The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-06-18

in common use in daily life. This fact places the
Japanese student far behind the young college man
| of the west
a university course in Japan scarcely be
completed before the age of thirty. 1t is useless
to give way to these regrets, however. Owing to
Buddhism, Chinese characters have become an In
tegrai part of the japanese literary language. And
indeed they render certain service which may
! explain the fondness of the nation for them They
have given to the language precision which those
! of Europe lack. As years are devoted to com
mlttlng them to memory this faculty is developed
to marvellous degree. The study of them con-
stltutes excellent mental gymnastic for the find
ing of different ways to express the idea it is
good training for oratory, and In this department
the japanese show themselves the equal of the
peoples of the West. If they do not excel in depth
OF thought, they are more proficient in the of
words
Finally the Chinese characters have contributed
not little to give the japanese that nesse III little
things which they possess, that quickness in grasp
ing all sides of question as presented,
keenness in detecting the slightest flaw in an argu-
ment well their marvellous ability to observe
the smallest details of an object an ability which
has enabled them to put forth masterpieces of min
iature art
However, let it be understood, it is not necessary
to know the Chinese characters in order to live in
Japan. They are written only, and not spoken
The spoken language, the language of the people,
In fact, after a years residence missionaries
speak, preach and hear confessions in japanese.
=
In brief education in Japan has not reached a
high eve its schools are far below those of Europe
or the United States; nevertheless the prospectus
of any one of those of secondary grade reads like
the catalogue of university.
instruction is given in many branches, but the
treatment Is not thorough The Japanese aim at
the curious, the eccentric, and pay little attention
to the serious. They attach an exaggerated import
ance to the natural sciences, especially mathe-
matics. History with them is only collection of
falsehoods which have been directed by Protesants
against the Catholic Church. These defects which
are common to the whole of Japan are more MOTTO
able in Osaka than elsewhere. While students flock
IN crowds to Toxic Koto and even to the little vii
lage of Yamaguchi/ which is hidden away in the
mountains and is without communication with the
rest of the country, few come to Osaka in spite of
the fact that many lines of railroad lead there
X
However, Osaka shows signs of an awakening in
the future. The sympathetic welcome which the
Little Brothers OF Mary have been given by the
people and ohlclais OF the city proves that they
appreciate the benefits of science and education
The personnel of the Catholic mission of Osaka
IS as follows: One bishop, twenty-five European
two native priests four Brothers of
Mary (of the College of st. Stanislaus of Paris).
TOUR semlnarlans, forty native catechsts sixteen
1lsIefS Oh t1e 1oiy Ifant lesus three novlces and
three postulants The diocese comprises thirty
our parlshes eight churches or chapels and twenty
our oratores IN japanese houses; four schools, of
"hlen one Is Tor boys and three are for girls; the
lunoer OF pupils IN these IS four hundred and nine
cen; me brothers have one high school with one
lulIrea 5l3 Students nve orphanages with two hun
ired and eghty-eight inmates one hundred and
orty-nlne children IN the workshops and thirty
wo nurses Ill the hospital.
mere are the results OF last years labors