The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1895-09-12
A JAP's VIEWS.
American Visitors to the Land OF
the Rising Sun.
Many Tourists Have Been Looking This,
Way ~ Tor Ordinary Travellers II 10 .
Better Trip Than 20 England
or the Continent.

A Japanese Of distinction In bis
own country has come TO this for
the purpose, as he says, Of looking
at things" In an interview with o
reporter Of the New York Sun, he
spoke Of the good esteem in which
Americans are held by the Japanese.
Never before" he said, 'were
there as many Americans in japan
as there are this year. The tourists
are TO be seen not only IN Yokohama
and other seaports, but in out-of-the.
way places, which they explore that
they may get glimpses Of the old.
time japanese life and customs. II
they cannot put up at big hotels
they are always able TO find some
place TO stay, for the nativcsre Of
a hospitable nature, aud R8ve all
heard Of the Americans. 10 Yoke.
hama we have always been accus.
toned 70 Americans. aud am sure
that as many as two thousand OF
them have lived there longer than !
can remember. But there are re.
strictions upon foreigners who want
TO travel over the country, and IL Is
not everybody who can gain permits
sion 70 do 50.
II am sure that Japan will yet be
great resort for American tourists.
Before coming 70 New York ! had
visited Europe, and the thing that
has struck me most since ] arrived
here Is that this country Is very
much like the European countries ]
have seen. The streets there and
here are the same; the residences
and business buildings are the same;
so are the manners and customs, the
garb, the religion, the theaters. the
food, and everything else. i do not
understand why so many Americans
20 TO England or France. or Germany
every year. and why they do not "a
70 some country that Is different
from their own. When the Amer.
lean travels In Japan be sees things
unlike any be ever saw before. The
people are OF another race; We have
an ancient history and many things
81 antiquity; we have arts that are
al our own; we have o social system
that has descended 10 US from pre-.
historic times; you can go into
Buddhist temples or into playhouses
unlike yours; you can everywhere
notice the abiding influence Of our
two great religions, which you cal
pagan; you can sees novelties o
1Gry kind, Gil on hands, In coun
| - which Is healthy and beautiful
and orderly, and which Is inhabited
by people whom foreigners char
arterize as excessive In their polite
ness. Japan is not . second edition
| of Europe; Il is unlike any other ma
ton 10 the world; II Is country
| for American tourists who wan
change; and ] think that Thousands
Of them will 90 every year hereafter
| II think that more Of the usua
number of Americans have trayeleC
10 Japan this year because OF th'
revelations made during the wa
with China The war has brouRh
more fame 70 Japan than oil th,
other events that have occurrc'
since the NEUROLOGICAL ages. II ha
given the world atlarge some knowl
edge 81 Japanese kfe and characte
J and history. Itkas taught mankln'
that we are not > country Of barbar
ans or simpletonL and that We ar
not like the Chinese or the Hindoo
or any other Asia'ics. II has mad
many intelligent Americans cnriou
10 learn more about VI. II has bee
the means o. attracting hundreds 3
Americans 70 the country whic
owes so much 70 Americans. II q
many Americans a have gone :
Europe this summer had thought :
going 20 japan both countries woul
be benefited. Besides the war, th
many books about japan recent
written BY American aud Europea
authors have aided In creating
dew interest ia II. There must B
very many o. these books. q .
The foreigners who have ever yislte
nv counirr Sir. Lafcadio Hearn be