The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-13


wrote articles about what he saw for his
home papers in India. These articles were
collected and given to the world in 1899.
under the title of From Sea to Sea-" in
two volumes. About one hundred and thir-
ty pages of Volume 1 are devoted to
Japan. and, in view of the present war in
the East, an abstract of his observations
might be interesting There seems to be a
well-established precedent for making
books of travel entertaining, and Kipling
has not departed from the usual custom in
this respect. 1t is, therefore, not always
easy to separate his humor from facts.
but if any doubts arise the original may
be easily consulted.
Somewhere in his travels Kipling picked
up a professor who may have been real
or imaginary, or he may have performed
the same function as ARENAS Wards
kangaroo, which was such an "amoozin'
little cuss." At any rate, the professor
acts as sort of foil in the narrative.
One of the first things Kipling noticed as
ne was leaving the boat was a Russian
steamer from Vladivostok which was in a
deplorable condition of filth. He was in
formed that Russian men-of-war were no
better and that they came Into Nagasaki
to clean" This corresponds with recent
newspaper statements concerning Russian
seamanship.
The awakening and sudden passion for
Western civilization which occurred in
Japan not long since is a well known story.
japanese progress is sometimes extrav-
agantly described and a few enthusiasts
have asserted that in a trial of arms Japan
could give any nation earth a bad quar-
ter of an hour. Kipling admired and praised
highly much that he saw in Japan, but he
was unable to take their innovations seri-
ously. The introduction of European ideas
and custom he regarded as incongruous
and out of keeping with the character of
the people. 1t struck him that they had
sold their birthright for a mess of pottage
"All the Japanese officials from police up
wards seem TO be clad in European clothes
and never do their clothes fit In the more
metropolitan towns men say Western dress
is rather the rule than the exception. If
this be so, 1 am disposed to conclude that
the sins of their forefathers in making
enterprising Jesuit missionaries into beef
steak have been visited on the japanese in
the shape of partial observation of their
artistic instincts. Yet the punishment seems
rather too heavy for the offense."
At Toxic every tenth man was in Euro
pe&n clothes the shop signs were English.
the tramway had an English gauge the
goods sold were English and the street
guides were in English. Upon one occasion
after staying a long time in a quaint little
curiosity shop he and the professor went
away "grieved afresh'' about the constitu-
ton and the European clothes. Their tastes
were so thoroughly gratified that the pro-
fessor suggested that il would be well to
establish a protectorate over Japan and pay
them whatever they asked TO do nothing
but make beautiful things while our men
learned"
Before Kipling left the boat he was i'm
portuned to read the new constitution. 1t
was a terrible thing 10 study. because il
was $50 pitifully English"
The people were simple in character and
kindly disposed. 1.-The Jap is a child all
his life" The people were so unconven-
tional and the country so full of children
that he called Japan land of babies. Kip
ling found order and cleanliness every
where 1T is so strange 10 be in a clean
land and stranger still to walk among
dolls houses. The Jap keeps his house
specklessly pure because he likes cleanl-
ness and knows IL Is artistic" Upon enter
ing a shop he was depressed with its neat
ness II tried TO console myself with the
thought that / could kick the place 10
pieces; but this only made me feel large
and coarse and dirty. Japanese shopkeep-
ers ought not TO be so clean" japanese
homes were chiefly constructed OF slidinS