The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-09
WHY IT LACKS SWEAR WORDS
Mildness of Japanese Language Due
 to Woman's Influence.

I @e@--~-~~@NSs New York Tribune.
 | The Japanese language was mould ed into its present form by the touch | of woman," said Dr. Toyokichi Iyena- ga, at the Brooklyn Institute. "As l Dante fixed the classic form of Italian.
 SO the court ladies of the sixteenth
 century, the most cultivated influence
 then existing. fixed the literary stand ards of the Japanese.
 | Perhaps to this formative feminine l influence is due the chief deficiency of
 the language--its lack of good, strong. virile swear words" said the lecturer.
 with a twinkle in his eye. At any
 rate. this deficiency is at times a dis l advantage. It compels Japanese to learn English If he Is going to play | golf or footballl' | The subject of the lecture, the fifth in the course. was Retrospect and | Prospect of Religion in Japan" pr. | Iyenaga, who is a lecturer in the uni | versity extension course of the Univer- sity of Chicago, said in retrospect that Shintoism. the ancient native religion. was a compound of nature worship and ancestor worship. It is held now only by very old-fasaioned, conservative folk. who dislike and deprecate the age of modern progress in Japan. But Buddhism has priests and pilgrims. monks and nuns, confession and pen ance. saints and savior.
 Tn fact" said the speaker, the more one knows of Buddhism the better he realizes the truth of the saying: Bud dhism is the devils imitation of Chris tianity.' For instance, there Is the sect of the Shin-Shu. They believe in sal vation by faith. They believe that spir- 1t of Buddha comes to dwell in the heart of the believer.
 You see, these doctrines sound somewhat familiar. You have heard something like. them before. In fact. the Shin-Shu are called the Protestants of Buddhism. They do not believe in fasting or doing penance. or in the mo- nastic life. In fact. the chief reproach against them is that they are so much like the Christians that they might as well be Christians out and out
 Dr. Iyenaga gave q yard-long list of sects of Buddhism all of which sound ed like the names of the generals and battlefelds of the present war
 I'm afraid you won't remember all those." said he, demurely. Its like the Japanese when he begins to learn the different Christian sects. He finds them hard to remember" Most of these sects rose and fiourished in the thirteenth century, which was the golden age of Buddhism. But no mat ter how many sects or doctrines may be found in Japan none of them strike very deep. according to the speaker of the day.
 Japan could never produce a Puri- tan. Covenanter CT an Inquisition." said he with conviction. Religious fanaticism is unknown. Bigotry is not in the genius of the race. Religious gloom does not enter into the lives of the people.
 Their religion does not prescribe aus terlty of life manner"
 pr, Iyenags described a Buddhist saints day celebration out of the city. The people go in vast crowds to lonely spot among beautiful flowers. surrounded by lovely scenery. Every species of travel ling show and refreshment booth cheers the scene.
 If you could see the tiny company that gathers in the temple" said he. and the enormous throngs that keep the day of the good saint by enjoying themselves outside. it would be suggestive of the character Of the people. But. m addition, tbe whole side 5S the temple removed, S that the worshiopers are really part of the crowd without The effect is al most as if you were to see acrobats and trained birds performing in a cathedral"