The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-24

IN former letter 7 mentioned the three
great elements OF which Japan is now
made up. viz ire old Japanese, the new
Japanese aud the foreign. A. Yokohama
the old japanese and the foreign are Specl-
ally prominent. In Tokyo one notices
rather the cid and the new japanese. Inc
few foreigners here are here mainly as me
representatives o. foreign governments.
and not as a part OF the trade and NE OF
tse city. But cd Japan j. here with is
rnyriads who are content 10 live as their
fafners lived and ils other myrlads wsoss
horizon il broadening. And nes Japan -
here with it, rern0sieled government. is re-
organized army, ia scholarly and frogres-
s|ge university, its bankers and financiers.
rs miners and manufacturers
Tokyo vas formerly called 4eode. fed-
do means an entrance 10 an estuary ana
the town, Il has been suggested. was -
called because % iis original position a.
a fishing village at the mouth OF the river
Sunida II gained its first real import
anee about 30 years ago when the Shotgun
fyeyssu made II his headquarters the
dynasty OF the TokngaWa sboEuns "nich
began with Iyeyasu came 20 an end az
the restoration % the Imperial power
some tRenty-Aght years ago. a date al
which the life Of modern japan properly
begins In ists the present emperor, then
in Kieto and made Tokyo the impefiai
residence. wfale the Shotgun. who had
really heen the power behind the throne
greater than the throne itself. went out
from his magnificent castle IN TOKYO 10
become a private citizen. This coming
out into active public life on the part OF
the mikado as he had until that time
been called. marked an epoch. IN fact the
greatest epoch In japanese history. The
ado 4rar
mlta9e. may be looked upon as IMPLYING
modern Japan. the retiring shotgun. his
fsudai system and its power hopelessly
shattered may in the same way stand as
a type Of that ancient Japan whose wan
ing influence. driven from the high
places OF active administration. be-
takes itself 10 remote privacy
and finds a lingering home amid The native
customs ard romantic monuments which
make Japan Intensely interesting TO the
tourist. but which will IN a few years bear
10 the new Japan the same relation which
the medieval castles and armor and legends
Of Europe bear . the progressive ciyiiiZa-
ton Of It's modern naiionalities. In Europe
the ''chanson de Roland" Is only a written
tradition. and the university student in
Paris, oxford or Leipzig reads u with bat
q dreamy realization OF It's stirring scenes.
In Japan tradition. feudal romance.
primitive modes OF life sre things
OF yesterday. st.I mlngling With
the life Of today. and capable OF being
studied not from aim manuscripts and
museums. hut from the actual men and
wemen ana children who yet form a vast
part OF the population Of Japan. Imagine.
~ you can. the president Of the United
States holding q meeting OF his cabinet as
now constituted congress With SIS senator's
and representatives IN session debating the
tariff PennEysNania avenue lined with is
rows 81 stately buildings and thronged
with men If high degree, academic culture
and fashionable dress. express trains ar
irving electric lights flashing. telegraph
keys clicking. telephone bells ringing.
electric street cars Whizxing hy and
newsboys calling extras or ffty-page
editions on the streets. They imagine that
ell hack trem PENNSYLVANIA avenue and far
down along the Potomac native American
Indians were living. not in houses but in
wiEwams. wearing not shoes bat moe
casins, not Prince Alberts. bat blankets;
numbering not hundreds but hundreds OF
Thousands sun making their laspcr beads.
their wooden baskets. their bows and ar
rows. not BY factory processes.
but by hand: and Offering them
as articles Of trade: willing TO
learn neR things bur stupid SLOW.
lethargic ard unreliable. willing 70 work
very, very cheaply. but their labor heavily
discounted rs iucompetency and lack OF
ska Put these two imaginings together
and blend them in kaleidoscope and be-
wildering combinations. Then add an ele-
ment Of religious chaos pervsding all
classes. and install tn America as your
only preachers the ancient nrulds of EuE-
land or better perhaps tie cultured Arabic
philosophers. ~ al this md tlrge the
whole conception with an eaEerncas for in
dusirial and commercial enterprise and
pride OF military proves. and then Won
wii have q faint i8ca OF Japanese Ife as
u Is GO be seen IN Tokyo to-day.
Mr. Morris formerly q member or the
imperial pghio works department. has wei
pointed out the wreat formation that
has taken place In Tokyo during the pres
ent emperor reign There was originally a
long street OF ore aad tw0-stary buildings
eNtsndins frozen ShinaEawa ~ Asakusa.
fsom watch smaller streets hfanrhed OF
chiefly or the western side There we're
no sidewalks or rRvcments. ard az n{rht
fhe Only Aght was obtained from paper
lanterns which almost every pa ssenrrr
along the street carried IN ats hand and
fgom similar lanterns hung over doorvvsvs
at sporadic iu,erV-ls- one Of the first inn
rrcFemenis was the building OF hr{cl,
houses Instead ~ wooden ones Tn that part
~ the city between Shiuba All and Nr,e7-
basHi, a street Rhich now bears the mama
90 Gtnsas that 81 Golden seat" ana watch
f. said TO he the finest business street gr,
a. japan As ( walked down It's srr,
smooth ravemcets amid the fash 81 e's,,-
1ric iEhss. the TayIle ~ street ears sa,r "a
ha propelled bv electricity. though now
6ra@a ry horses. the rush au6 roar OF
ffsde ee every side, realised ,hat was
a. one ~ me worlds great capitals.
The stress cars certainly r~eser. al, "a
spectacle - au American. and after W.T.
He@slne some 81 tire performance or
atner 'arA 80 Performance. I vas better
prepared 81 appreciate me ex>esfar. ss~a,f
car service fcr which Saat,ie fs a, NtrAs,-
oammenies3 \sey few fo-slEre-s seen, =,
ratroniEe tho street ears in Tokyo. The
drivers arc ceAaaf 7rs are japanese sre~-
- Or course ia errH4Fs1 gsrh. The con
tuctor carries IA an,tsHs loaki~~ tes.,.-
ssiehe} strapped about RS kNs,ls.rx
ard hanging az his ssse ana fr,-,
fhis depository Dc deals est ftak.,s
20 the p&SSeugerz. collecting ara
tickets ava3n "a enc naxeenseee .e.ta .e-
car. Instead - 3 rong ere arfyer es--trs
= very ne1esi listle han3 cel, very f.,s.s
c. Ens order ~ a dinner aels "a. s,-..l
fo,sl iu a country iowa and az .a. ia,ss
spr0oach 81 daussr or the aaYest ,.sesl-
hnly - g e2.ltsj0n ae Sangles 1aat hel vrt,e
fAs, br fOrious nlotson sacS 81 uoa.l
make Seat .e carmen green wGsA envy THE
gu3sSe ctseks describe fne motion ~ The
Tokyo street ears as "rspsd" bat ere man
~iso ~ESaie ihe description Rad proAaasy
hern ATTENDING funerals regularly for some
time. ard ats exe~essioa muSt - regarded
= relative cne-
TaSya eeNers plenty o. Erouna as ere
whe tries 70 reach four or ave widely sep
sratea lccaii'ses &C. slr-le afterrr.s- t.ea
t~sEifs. TIE lossl area % the city IS snoat
siga9y square mites poriicas ~ ID are
Jersey populated. As4 CT TIE osas. AAz4,