New-York tribune., 1904-05-30
JAPANESE HUMANITY.
As japanese Would Haze 1t Seen;
Set Forth in Prints from Toxic.
LERoM TIE rRrsuvE BuREAu.l


Washington Nav 29-SrrOng light is thrown
on the sentiments and ideals OF Japan by a num-
Der OF prints which have recently been pub
lished in Toxic for distribution among the jap
anese people and soldiers, and copies OF which
have Just reached Washington. OF striking
significance are those Illustrations OF the pres
ent war which hold up TO the admiration Of the
Japanese people the humanity OF their troops
as eontrasted with the methods OF the Rus
SLAMS and as exempliaed by the care and atten-
ton exhibited by the Japanese Red Cross for
Russian wounded
In one instance two scenes are depicted on =
single sheet one showing the Russian troops in
the act OF mistreating Manchuran women. the
other, and larger, showing a japanese Red Cross
tent where the Japanese are doing everything
possible 70 afford relief 70 wounded Russians.
Can there be anything in the much vaunted
yellow peril from a nation whose ideals are
nearly those Of Christianity asks the prorni-
nent WashingtOnian TO whom these prints were
sent and the prints seem TO answer the ques-
ton with emphatic negative.
Another colored print depicts a similar scene.
japanese ministering TO wounded and suffering
Russians, and the desire OF the Japanese 20 tn
press on their own people those Ideals OF hui
manity and Christianity. something closely
akin 70 them. is manifest IN numerous specimens
OF the collection which recently arrived IN
Washington.
All. however, are not OF this stamp. although
nothing IN any OF them conflicts with those
ideals. A striking example Of Japanese huunor
depicts japanese sailor. armed with a club,
driving the Russian feet. the ships represented
as rats. down a yawning throat which an ex-
tended legend explains Is Port Arthur. The
Russians being made 20 swallow their
own medicine as IT were.
A {u
Of certain private letters which have evaded
the Russian censor. II shows a Russian officer
reviewing his men. Both officer and prfvates
bear every evidence OF extreme enactation and
weakness, the men being hardly able 20 bear
the weight or their arms. and all incapable OF
standing upright A legend which accom-
panies this explains the condition OF the Rus-
sian troops little short OF slavery or serf-
dom. accompanied BY extreme destitutfon and
afrordtng every evidence OF the brutal treat
rent which Russia inhicts on her own forces
One large cartoon. in color, represents Russia
as an octopus. and the japanese artist supplies
this explanatory text:
Black Octpus'' is q namely newly given to
Russia By 2 certain prominent Englishmar
For the black octpus is so avaricious that he
stretches out his eight arms in all directions
and SEXES up everything. that comes within
t-Is rs EeacA- But as II sometimes happens. hz
gets wounded seriously even BY a small fish
owing 20 MS too much cOvetOusness- Indeed
Japanese pfOVerb says, Great avarice Is like
uhselnsnness We japanese need not 10 saw
much on the cause OF the present war SufEra
Il 20 say that the further existence OF the Black
Octpus viii depend entirely upOu how h.
comes out Of this war. The japanese feat has
already practically annihilated Russia's naval
ABOUT - VIE If1, me japanese army is
Sorea ana Manchurta- And when ST
petersburg? Wait and see, The ugly ~Black Oct
pCs Hurrah! Hurrah, for Japan.
March. 1904. KISARTrRO OuapA
Accompanying the prints received here ara
some sample towels served out TO the Jana,ass
troops. each Of them bearing a printed films
tration- one in particular is worthy OF stran-
ton as demonstrating the facility with which
the japanese acquire, not only American meth
DDS, but even metaphors This towel shows A
part OF baseball diamond japanese pitcher
and first and second basernen are depicted while
a Russian soldier is madly running for first base
out Is destined 70 arrive too late as the man
on first base has the ball almost in his hands
Over this picture is the inscription. 'Out.tp-
while the native equivalent is given in about
yard, more or less. OF Japanese characters.
The entire set OF Illustrations Is extremely in
teresting- The work is OF far higher grade
than that usually seen in this country. the paper
being heavy and of hne quality. and the print
ing. partly embossed. being evidently the high
est state OF the art as practised IN Japan
japanese stories Of their own civilization and
even the correspondence Of Americans and other
foreigners. telegraphed or written from Toxic
and other points in the Orient NAV cau FOR a
large grain of allowance. but the pictures
prints etc. intended for "hOne consumption
can safely be regarded correctly illustrating
japanese sentiment; and when that government
goes so far as 70 endeavOr 70 educate the people
by these means 70 appreciation OF the i'm
porrance OF humane treatment OF a wounded
enemy. and holds up 10 OblOquy the enemy's
ultstreatment OF women and children, there can
remain little question TO the sincerity OF its
sentiments. Such evidence should go A long way
toward dissipating fear OF the yellow
peril. save in commercial competition. 80 far as
the japanese are concerned.