The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-18

sition. By Fre0erick Staff
 A most interesting and informing ac- count of MT. Frederick Starrs journey to an through Japan to secure this group and to bring it to our country. With his photographer, Mexican. Man ueI Gonzales, Mir. Starr arrived at Tokio on the very day on which war was de clared by the Japanese against Russia.
 In spite of. the stress of preparations for war, the American was everywhere met with the utmost and most pains taking helpfulness toward furthering his scientific enterprise.
 Mir. Starr's description of the Japan ese on the verge of the great war Is of value:
 We were profoundly impressed by the businesslike and energetic way in which all was done, and by the deep feeling, though calm and quiet among the people. Japan has gone into this war through necessity; she did all in her power to avoid hostilities. But, in going into the war, she expects to win. This expectation is no idle exhi- bition of over-confdence. She fully re- alizes the enormous advantage Russia has in size, in numbers and In re- sources, but she expects. nevertheless. to gain the victory. for she feels that 1t Is a question of life and death. The struggle is no new one; nor is 1t un- foreseen. For more than century Japanese patriotic writers have urged their nation to prepare herself to resist the aggressions of her powerful neigh- bor"
 The story of the life of the Ainu at home is new to most of us of the west ern world.
 Several of these hairy men, were shipwrecked on the Chinese coast in AIxz of race journeyed to China $50 A. D. None others have probably left Japan since these dates until this group was brought to America.
 The description of the work among the Ainu of the Rev. John Batcheior Is fresh reading. This missionary came to Tezo in 1879, has lived there ever since. he is a clergyman of the Church of England, he labors both among the Japanese and Ainu, but considers himself particualrly called to be the apostle to the Ainu.
 He knows all their villages. Speaks their language more perfectly than their own young people do,~ has studied all their life and thought, is their friend, their adviser on matters tenn poral and spiritual. He has written a dictionary and a grammar of the Ainu language and has translated the Psalms, the New Testament, and DOT tions of the Old Testament Into Ainu.
 He is author of the two authoritative books upon the life and thought of these people so little known to the rest of the world: "The Ainu of Japan" and 'The Ainu and Their Folklore" |"
 He is wise worker for good and knows that it is hard for mans soul to grow while his body is wretchedly cramped and starved. He maintains a rest house. on his own premises at Sappord, where any Ainu who is sick or troubled can come and stay till cured or lifted from care. They are supplied with food and comforts. often twenty or more are cared for at once in this "rest-house."
 The volume is amply illustrated from fine photographs taken as Mir. Starr made his journeys among this people. There are pictured: The Carved Grave Posts" varying in form, usually a crotch of wood for mans, womans or childs grave; the "Ainu in Canoe on Sarn River" Manual and Kiko," little Kiko making the Ainu saluta- tion of thanks; the "Ainu Village, Os- atnai:" the Stone Houses, Osatnai; "Penrfs Old House, Upper Piraton; an "Ainu Group. Feast Occasion;' the Japanese and Ainu Children Carrying Babies" these they carry on the back supporting the weight with band about the bearers forehead: the "Wo- men Pounding Millet." the Bears Cage and Feeding Trough" bears are caught when cubs, kept till fully grown and we'll feshed. then eaten, d sort of national festivity, the Bear Feast. There are also portrait photo graphs of some of the leading Ainu in typical cotumes; of "Kutorage" of "Sangyea," of "Sanlukno," of an 'Ainu in Ceremonial Dress: Sheraoi," of ''Shutralek," several of the originals of these maybe have been seen at the exposition. Pictures are given of the implements used in household occupa- tions, in war and in hunting; of the sacred things of the house and the yard, the talismans as 1t were, to ward off evil. On page 115 Is pictured the Great Inao: Kike Parase. Of these MT. Starr writes: Great inao, with beautifully curled masses of shay ings, called kike parose were fastened one at the south window, one some what larger at the east window, anoth- CT still larger on the roof beam above the south end of the fireplace; those at the windows are to keep away evil