The times., 1899-04-29
BELLS LECTURE ON JAPAN.
The Remarkable Progress of til,
People.

The Remarkable Progress of the
People.
Congregational Church was packed to
the doors last night with an audience
gathered to hear the annual address of
Prof. Alexander Graham Bell, President of
the National Geographic Society.
The occasion was joint meeting of the
National Geographic Society and the WASH
ington Academy of Science. The subject
of the lecture was Japan" illustrated
with views taken by Prof. Bell and his
family when on a visit to that country.
Interesting information was developed
concerning the industrial and social life
of the japanese and their assimilation of
European and American ideas and inven-
tions.
1T is within the memory of man." said
Prof Bell, when Japan awakened from
her sleep of a thousand years. 1t was
manifested in the Chino-Japan war, when
she astonished the entire civilized world
by the progress she had made. They are
a small people; their heads are abnormally
developed in proportion TO their diminu-
tive bodies, and our party was never
ending source of wonder on account Of
our size. European dress, especially in
the cities, has been adopted to some ex-
tent, but according TO their own ideas.
saw a man elegantly attired in pair of
russet shoes, of the latest American pat
tern, cloth around his waist, and
japanese blouse. His legs and head were
bare But the most noticeable thing about
the Japanese are their cities. Tne most
characteristic feature of an American me-
tropolis is conspicuous by its absence.
There are no chimneys in city with
a population of more than a million inhabi-
tants, either of residences or factories, and
yet this one was important from manu-
featuring standpoint. The secret Is that
the only fuel used is charcoal In an
American house this would not be possible,
but in Japan houses are built without
walls and the gases are not dangerous.
The ventilation is perfect in one of these
dwellings; in fact, there is too much ven
tilation, but their arrangement OF nova
Bile walls is undoubtedly healthful and con-
ducive of longevity.
There are no windows or glass, and the
wallis when they become dirty are re-
papered. In winter the climate is quite
severe, but warmth is retained by an In
genius arrangement they have Of closing
the house up within itself. Around each
home is a model landscape, garden, for the
Japanese, besides being thrifty. have their
artistic tastes highly cultivated. In the
interior there is no furniture other than
slightly softer than wood, but this is
scarcely noticeable. ~
"As a class the japanese women are
| beautiful" continued Prof. Bell. Their
| babies are carried strapped TO their backs
and to the backs of the, boys. A group
of children will play their games, each
| one with an infant on his shoulders. The
child consequently has the maximum op-
portunity of seeing the world and getting
,,-t,a Ar,an rtnora cht c
| kept in a baby carriage and observes moth
ing"
Prof. Bell thought that a great deal
might be learned from this "uncivilized'
| country.
| In another thing, too continued the
| speaker, these so-called barbarous people
are further advanced than the people OF the
United States. They have National
| University in the capital open to every
young man in Japan whether rich or poor
If student cannot pay his way through
but can pass the examination, the State
| will lend him the money, and takes his
| note, payable after graduation"
Prof. Bell created considerable enthusi-
| asm by remarking that he hoped the day
was not far distant when poverty woult
not prevent the youth of this country from
| receiving the advantages Of higher educa
ton.
1
| Bell the English and American instructor!
in the college and factory are being sup.
planted by natives. They make it plainly
| understood that Japan is for the Japanese
| This success in electricity and mechanics
has been wonderful. A student at the
university planned work of such i'm
portance in commercial life that his ides
| will undoubtedly be used elsewhere. Thi
| Japanese genius conceived the idea o
I.Vs1 ~
different attitudes. He tunneled mountains
and overeame other difficulties. but tn
chief point of interest lies in the fact tha
he built railroad over which the cana
boats were transported. as they left tn
water, to the next lake. Electricity wa
used, and enough was derived to light tn
city of Kioto and furnish power to sixt.
factories. This shows the wonderful abil
ity OF the japanese. An unfavorable com
parison with American methods might b
made in connection with the census. Her
raw army is gathered every ten year
to do the work. In Japan the taking of tn,
census is part of the duty of the police de
partment, and it is carried on continu
ously.
Domestic animals in Japan are no
known. Man takes the place of the hors
in transportation, while sheep and cow
are unheard of. There is no grass. nj
"o~'' VI NJ o"tS' INC PeoPie iiNe Piih
cipally on rice, sweet potatoes, and fish
which is eaten raw
The views shown by Prof Bell were re
markably good. While describing the pic
ture of the Sacred Bridge used only b.
the Emperor, he elected applause from
the audience by remarking that Genera
Grant was the only person ever invite
to cross it, and that he had declined
This is one of the reasons" concludes
Prof. Bell. why Grant Is loved as he i
in Japan