The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-13
JAPAN OF TO-DAY
Impressions Of John S. Bradstreet
Just Back From Trip Thru
the Empire.
"Japs" Have Come to Have Great
Respect for Uncle Sam and
His Navy.

-Four years of foreign influence have
made great difference in the condition
of Japanese municipalities, said John S.
Bradstreet, upon his return from his
seventh trip to the land Of the mikado and
of Madam Butterfly. land America
means good deal more to the Japanese
than 1t did fourteen or four years ago,
too'' he added.
Mr. Bradstreet has been away three
months and spent most of his month in
Japan In visiting the large cities on bust
ness bent, althO he was able to take
one trip into the interior, which trip in
cluded the seldom visited west coast.
The people of Tokyo, especially have
become deVotees of the religion of strenu-
osity,' said Mr.. Bradstreet, as he produced
a package of Japanese cigarettes from be-
meath pile of Japanese photographs. 1T
mas been four years since my previous
visit to Japan, but that the Japanese of
the cities have in truth thoroly absorbed
the American Idea of hustle there can be
no doubt. During the four years Of my
absence the telegraph, the telephone and
the street railway have been doing their
work until l was amazed to find such
network of wires over the streets Of
Tokyo as have never seen in an Ameri-
can city And they were filling up one
OF the moats around the royal castle there
in order to build an elevated railway
over it.
There is still left, and will be left for
many years, some of the old romantic I'M
spoiled Japan" Mr.. Bradstreet said but
the American and English exploiter, and
the overcoming, ever-going tourist are
steadily and surely doing their work
This is especially noticeable in the cities,
such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe; Yokohama
and Nagasaki. One has to get into the
interior to see the original untainted
Japan. 49,
Antiques DISAPPEAR.
One curious result of this constant for
| eign influence on Japan has been the rapid
| disappearance Of Japanese antiques. The
| thousands of tourists who visit the islands
every year take away great deal Of
Japanese art in one form or another, to
| such an extent that the old things are dis
appearing and the Japs, in order to keep
the supply up to the demand, have be-
| gun to make some surprisingly good copies
| of all sorts of artistic things which come
under the head of antiques. And the best
thing about it is that they do not attempt
to palm these modern things off as an
| tiques. They are very proud of their re-
vived skill, and the new things are quite
as expensive as the old.
This is partly because they are having
| their economical troubles in Japan, too.
OF late years living has become more ex-
pensive, wages have gone up, and the
| price Of commodities has gone up with
them.
Another thing which has gone up over
there is the United States in the estima
ton of the Japs and the foreign colony
and this has been due, in part, to the
development of the American navy. -Four
teen years ago, when I made my frs
visit to Japan, we found but two wal
ships in the harbor as we steamed in
One was a British boat, which was
very fine machine for those days; quit.
modern. The other was the old side
wheeler, the Monacacy of the United
States navy.
douglas Sladon, the poet laureate o
Australia, was on the boat at that time
and shall never forget how he guyet
me about our navy. On this trip Their
were nine big war ships in the harbo
when we arrived and five Of them wer,
flying the colors Of the United States
1 tell you it makes q dfference-that ant
some other things-and I believe in
big navy.
Russian Boats There.
1.-THE Russian boats were very mucl
in evidence during the time I was in ia
pan, and we would often see them an
chored in the harbors. But I noticed on
thing: Whenever a Russian war shi
| dropped anchor in a Japanese harbor
there was a Japanese ship anchored OF
each side of her. They are very sus
picious of Russia just now, and they ar
) very active. T spent one day in tn
, castle at Osaka, the military headquarters
and there was nothing but infantry, cav
7 airy and artillery drilling going on a.
the time. The Japs have their interes
) centered on Manchuria and seem to fee
that something is going to happen soon.
There are plenty of Americans in ia
pan. One thing the average America
2 is ashamed Of. however, is the sort c
place the United States usually houses it
Z legation in. In Toxic, for instance, tn
various nations maintain their legation
in all sorts of style. Even China has
fine, big walled mansion for her repre-
, sentatives, while our representative, Lloy
. Griscom, has for a legation omething tina
. looks very much like Seventh stree
: clearinghouse. Little Belgium has
=. better legation than we have, and condi
= island and in Picking. It's all right
;, be simple and democratic; but when ever
= foreigner and every native there must &c
= his ideas Of this country from the sort {
: legation it's representatives live in,
country rich and big as this is shout
: see to it that something BETTING it's siz
b and Importance should be given as a HON
9 for it's representatives at a foreign court.
:, ''In spite Of the foreigners and the com
1 1nercialism which are taking possessio
e of the country, Japan is still beautifr
4 and still fascinating, and I shall prob
ably never get over wanting to go there