The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-04-30
Power of
the East


The claim of Japan to be looked upon
as the Britain of the east is not with
out foundation, writes Isaac Taylor
Headland in Munsey's Magazine. Her
situation in relation to Eastern s~a,
or, for that matter, in relation TO an
Asia is very similar to that of England
in her relation to Europe. She Is an
island empire. Her territory is not
large and as her population Is rapidly
increasing she is impelled to utilize
every foot of ground she possesses
She terraces the mountain sides, and
causes them to blossom as the rose
She irrigates the waste places and
changes the desert into green fields.
She rescues the swamp lands ana
transforms them into rice fields. so
that the rural population of Japan, in
stead Of being farmers, are gardeners
and the island empire is a garden spot
in fact as we'll as in name.
Japan resembles Britain at sea as
well as on land Many of her people
lead seafaring life. She is not only
destined to become, but is forced to
become, one Of the great commercial
nations Of the world. Her ships will
ply between all ports, and the flag OF
the rising sun will be seen flying on
the masts of merchant vessels on all
seas, east and west, just as the Union
Jack is at the present time. AS mat
ter of protection, she will need a large
navy. The beginning of this she al
ready possesses. Her navy is rapidly
increasing, and she is building or hav-
ing built ships of the most modern
type, with guns of the best make. She
stands today among the six or seven
great maritime powers and in all the
Pacific she is the strongest of them
ALL
One OF the proverbs that meet us
when we arrive in the east is this:
"The Japanese wash their bodies and
their clothes; the Coreans wash their
clothes; the Cinnamon do not wash
Mther." The proverb is almost liter
lily true. The bath is one of the first
Japanese institutions the traveller en-
counters. In the home the bath room
nay be the living room and the male
md female members of the family per-
,orm their additions in full sight OF
one another, while in the public bath
nothing more than netting and some
times not even that separates the male
rom the female divisions of the bath
house.
Japan's Industrial Progress.
In her industrial progress Japan has
taken rapid strides. Business men have
sent their sons, or their most intelli-
gent apprentices, to America and to
European countries, where they have
entered the great factories as clerks or
laborers, and by their industry have
worked their way to the top They IA
miliarize themselves with all depart
ments of business and every phase OF
business life, and some bright morning
the stranger who began as an humble
clerk appears before his employer as a
Japanese gentleman in every way his
equal, takes his polite leave of the firm
with which he has been connected and
returns to his native land to open up a
like business. Because of the cheap
ness of labor, Japanese manufacturers
can turn out similar goods at prices
far below what they cost to make in
Europe or America. Everything from
bicycle to a razor, and from a shiI
to toy engine, or real engine, is
made in great factories, whose tai
chimneys mar the beauty of the noun
tain sides as one passes along the
coast or through the placid Inland sea
Railways are in operation all over tht
empire, and both their equipment ant
their management is excellent. Tit
traveller in Japan may take a first
class, second-class, or third-class car
and will find himself shut up with ;
number OF little men and women wht
sit tailor-fashion on the seats, or
kneeling, sit on their heels, instead o