Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-17
WAS TOO GALLANT.
SIR EDWIN ARNOLD SHOCKED tbs MISSION
ARIES Is JAPAN
Rev. Dr.. Bartlett Says The Poet Succumbed 10 the
Charms Of Japaaess Beauty and to the Gus
toms Of Country Where Hospitait
Opens Feminine Arms to Guests.

q
Monday, has been for fortnight the
guest of various Chicago friends. In an
Interview ne has related what he knows
OF the eminent Englishman somewhat
more 10 detail.
he said that ia his talk to the minis
tiers he was led into speaking OF Arnold
bva question, and that he used the
poets name merely in illustration or
class of men ia Japan wh0 Slur the mis-
slonaries' work, and by secret approval
or connivance encourage the natives in
immoralities that are, OF course, inim-
ical TO The progress OF Christianity
among them.
Not long ago." said Mr.. Bartlett,
sEdwa Arnold, In referring 20 Japa-
nese women, spoke Of them as half an
gelic, and undertook to defend their
notorious infdelity and loose morality
on the ground that they were forced TO
marry early without love, and hence
were, In all purity and innocence, led
BY their personal inclinEtiOnS 10 seek
ioye elsewhere"
Continuing, Mr.. Bartlett said:
"Arnold's immoralties caused fre-
oucnt and surprised comment Of Japa-
Eese everywhere, who have been long
under the dclusion that EngliShmen
and Americans were all Christians and
followed purtanc modes Of life. Act
mated bv the same motives Of shielding
the impurities Of his own life, Edwin
Arnold had made attacks upon the work
OF the missionaries"
Mr.. Bartlett was a member OF the
faculty of the great Doshisha Univers-
ity % Kyito, japan, when Sir Edwin
went there to lecture. and he said that
the practices Of the poet in his private
life became so offensive to the directors
OF the University that his services as
-cturer, though marvelOusly valuable
IL a scholastic point OF view, were
der Spensed with. In fact, his presence
= at the University, In sense sectarian,
was remarked upon by the Japanese, TO
whom his modes Of life were matters OF
familiar talk.
Dir. Bartlett said further that while
his own acquaintance with Sir Edwin
was very limited, his information In the
more specific details OF the poets con-
duct was not gossip, but the word OF re-
q spOnSible men whose integrity was
unQuestiOned ana whose testimony was
conclusive and matter Of public record.
The poetic but fictitious praise and adj
uiqtiOn which Arnold beStOwS upon the
japanese women, whose code Of morals
is anything but ironclad, has aroused
Christians in the realms OF the MikadO,
MIR. BARTLETT declares, to feelings OF dis
gust, and they are much outraged at the
gloss OF genius with which Arnold has
dressed the shOckingly prevalent i'm
morality among the women and men OF
Japan. Mr.. Bartlett did not seek 70 give
his opinions publicly, being drawn out
by the questions OF brother clergymen.
''Thls is the first charge ! have ever
-. q A 4 as
ais" said Prof David Swing, after read
ing the statement made by Mr.. Bartlett
at the meeting. II only know Arnold
as a writer, and this is the first time
any gossip about his personal conduct
has ever reached me. l think that in
making charges OF this kind the Rev.
Mr.. Bartlett should be very specific,
especially IN Chicago, where so much
interest Is taken IN both the literary
work Of Arnold and the spiritual work
OF our foreign missionaries. This trOu-
bic OF the missionaries in Japan has
been Of long standing. The churches
have had great deal OF complaint from
lheir workers 10 that vineyard for
gears.
II might add that there have been
quite a number Of untavOrable reports
concerning the missionaries themselves.
AS long as eight or ten years ago they
we're accused Of specializing in real es-
tate and giving their attention to other
worldly matters instead Of trying to
save souls. / do not remember that
there were any Investigations Of the
charges, but doubtless some Of them
we're true"
ISIS the standard Of morality in Japan
such as TO offer unusual temptations TO
Americans, as suggested by the Rev
Mr. Bartlett?" inquired the correspond
edt.
There Is practically no idea Of NOR
Atty among the women Of that country.
III Arnold or any other man is inclined
10 live licentiOusly there, IL is simply
matter of his own wishes as TO what
degree OF license he may attain. IL
was matter OF common report, some
years ago at least, tina: travellers in
either China or Japan were constantly
subjected to overtureS from women.
Our modest young missionaries were
frequently put to blush by the hotel
keepers, who almost invariably insisted
that they should nave q female bed
fellow furnished as part OF the regular
entertainment OF the house. or course,
the missionaries always declined, and
that frequently caused a lack OK cor
QlanLy DeLWetu INC lGuuiOIu duN tuo
guest. Altogether the missionaries have
had a pretty hard time OF IL, and 1
have no doubt that the Rev. Mr.
Bartlett is sincere ia his complaint re-
garding their treatment
''There is a good deal Of truth spoken
in Jest about the cost Of converting a
heather. Ny church sent bright |
young preacher to Africa some time ago |
and paid his salary and expenses for |
two or three years. When he came !
back be said be had very nearly saved |
one old chief, but was afraid be would /
soon fall from grace. He kept the chief |
in the fold by making him the high mo- !
gul OF the mission. The chief liked /
this frst-rate for while, but in sum-
mer he disappeared for whole month,
and when he came back our missionary
took him 20 task and demanded to know
where be had been.
s'sOh, l was up In the mountains wOr-
Shipping the old gods FOR while,' he
said. 4 thought / would like TO try
them again for change"
saved Hhis ChiId's Life.