The herald., 1898-05-02
FROM FOREIGN LANDS
TRAVELLERS SPEAK OF MEXICO
sAND JAPAN
PROSPEROUS AND PROGRESSIVE
Bright Future Of Our Neighboring
Coup tries and Advancement of
the Mikado's Empire

Japan, in It's entirety, is in far more
advanced state today than it has ever be-
fore been in Its history" said Thomas "
Brainridge, traveller from that land, en-
route to the east, last night. 1.-The coun-
try is awakening to period of civilization
truly marvellous. You must remember that
it is not many years since 1t was pagan
nation. Their temples still stand, but
many of them are not in use, and few
years hence, when more whites settle in
the land, they may be closed altogether, for
Japan is willing to learn, in religion as
we'll as in general educational matters.
ut Is today, in fact, among the enllght-
ened nations of the world, with men every
where to see what there is to see else
where and to report 1t to the mikado. He
is man of superior intelligence, and what t
he does not already know he is willing to
learn, which is more than can be said of
a good many other rulers
1.-THE war this country had with China
has done it an immense amount of good,
and it might be said, incidentally, that it
has benefited China also. Both countries
are now awake to a realization of the
things that are to be, and every moment
now is an expectant one with them. They
this country and Spain as any nation,
though few years ago they would, per-
haps, not have considered it worth notic-
ing, for they then believed that anything
occurring outside of Asia was trivial. To-
day it is otherwise. They calculate how
they stand in the matter and go over the
different phases of the situation that are
likely to present themselves.
1.-THE land of the mikado is a power in
Asia-truly, the power-with the spirit of
acquisition, like European nations.
"You know, there is talk of their trying
to get control of Hawaii, and I don't doubt
but they will give the United States an
argument or something severer for the
possession of it. There are only about 1905
whites in Honolulu. while there are nearly
for that matter, while there are nearly
80 900 subjects of the mikado. To have
sympathizers already there is an advant-
age, you will admit. Still, heard In the
orient that Hawaiians would prefer Amer
lea to any other outside country, and that
will carry weight.
"The Japan of today Is not the japan
travellers knew decade ago. In the big
seaport cities most of the people one sees
are dressed in European attire, and the
kimonas they formerly wore have been
discarded, never again, perhaps, to be
resurrected. They are astonishingly Eu-
ropeanized along the seacoast, from their
outward appearance to their mental views.
The study of English is extensively gone
into, not only by students-every second
young man in Japan is a student-but by the
common people, the majority Of whom are
ambitious to come over here, either to
work for wages or to engage in business
pursuits, for they have become CONNER
cially progressive people. The American
colonies through the country are getting
quite extensive, and in the larger cities
many people, literary and commercial, re-
side, who are well known in the United
States"
From Mexico
Henry Mum, engaged in business in the
City of Mexico, and at one time at Guada-
laxara, was in the city for few hours
yesterday while on his way to the northern
metropolis. He has been in Mexico for
several years and has Travelled extensive
ly through 1t. He knew 1t two decades ago,
when it was boorish country, mostly I'M
settled and wild, and he has seen it grow to
what 1t Is today-a nation of absolute