The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-11-29
THE ENTIRE ISLAND REFORMED.

In the northern part OF the Sea of Japan.
come iorty miles distant from the large isl,
ana OF Ezo, lies u tiny island called Oku-
suIlI' ts SOIL IS fertile. Trees of varying
proportion cluster thickly over its surface
dhe agrlculturist and the umberman might
una prohtable occupations there But the
chlet pursuit OF the people is fishing Every
spring great shoals Of herring approach the
coast ana the tsh are easily captured in such
Iuahsitles that THIS one bountiful dispensa-
non OF nature suffices to feed and clothe the
lnhahitants from years end TO years end.
Living thus in ease and plenty the people
might De expected to develop qualities usu-
ally Incidental TO such circumstances and
they appear TO have fallen pretty freely into
Ine vice OF drunkenness. In 1885 there were
some EGO souls in the island. They possessed
only Tour Fixed nets. They lived in houses
matched with coarse grass they had scarcely
any roads. and they could boast only n sin
gle school Yet they consumed annually
SS,uuO worth OF sake in addition 10 shochu
anu other strong drinks. In short, these
common fisher folks spent upon Intoxicating
beverages moro than 81 Eer month for every
unit OF their number, including women and
chlldren. The same ratio OF intemperance
applied to the whole of Japan would signify
an annual expenditure OF $500, 900, 900 on in
toNlcating beverages alone. In the face OF
TINS reckless outlay for LIQUOR the people
often suffered severely from hunger and cold
during the winter, the price OF rice ranging
very nlgh In the midwlnter months and the
dwelling houses being i'll adapted to exclude
inc lnclement atmosphere Tho local au-
thorltles prevailed upon them to adopt a sys-
lem OF storing provisions against times of
scarcty but their sources, re iuced by nav
ments on account of sake. were insufficient
10 accomplish anything effective in that line
1hese circumstances induced some bold
men among them to openly denounce the ex-
cesstVe use OF alcoholic beverages as the
- ~ an -
preach the necessity OF applying 10 useful
purposes the funds thus squandered. The
crusade provoked violent opposition, but in
1884 the inhabitants were induced TO enter
into the following agreement:
covenant made by the people of Okushiri
Island concerning the sale and purchase of
alcoholic beverages and the use OF the same
In the island OF Okushir
"Ihls land which we Inhabit Is n lonely
island in the Pacific Ocean Its Inhabitants
numbering ninety families, find almost their
only means OF amusement in drinking alco-
mol Nine out of every ten are addicted to
sake, the sums annually spent upon which
aggregate heavy amount.
Debtors are unable to meet their engage
ments, and some are even compelled TO de-
pend on official aid for supplies OF food. We
are Threatened with misery and some extra
ordinary measure is necessary to save us
Frugality must be the rule OF our conduct
and every kind OF excess must be avoided.
we, therefore, hereby resolve to abstain from
the luxury which we relish above all others,
namely, sake, so as TO terminate the importa-
hon OF the liquor into the island. The money
hitherto devoted to the purchase OF sake shall
be applied 10 lay in stocks OF rice and other
grain MS provision against future want. on
The one band, and TO increase the capital
available for fishery purposes on the other.
'lsIaSArUREs Or TIRE PROMOTERS
''Dated July, 1884.
irffo NJ. .l,. g..I
hiri Island, jointly and severally, in accord
ance with the Svenant hereby signed. do
pledge ourselves 10 abandon wholly the sale
purchase, and use of arohic beverages
(Signed) III 0KUsHIRI islanders"
The consequences of this covenant were
very marked. L was vigorously observed
Even Government officials, whatever their
rank, had TO give up sake drinking when
they visited the island. and as matter OF
course, every dramster who could not re
form was compelled to take his departure.
Order thenceforth reigned completely, and
prosperity came with rapid strides The
population increased five fold In five years
and the capital invested in the fishing indus
try ten fold Reed thatches were replaced
by shingles. Four large granaries were kept
full OF rice, and in addition, each house had
store OF its own. 1t is stated that there Is
now stored in the island rice sufficient to
support the people for three or iour years,
even thongh the herring fishery should fall
entirely. Roads have have been constructed
in places where nothing OF the kind existed
before. The principal school has been
greatly improved, and several branch schools
have been established.
New lands have been brought into cultiva-
tlon, and hemp to the value OF $4,000 is
grown annually for the manufacture OF fish
ing nets, which, before the signing OF the
covenant, had 10 be imported entirely from
the mainland. Statistics also show a marked
decrease OF crime, and so famous did the
success OF the experiment become that
large community of settlers in the neighhor-
ing island of Eco pledged themselves to a
covenant similar to that of Okushiri, and
with similarly happy results. Finally, we
may add that when the flye years originally
contemplated by the covenant expired II was
renewed for another term of five years, des-
pite the opposition Of an influential local o.
ticial.-Japan Mail.