The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-13
spirit or PROGRESS
AMONG The JAPANESE
J.. f. Smith. Who Visited the
Orient. Deeply Impressed With
Rapid Advancement Shown.
MODERN METHODS PREVAIL.
Admiration for Americans and
American Ideas Universal
Workmen Are Artistic and
LabOrers COnteuted.

Mr. J. +. smith. second vice president
OF IL. simmons Hardware Company. and
director OF the Worlds Fair Company. who
recently returned from an extended visit
10 Japan. is much impressed with the So
cial and economic conditions of that ORR
cEt8l country. lie was particularly i'm
pressed with the wonderful progress made
by the japanese within the last twenty
years in the arts. sciences and manufac-
lures ard the avidity with which they
adopt modern ideas in the development or
their natural resources and the advance
uent OF trade.
The progress made by the japanese In ths
arts. sciences and manufactures" said Mr..
Smith. within the last fifteen or twenty
I Years l. remarkable. They have adj
vaucCd from what may almost be termed
q scmibarbar-us condition to a place al
most abreast Cf the most advanced civil
lied nations. and they are thoroughly i'm
buad with the modern spirit OF progress
The nation is using American and Euro
I pCgu methods along every line. with the
most gratifying results The Japanese have
the highest admiration for Americans. and
/ American ideas and methods. which they
ar. adopting and carrying out with intelli-
reuce and skill. Their educated men are
bright and brainy. and well fitted to hold
I their own with the American or European.
Their young men are prepared for the pro-
/ LESSONS by q thorough and careful course
of instruction. which includes usually a
/ year or two OF travel and study IN Europe
/ and America. For instance. only the other
DAY 1 was introduced to a young japanese.
who is now in this city. who Is studying
to be q civil engineer He Will spend n
| wear travelling in this country, and another
year in Europe before he deems himself
I thoroughly fitted to take his final course
In Toxic. He is now engaged In making an
exhaustive study OF the switch plant at
Union Station
wOrkmen Are Artists.
Another thing that left a most vivid
impression on my mind is the artisuc
I spirit or temperament which possesses the
| artisan throughout the Empire. II IS uni
versal. The japanese workman, whether
he be engaged in turning out a bit OF price
less Satsuma ware, or ivory carving. or one
OF the commouest articles of ware. Is an
artist. As his work progresses and takes
definite shape. the artistic Instinct WITHIN
him takes possession OF him to the exclu-
sion OF every other consideration and he
works with an enthusiasm and energy that
s a profound revelation TO an American
who has had unpleasant experience OF
American wOrkmen. They use lizzie or no
machinery there. working by hand almost
exclusively. and in consequence the wares
they manufacture are works OF eonsum-
mate art.
THE laborers are, I believe, the poorest
I paid Of any in the world. with the posi-
Die exception OF India, yet notwithstanding
this found them invariably contenteus
happv. well nourished. patient, and, above
ali. artistic and skillful- 1 can ttuIhLunS
say. from my knowledge or the ~ork o.
these people. that while Japan e4nLolt at
the Worlds Fair may not De as ten
as those Of other countries. no other coun-
try will furnish one as oeauutuI' udm1S'
artistic and interesting
NV visit 10 Japan was underAken pH-
mariiy in the interest of my health. but l
..-. ~. "a of my uEDATIuTE
New, York that had been, without my
prsvl,us knowledge, commissioned 10 rep
rss5,nt the WOrld'S Fair IN dIplonlAuC
channels. The visit was one OF the most
dehghtfuI. interesting and instructive nave
,ve- rxperienced. but 1 am particularly
.re,iSs5 nj the result accomplished In the
matter Of inducing the japanese Govern
msnt TO participate officially In the Woride
LII Too much credit cannot be given 10
colonel 4. E. Buck. United states Consul
Mt Toxic, whose indefatigable EFFORTS large
Ia contributed to this end, and to Mr. Bar
rett. who relieved me Of the diplomatic
work upon his arrival. l found upon my
arrival in Toxic that the japanese Gov
eminent would be unable to participate "
hcialIy in the Worlds Fair in 1875, because
u was preparing for a national eNposlnon
m It's own in Osaka for that year. When
I realized the situation, 1 decided 10 make
an effort to interest the manufactures n
dfyifually and induce them to make an
exhibit worthy OF the nation. In this L
had the hearty cooperation OF Henry Satoh.
who represented Japan at the Paris and
columbian expeditions. and who. l believe,
will he her representative at the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition.
The manufacturers took kindly to the
suggestion. and at a dinner given me by
the leading manufacturers IN TOXIC QUIZ
lined my proposition and received tne
unanimous assurance OF every one present
OF cooperation.
Fair Association of
Later. I received Invitations from manu-
facturerS from every commercial center In
the Empire to meet them and lay my plans
before them. The result was an ASSOCIATION
was formed. called the st. Louis Worlds
Fair Association Of Japan with $50 mem
hers. At the outset ] struck a snaS. Which
rr1~Iv defeated my project There were
thee associations formed for the same pur-
ro="-Uu" by manufacturers. one by ex-
rortcrs and one by persons desiring TO rep
resent those OF the other two classes, who
could not assume personal charge OF their
exhibits. Eventually. | succeeded In merg-
irr the three into one organization, WORK
iuC harmOniOusly-
Just before the pOstponement Of the Fair
was announced. the japanese Government
announced that Il would extend financial
aid to Janancse exhibitors at the worlds
Individual exhibits. With the DoStponsment,
OF course. this arrangement was withdrawn,
and the Government announced that II
would uarticinate officially.
from information I have received since my
return. The rules Of the Worlds Fair and
the classification list OF exhibits have been
printed in the native language, at the ex-
nense OF the association. and distributed
throughout the country. The leading news
papcrS in the large cities devote space 70 Z
the Fair at frequent intervals. and, al 10
Ccthcr. our little far-cf Oriental neisnDor
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