The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-05-09
WAS FURNISHED BY LIEUT.. WYCKOFP
The simple Beauty OF tnte.BeIium
Japan Graphically and PoeticaI-
Nv Told by one Who Regrets the
Change that Must Now Gene.

reading OF the article at previous session
of the College club.
For perhaps an hour the entertainment
consisted of description of the japanese
islands. "Dia Nippon" the name used
in Japan, means the suns origin" or
the land over which the sun first shines.
The four islands are Of small area, very
mountainous and of volcanic origin, and
hence but little OF the land is titled. The
country is full of high peaks and is dotted
by many lake-yet the height of the
former is only 1856 feet, and the
largest OF the latter only 80 miles long by
20 broad. The rivers are also quite in
significant The country is rich in min.
grassland in this connection the speaker
said ''As Japan remained secluded
from the remainder of the world fol-
many centuries, the amount OF gold aug.
mented to large proportions and the ear.
ler foreign visitors had exaggerated ideas
Of its production. 1t is estimated that
the Portuguese and Dutch exported about
$500, 900 900 In the 10th and 18th centur.
les but the gold and silver mines have
been mostly worked out, so that the pro-
duction Of the precious metals is now
small"
The speaker described the animals oil
the islands the vegetation, fruits, cereals,
ata Il malt uno0 tho ,niIJpaSa r,f tb. al;
mate; touched on the subject of earth
quakes, and narrated some grotesque
experiences which came under his notice
He gave an interesting but brief sketch
OF the history OF the islands under their
various rulers. Touching upon the late
war, he conveyed the idea that the Jap
anese success was due to the fact that the
military was the first OF the four classes
of society, and every boys ambition was
to become a member of it.
Japan, said Mr.. Wyckof', possessed a
population of perhaps 100000; Toxic
has 100000, Kyoto and Osaka half that,
and there are dozens OF cities with over
100000 Inhabitants. He told of the
downfall of the ancient religion, the
Shinto, and the rise of Buddhism, and
spoke fully upon the great spread of the
latter and now prevailing belief.
One of the most pleasing portions OF
his address had reference to arts and man
ufsctures. Said he, after mentioning the
profound admiration America had for the
Japanese exhibits at the worlds fair
"The Japanese art treats every object
fatty, and so produces only decorative
effects instead of paintings. But how
very truthful to nature Every blade OF
grass, flower, leaf or feather has been the
object of loving study for centuries. Their
flowers and birds are especially true to
nature, not only in coloring but in every
poise, position and action. No art has for
me more fascination. | have spent hun.
dreds OF hours in delightful study Of their
exquisite bronzes, porcelains, embroider-
les and Kakemonas. Time and again |
have returned to some friendly curio
dealer to gloat over an old piece of Sat
suma, the price of which was more than
my years pay. How an isolated people
should have attained to such perfection
in art is wonderful"
The latter halt of the paper was devoted
to personal observations and experiences
He toll ] how he was the victim of q runa'
way while riding in a man-power erik
sha:" he found that styles in ladies
dresses never changed, and that a pocket
in a woman's gown was simply the under
side of flowing sleeve sewed up; hi
learned that men had to take off sandal.
and shoes before entering a hosiery
that the japanese are scrupulously clean
and delight in hot baths several times
daily-even prisoners being compelled to
battle once in winter and twice in summer
each day. Indeed, Mr.. Wyckof TOLD
tale after tale. giving interesting descrip
ton after description of thousand snC
one beautiful sights and scenes whicl
part OF his paper was more interesting
than the most intense fiction; it wa
carefully worded, clear and concise, We
full OF flowing chain of anecdote inter
| spersing the narrative OF hitherto un
known facts. lie described in pathetic
language the simple beauty of ante bel.
lum Japan, its quaint virtues and unfair
| nished freshness; and because OF his i'm
pressions in that regard, he almost mad,
his hearers wish there had been no China
Japan unpleasantness. Il was this low
for the old regime which caused Mr.
Wyckotf to close his most interestin.
reading with the following paragraph:
''Poor Japan! You have extorted tn,
admiration of the world, but have ais,
| aroused the enmity of powerful nations
Your victories have filled you with IN
last of conquest and arrogant pride
which will over ride wisdom. Your con
quests will necessitate a large standing
army and navy, with consequent over
whelming taxes, and hundreds OF thou
sands of producers turned to non.pro
ducers to be supported by the diligent
You have aroused the undying hatred o
| a people at your doors, who never forget