The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-12-19
people at home will receive from time
to time>an account of his impressions
of Japan and the work here.
THE CHOLERA.

Japan has many aspects that are
beautiful. The glorious sunshine,
blue skies. semi-tropical vegetation,
quaint streets, and rare bits of art,
move the transient visitor to enthu
siastic expressions of praise and de-
light. There are some aspects how
ever, which the resident here comes to
know, which are by no means pleas
ant. The frequent earthquakes, the
ravages of such diseases as small pox,
and cholera, are things
(which have to be avoided. Recently
cholera in Tokyo has been epidemic.
And this time it came nearer to u.s..
One of our theological students, Mr..
Horiuchi, who has had one or two
letters published in our papers at
home, was taken suddenly sick last
October and died after about thirty
six hours. illness. Everything was
done for him that could be done, but
the dread disease could not be stayed.
According to the custom which pre-
walls extensively here, he was Gre
mated, and on Sunday, November 1st,
we held funeral services over his
ashes. Mr.. Horiuchi was conscien-
tious, noble-spirited man, and it is
hard for us, SO sudden was his de-
parture, to realize that we shall see
his face no more. Old residents in
Tokyo say there is little danger in
cholera times provided care be taken
with reference to what one eats and
drinks. All our drinking water is
first boiled, and raw vegetables, sal
ads. etc., are strictly avoided.
THE CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
This is the time of the great au-
tumn flower festivals in Japan. From
the Emperor down to the humblest
coolie, the people are passionately
fond of flowers. The Emperor's
flower is the chrysanthemum and
therefore, in the autumn, this flower
is the favorite. The Emperor gave
a garden party the other day and
among the many flowers there ex-
hibited were several plants having
from one hundred and thirty to one
hundred and fifty immense chrys-
anthemums in full bloom, upon each
plant respectively. One of the great
sights of Japan at this season is the
| Dan -go-zaka Chrysanthemum Fair
There, on immense revolving stages,
are arranged historical or legendary
scenes with all the figures dressed in
growing chrysanthemums. Men, wo-
men and children, horses, houses,
boats, waves, waterfalls, etc., etc., all
appear upon the scene shaped and
formed by this national flower. These
flowers are trained to grow in a
thousand strange shapes and are
marvels of ingenuity and beauty.
For month the people from all sec
tions make holiday, and give them
selves up to this gay festival of the
flowers.
THE PREPARATORY THEOLOGICAL
| SCHOOL.
To turn from matters not directly
connected with our work in this in
teresting land, to the work of the
mission itself, l hope our people
may be interested in hearing about
some new features which from this
time forth will enter into the regular
business of our Japanese church.
Experience has taught us that more
thorough training for our Japanese
evangelists is needed, than that of
the three years course which we have
heretofore tried to give the men we
have sent out. We have therefore
established in connection with our
Theological School a preparatory
course of three years. The aim of
this school will be to gather larger
number of men together and to give
all thorough Christian training. At
the end of the three years we hope to
choose out the best men for special
course in the Theological School. In
this way we hope to have a better
quality of men and better training of
the men we choose. The rest of the
men who complete the preparatory
course, we hope will have become
well fitted for usefulness as laymen.
To make the course attractive we
have introduced the study of English
for which there is a great desire in
Japan at the present time. Thirteen
young men entered this course at the
opening, but we hope for an increase
as the school becomes known. The
school is something in the nature of
an experiment but we hope for good
results.
TOKYO, JAPAN, Nov. %.
The Brooklyn CongregatiOnalists.