The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-25

the slopes utilized. WNhoat. the most careful attention and industry, on the part of the farmers, supplemented by constant and abundant animal manur- ing the barren soil brings forth but poorly. and yields only the scantest4of crops. Unlike China, Japan Is not O sell centred nation. Food must, in ample measure, be imported. Being islanders, the people, in vast numbers, are thus forced by the necessities of their situation and environments 60 emigrate. The annual yield Of ficeA--' their chief staple---is about two mil lion bushels. The tender green of this growing grain presents everywhere picture lovely to behold. At the be- ginning of the sowing seasSni each year, one sees q striking exemplifica- tion of the truth of the familiar scrip tural passage :-"Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after ma4J days" The smail planter, scat terlng his precious rice grains -inNo seed beds, seems to be throwing them away on water. This is but another illustration of faith put into practice, for in future days they come back to him surely as bread; first, in the guise of pretty little green tufts peeping out of their watery abode; and secondly, in the reaptng time of the golden har- vest. Thus, literally speaking, the Japanese not 0nlV nHuS HIS dA- ter many days" but also a verificatton of the Bible promise that it should in this wise so return unto him. Rice and rice only, means daily bread" to most of the well-to-do people of these Isles of the sea. >s go.
 There are no pasture lands here, and no such things as enclosed estates of large size. The eye of the traveller gags on no fences, and sees bus few TbR RAnPruilV rnnat-[ ly small gardens. Artificial fertilizer are unknown. Horses and-cattle are scarce. Burdens are carried on the backs of men and women. Japan is in the centre of the worlds volcanic and earthquake activities. IL is easy to count as many as twenty living. volcanoes; while the earthquake, right under ones feet almost, .dailsss has a powerful, if not terrifying efteet-both upon mind and body Indeed, these violent manifestations of nature have been the chief knstrumentalities in the making of Japan. But TOT them.st lift ing up and depressing the. crust of the earth's surface, and covering 1t with soil material, much. of. its ex- tensive surface would have never been created. .,.,e> B 4 g. .r
 Its Advance meat. .. ,..s .R-
 Within the past fifty years, since the Perry treaty was ratffied;4 Japan has forged rapidly to the' front place. amongst the great nations, and has, internationally become mighty world power The -Japanese only adopt to adopt" practical methods and mven- tions, useful arts and improvements. Contact with the material forces of the western hemisphere. and particularly with those of our North American re- public, as well as the intelligent ap- plication, on their part, of steam and electricity, to all modern mechanical ap- pliances together with the skillful and persistent use of the printing press, has resulted in changing their form of government from feudalism- to ?con- stitutfonal imperialism, and has con yerted also their societYT-that Is to say. their mode of living--from one almost wholly Agricultural to that. which Is industrial and, commercial. This Is the golden age" of their craftsmen. merchants and financiers, as well as of their statesmen and war riors. As a nation,- 1t cannot be de- nied, they have. made wondrons pro gress, but, after all, they care noth- ing about fiue-spun religious, or polit- teal doctrines or philosophical teach fngs. Love of beauty, however. Is to them an intense and passionate char acteristic It Is exhiDfted In. their de- corative arts and reflected in their poetry and literature. Of natural charms they have a Keen perception They delight in a flower for it's own sake. They love the rocKs and trees, the ripple marks on the sands of the seashore. the twinkling stars, the