The times., 1899-07-16
The Jnnnnese Empire.

racy and comprehension OF the subject go,
are rubbish. The foreigners who are really
fitted to discuss this picturesque and unique
land can almost be counted on the fingers
OF one hand and some OF those who could
enlighten the outer world on the subject
decline to do So In view of the growing
interest in Oriental affairs, therefore, Stat
ford Ransome's book on Japan in Transi-
tion" should be generally read in this
country.
Mr. Ransome is an Englishman, mem
Der of the Institution of Civil Engineers,
and has been a correspondent of the
Morning Post" of London, and of The
Engineer" Into his letters to these jour
mails he put much valuable material, which,
with additions and details, makes up a
somewhat bulky volume on the present
condition of Japan. In all of this work
may be observed a carefulness, a quick
ness of comprehension of the peculiar fea-
lures OF japanese life, and sympathetic
appreciation of the best in the japanese
character which, unfortunately, is not TO
be found in the work of the average writ
er on Japan or any other foreign country.
II is well 10 understand that patriotism
does not necessarily mean the abuse of
every other country except ones own, and
the depreciation of all standards differing
from those which one has been taught to
respect The world-that is to say the
European worlds just waking up to the
fact that II does not fully comprehend the
East, and this is a hopeful sign. Among
the evidences that a fuller comprehension
OF Oriental life and character may be found
in the English and American public of the
future may be counted Mr.. Ransome's
bird's-eye view of Japan.
This author modestly states in his intro
duction that he cannot claim that his book
is a result Of a soiourn of many years in
the country, since he was only there during
the critical period Of 1896 and 1897. But as
his observations agree in the main with
those of Lafcadio Hearn, who has practi-
cally identified himself with japanese life
for several years, and is one of the few
English-speaking authors who have writ
ten OF that country entirely without preju-
dice, social, religious, or political, ii may
be assumed that Mr.. Ransome's work is
correct IT bears, even to one not familiar
with the country, the marks OF careful and
unpreiudiced observation and untiring in
dustry.
The particularly original and refreshing
thing about this book, in fact, is its ab-
sence Of prejudice. Mr. Ransome actually
undertakes to get the japanese point of
view on business, moral, and social sub
,ects, and seems to think that the Japan
ese has as good right to his own stand
ards In these things as the European has
10 his, and that, possibly, the European
type of morality, though different from
that OF the japanese. may not be essen
italy superior to it. This is so novel
point Of view as to be almost unique, espe-
ciaily as the author gives no reason to sup
pose that he himself is in any way disposed
10 fall in love with Japan, after the map
ner of Hearn. He simply faces the stu
ntion in a frank, honest way, and argues
that the japanese is man, and so is the
EnglishmRn, and that it is not necessary
TO go into any spread-eagle business about
the essential superiority" of one type
over the other.
Heretofore there have been two kinds OF
writers on japanese subjects. One was
dominated by the missionary sentiment,
and laid great stress on the degradation OF
the Oriental, his need of ciyilizing and
Outstanding influences, and if the mis-
Eionary happened to have unusual imagi-
nation, the charm and beauty of many
aspects of the heathen life, and of the
Japanese character when rescued from the
evil influence of a wrong religion. The
other was the politico-commercial writer,
who sometimes impaired his ideas to a
novelist. This writer emphasized the
fckleness and childishness of the japanese,
and called them a race of children, and
very naughty and deceitful children at
that; people without morality without re-
spect for women, without honor or integ-
rity. Sometimes he became facetious and
made fun of the superstitions of the peo-
ple-Edward Greey did that for the edifica-
tion Of American youth.
Mr.. Ransome's point of view is entirely
different from either of these. He neither
breaches nor sneers; he discusses the sub
iect straightforwardly and courteously, as
becomes a civilized man dealing with an
other civilization. Z. H. Houses .'Yone
santo" was an impassioned appeal in be-
half of the japanese woman; Hearn's books
are marvellous psychological color-photo-
graphs; Mr.. Ransome gives a solid basis
OF statistics and arguments supporting both
these imaginative and sympathetic writers,
and he does it in a way that cannot fail
to be convincing.
The first chapter in the book deals
squarely with the popular misconceptions
Of japan. The author explains that many
Of these have arisen from the fact that the
average foreigner sees only life in the
treaty ports, which are not representative
Japanese localities at all: that in these
places he comes in contact with the worst
type Of Japanese. and that even the better
classes treat him in the way which they
think foreigner ought to be treated. He
says:
In order to understand the position let us try
and imagine that there is established in England
treaty port, say at Mapping Old Stairs, or 9TH
er convenient locality for shipping; and that in
pursuit Of their business a highly respectable
class Of japanese tradesmen have established
themselves there; that they have built their own
houses, live their own lives. wear their own
clothes, are under their own jurisdiction, and do
Rot bother to learn language (fos the treaty
lort foreigner in Japan, with very rare excep-
lions, never troubles 10 learn Japanese). Let US
further assume that this imaginary japanese
community IN England are in the habit OF pub
fishing daily newspapers, violently denouncing
everything that is British, simply because the
methods Of the English dock laborers, cabmen
Interpreters. and runners. who hang around their
settlement for the purpose OF getting what they
can out Of the residents are no; particularly
scrupuous or high-minded. We should say at
that the criticism was unfair. and that the
japanese At Mapping were not in a position
10 form an accurate estimate OF England and the
English; that they were basing their opinions
Of the former on place which, by reason OF
its being outside British jurisdiction. was really
not England At all: and. Of the latter, on people
who could not be looked upon Is representative
Specimens Of English people generally. We should
scd that very few respectable Englisilnen, IL
they could afford 70 do otherwise, would care
TO live in Mapping under treaty-port conditions.
In short. the argument of the author is
that the Englishman in Japan knows about
as much OF the real japanese as a foreigner
might know about America if he came in
contact only with small shopkeepers and
hotel servants, or, for that matter, as the
average white man can learn about the
American negro whom he meets only as a
servant It has taken the world some time
TO discover that the only way TO under
stand people thoroughly is TO know the
highest as we'll as the lowest types.
One of Mr.. Ransome's explanations,
which may not be very fattering 10 the
self-love of other English travellers, is that
some Of the .lotus- eaters" who have gone