their own peculiar
costume is much prcttier, lighter and
moro mtortablc, allowing greater
freedom TO sne movements OF the body
I noticed that, although they wear the
European costume in the daytime. they
discard 1t and don their own attire In
the evening The women have refused
to adopt the dress of the English and
American ladies and cling to the gar
ments they have been accustomed to
wear, although the court ladies wear
the French costumes"
Are the people possessed OF album
dant educational facilities?"
"They are, indced-the men, mean,
for tho women are not allowed the adj
Vanta5eS OF dCCl utEeuIc!iI Va hAiO" 4'-'o V
They arc beautiful and virtuous and
make excellent mothers, but arc looked
upon as interiors. l said to the Japan
ESQ: Your greatest ambition is to reach
point where you can be considered the
equals of the Europeans, but you can
never attain that end until you alter
your treatment OF your women, educate
them, refine them and consider them as
good as yourselves.
Tho japanese are very receptive and
initiative. They have adopted many OF
our own commercial ideas, and carry on
mining, manufactures and build their
own steamships and railroad cars. The To-
comotives and rails arc imported. Every
important point in the country can now
be reached by railroad. The japanese are
very jealous of foreigners and will al
low no outsider to obtain foothold in
their country for the purpose of cnSag-
ing in business-and they are right.
America for tho Americans and Japan
for the japanese is my sentiment.