Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-17
Hoolx Notices.

THE RELIGIONS OF JAPAN, FROM
THE DAWN OF HISTORY TO THE
ERA OF MEIJI. BY william Elliot
Grifis. ID. -. New York: Charles
Scribner's Sons. 1895. PIP. 67. Price,
81.
Japan has long been an interesting
country, and has lately become quite an
important one, from her successful war
with China. Yet she is small-containing
10000 square miles: about the size OF
our two Dakotas. She is also young,
geologically. ethnoogically, and historl-
caly. Her history as State began when
the Roman Empire fell. The Germanic
nations arose in history long before the
japanese. Her people were Of very
mixed origin. and have had to bear the
yoke of religious and political conquer
ors. still they have become mostly homo
geneous and now amount TO about
A. o10.O00 nearly equally divided between
the two sexes.
They are. like the Athenians too reli-
gious, having besides what our author
styles their "book-rellgions" innumerable
supers:itions and gods OF every kind and
description. Their primitive religion was
the Shinto. but this has been overthrown
by conquest and absorbed by Confucian-
ism and Buddhism. 1t was revived, how
ever. in the eighteenth century. our
author says: Since the epochal year. 1853
with imperiallsm re-established and the
feulal system abolished. Shlnto has had
visible revival, being kept alive by gov
eminent patronage. Buddhism, though
politically disestablshed. IS still the popu-
lar religion. with recent increase of life,
while Confucanism Is decidedly losing
force. Christianity has begun its promls-
ing career" This ShintO has suffered
many corruptions and tolerated very loose
nidras. under which lying and licentious-
ness found a refuge. Yet Or. Grifhs says
It's ideal was a high one, and such as
to prepare the way FOR Christianity. II IL,
h. asserts. "tO make people pure and
clean i'm all their personal and household
arrangements; to help them to live sim
plv honestly and with mutual good
will: to make them love their country.
honor their imperial house, and obey their
Emperor" But Mr.. Satow says that
"as cx2oundcd by Motoori. II Is nothing
more than an engine for reducing the
people to J. condition Of mental slavery"
The Dutch merchants seem to have
conferred substantial and lasting benefits
upon Japan. and the United states,
through the friendly mission Of Commo-
doro Perry. opened her to the civilized
world
At this very time Richmond IS repre-
santed there by one Of hCN- sons-Richarl
Claiming Wiliams-a missionary bishop
of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Or GrifIis was invited to Japan 10 aid
in organizing her public schools. and was
connected with the Imperial University at
Toxic. He had fine opportunities for pre-
pairing himself for the work which he has
undertaken in the handsome volume be-
fore rs. We regret that he has given
his readers the trouble Of hunting
for the seventy-twO pages OF notes.
authorities. and Illustrations" which he
has RELOCATED to what he miscalls an APP
pendix.
MONSTER JACQUES ROGUE: THE
MAN or \ CLUE BY s. p. Hamilton
Atlanta. Ca: Franklin Publishing Com
pany. 1904 J. ". Randolph & co.
Richmond, Va. pp. -. Price, 40 cents
As this IS n South Carolina production
We wish It had been more Of success.
The author informs US that he intends
"to portray the character of a completely
selfish man upon whom the opportunity
Of wealth, education. and daily associa-
ton with gentlemen has had no effect. To
do this he has chosen his subject from a
Now Yorl, club" But he says he could
have selected him as well from Pniladei-
phia. Baltimore. or any other large city.
This IS intensely hard. not only upon
wealth and all our large cities. but also
upon education. and the attrition or
daily genteel companionship. 1t would
have been better art 10 have proceeded
with his portraiture and let that speak for
itself.
II is not go bad that the wealth which
Monsieur Jacques inherited from his
thievish father enabled him 10 buy his way
into New York club and social life. as II
Is that II also purchased as his wife
beautiful and well-bred young widow.
with an only daughter. These he treated
I'm such a brutal manner that the wife