The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-02
HILDREDTH S JAPAN, REVISED.

Handbook OF Old Japan Edited with
notes, by Ernest W. Clement, author of
"A Handbook OF Modern Japan. Intro.
duction by William Elliott GrNfs. With
One Hundred Illustrations aud Maps Two
Volumes. Published by A. c. McClurg Il
Co, Chicago.
II is AT once astonishing 10 SEQ the vitality
of ,hls first effort by Professor Richard
Hildreth TO give the English speaking world
q true account of Japan, aud rare tribute
TO tho faithful and excellent work which he
did, 10 that work persist as il does The
first edition was nir.sizcd volume. issued
in 1855, and published BY Phillips. Sampson
and Company, Boston. II mad two titc.pagcs.
the first in colors, with dragon border copied
from kacmpfcr work, after n style fash
ionnble in Japan, where dragons held in
great reputo' a copy OF the old edition is
before MS as we write. and we cannot fail
how little any outsider wus supposed NJ tina,
time to know about Japan. But il is evident
that this first edition Of llildrcth'S s com2ila-
zion tfor il was compilation. and not an
original source, quoting copiously from the
large ioios of koemptcr. whose long resi-.
dcncc in Japan made him familiar with the
country. and from tho writings of others
who had personal knowledge Of what they
wrotc,) was full Of correct knowledge. aud
that !, was indeed worthy pioneer in
inquiring into Japanese history and condi-
tions. Tho editor OF the present edition
(Which has grown into two handsome aud
profusely and nr,isiically illustrated vol.
umcs, says that the value OF the work has
always been acknowledged: there have been
three editions before this one. that of 1855.
another in 1886, and one in 1861.
But the wider nrd moro accurate
knowledge of the country became available,
the editor began the revision OF Hildrcth's
work, and he has been engaged upon il for
ten years. nj his leisure; but he was antici.
patcd in publication along the ssme lines by
MIR, K. MurakawH, nm alumnuS Of the 1mpe.
rial University of Japan, who iSSncd in 1902
and 1905, reprint along the revised lines
contemplated by Mr.. Clement. But the
japanese compiler began with the wrong
sumption that HildrrIh's S book was nm orig
nal. and written by an author who knew
nothing personally about Japan. But Mr..
Clement easily shows that the actual
thorS, quoted by Professor Uldrcth were in
fnci true sources OF authority; they had lived
described And though these observers and
writers were, like other men. not infalliblo
and subject TO error OF fact or inference. and
were necessarily followed by Hildrcth in or
ror as well in truth. Hs Mr. Clement says,
1t is really remarkable that, with SO many
limitations they gained good insight
into japanese life. Errors of detail hnve
beon corrected by the editor for this new
edition, yet not all. 4 few mistakes being
so closely interviewer in the narration that
correction impossible The map in the
original edition wns so imperfect that IL is
left out in this, and n new and up.to-d date
map put in its place This new edition Of
the old and valuable work IS therefore OF the
highest value. The revision has been done
by man thoroughly competent IN do it well.
and the result is worthy OF The highest com
men ndation. And the publishers have put IL
forth in handsome style.