The Republican journal., 1896-11-05

One of the most picturesque figures in
contemporaneous literature is Lafcadio
Hearn, naturalized japanese citizen, who
is living in the land of his adoption and
writing charmingly of it for the Atlantic
Monthly. The remarkable story of Mr..
Hearn' life reads like romance; born in
the Ionian Islands, his mother was Greek
and his father an Irish officer in the Eng
fish army. Asa child he spoke only Greek
and Italian, and after his adoption by a
grand aunt, was brought up Roman
Catholic. The name Lafcadio is said to
have come from the name of the town,
age Of sixteen years he was sent to France
to be educated. Left alone in the world
by the death of his father and mother, at
the age of nineteen years he came to this
country, without means to make his own
way. Extremely ignorant Of all practical
matters, and greatly troubled by defective
eye sight, he drifted about and finally
located in Cincinnati, where he took up
proof reading and editorial work on news
papers. Not long after this he went South
and there did editorial work for number
Of years. Leaving New Orleans in 1887
ne went for rest and recuperation to the
West Indies. The tropics and the old
French colonial life proved irresistible,
and he remained there for two years be-
fore returning to New York. He never
abandoned the dream Of going back to
some part of the tropics again. A curious
chance took him to Japan. There, after
ba coa,,oI tn f,,l + I,n
country as his home, devoting his time to
study and literary work. He accepted a
professorship at the Imperial University,
Tokeo, and became a japanese citizen
and married a japanese wife. Thus by
various chances the American citizen of
Greek and Irish descent becomes Y. koi-
zumi, the Japanese. Since his residence in
Japan Mr.. Hearn has written extensively
for the Atlantic of this country. and has
done more than any writer of the day to
familiarze the world with this marvellous
people. Their art, literature, and religion
ale familiar subjects to Mr.. Hearn. and
he brings to the task of writing upon them
the result of European training and edu-
cation. His last published volume-"ko-
koro, Studies of japanese Life and Char
acter''--is said by competent critics to
be the most remarkable Interpretation of
Japan ever given to the reading world.
His is a mind in sympathy with Bud
dhist philosophy, and his writings be-
tray a rare insight into japanese life and
thought. Practically all his essays have
appeared from time to time in the Allan
tic Monthly The November issue con
tains ''Dnst, a contribution from his pen
which is in some ways the most unusual
magazine article of the year. Covering
less than half a dozen pages, it explains
the Eastern conception of death, in Ian
guage at once so clear and beautiful that
aside from its phlosophic qualities the
article is of rare literary excellence. The
unusual circumstances of European, ma
tured and educated under Western condi-
lions, transplanted to Japan has made it
possible for Western readers to under
stand the life and philosophy of that coun-
try as never before; and MI Hearn is in
terpreting it in most delightful fashion.
The Atlantic promises further papers from
Mr.. Hearn pen