Evening journal., 1904-03-03
MISSIONARIES Do
MUCH FOR JAPAN
Opinion Of a Woman Who
Has Lived in That
Country
WIFE OF AMERICAN CONSUL
Mrs. smlthers, Who is Visiting in This
City, Talks Interestingly About Life
As She Found IT in Japan-Expeets
to Return.

There probably IS not a woman In Dcla-
ware today who knows so much about
Japan and the japanese as Mrs. Enoch J
smiiners. She lived there for nfteen
years and expects to return to the flowery
kingdom before long
Mrs. smIthers. in speaking Of the Won
Ia nation. attributes IL ln a great measure
to the work OF the American missionaries.
These people have opened schools there,
Taught the natives the English language,
the habits and manners Of their own
country and the japanese have prohted
largely. There are more missionaries in
Japan, In proportion TO its Size, than
There are In China.
Mrs. Smithors represents them 10 be an
Initiative people who have absorbed the
pluck, energy and progressivonoss from
other countries. They have not taken any
one country as model. but have en-
deavored g. initiate what they considered
the best IN an.
There have been many stories as to
the social relations existing hetweon the
native Japanese of the high GLASS and
the foreign element. These have been
greatly exaggerated. as, according TO Mrs.
lsmithers, such intercourse Is impossible
because OF the difference IN language
Very few Of the Japanese women speak
English and very few Of the American and
English women there speak the Japanese
Language. The latter, however, Is being
taught 10 the neutrality-suspicious. children.
A a.. IffI..
Most Of the Japanese men are able %
speak some English and the foreign men
there are able TO pick up some japanese
| In the transaction of business.
The foreign residents do not reside ir
the towns, proper, but IN the outsSlrt.
land along the seaboard. The wives am,
daughters Of The consuls and other repre-
lsentauves of foreign countries attend th'
lstale dinners and balls but the lives O
ltho native and foreign elements are sepa
rHte and distinct. There Is little intermar
rlage.
4 untl The revision Of The treaties abou
mime years ago. each consulate lived unde
the Jaws of ITS own country Now an ar
lunder the rule Of the japanese Govern
Iment.
The japanese are particularly friendl
Ito Americans and admire thcm The.
think his country Is a great one. and lils
lall other foreign nations, regard Il as
go between or intermediary
Mrs. Smithers would not express an
loplnion as 10 the outcome Of the presen
war with Russia. She says she has oh
ltaincd all her information regarding 8
from the newspapers, as she now has beei
away from Japan about three years. twl
of which she spent IN England and on
IN this country.
She had expected to return TO Japan in
short time. but the war has upset ne
plans. She has passage engaged on
Japanese vessel, sailing from Seattle bu
fears that the ship might be bombarded
She has written TO the agents in soattl
Ito make other arrangements. u possible
she has three married daughters livin
Pa Japan.
Mrs. smlthors Is the wife of Enoch j
lsmithers, late consul TO Kabe, Japan
This is the next port to Yokohama an
most central to the war operations. Mr
smithers was a Delaware man. ben
born in Kent County and was brothe
of the Hon. n. b. smithers or Dover. II
lived in Wilmington for a number O
years and studied law here with Judg
lGilpn. Mr.. smithers and his family live
1 lin Wilmington for six years before the
! went to Japan and ia fact. went ther
from this city.
For the present Mrs. smlthers is at Del
aware avenue and Madison streets.
n