The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-05-10
HART
DESCRIBES JAPAN

a large audience assembled at tho
Royal School on Emma street ycster-
day evening to hear Professor Hart
lecture on Japan. Long before the ap-
pointed hour. great crowd OF impa-
tient children had assembled. waiting
expectantly for the doors to open.
With the children. were a representa-
tion OF their elders, and all. both old
and young. were delightfully."- enter
tained. 1t was practically journey
through that land of SURPRISING beau
ty. easily and conveniently made.
Its forests and mountain slopes, its
streams and smooth highways. tho
gardens and the people, all were placed
before one as they really exist, by day
and by night. In the freshness of the
morning. and In the light OF the sun
set.
The lecturer. after having shown @
number Of enchanting views by way of
encouraging the amateur photographer
who often seems to be endowed with
peculiar perception OF what Ia inher-
emily picturesque. explained that tho
photographs which had been seen by
thousands and universally admired,
were the work OF Mr.. and Mrs. Gay
OF Kauai. They should be an encour-
agement to others. revealing the pos
abilities of amateur photography.
The first pictures shown were of the
Emperor and Empress with Admiral
Togo and other heroes Of the recent
war. these were conventional portraits.
While these were being exhibited q
brief outline of the early history of
Japan was given. from the mythologi-
cal period. when gods and heroes were
on friendly terms. through the rise and
fall OF the Shogunate. the opening of
It's sealed ports by Commodore Perry,
and Its steady advance toward western
civilization. The speaker deprecated
the self-satisfaction of the white races
who could see no merit in any art but
their own. and thought that those
present would be able to realize that
other nations. as well, had distinguish
ed themselves In their love for, and
their creation OF. beautiful things.
In Europe 1t was not unusual to see
travellers In great cathedrals. laughing
and talking, with no reverence for that
which. had been reverenced by thou
shown toward those objects which
were sacred to the Japanese, and he
hoped when such Views were presented,
proper respect would be given them.
The ethnology was touched upon-the
real origin OF the race, obscured in an
tiquity, the traces of an aboriginal
type in dwarf cave dwellers. with those
who gave evidence of Malayan origin.
totA x,sna al
ancient Shlnto. the many sects of
Buddhists, Japanese Confucianism,
which. in it's regard for authority DIFF
fered from that of China with its wor-
ship of ancestors.
The first views We're of Yokohama
the canal with its still waters reflect
ing the sky, and myriads of boats lin
ing either shore. One charming view
of the public gardens with two beau
tiful girls in the foreground. showed
the cherry blossoms in bloom--not
white but rose pink, the trees bearing
no fruit. but valued for its flowers
alone. This avenue. 1t was explained,
is some two miles in length. the time
of blossoming. the latter part of April,
being n season of festivals.
The Stone bridge, and the great Dai
Butsu OF Kawakura, once the capital
OF Eastern Japan, with its million in
were next In order. The
representation of the great Buddha,
at whose shrine more prayers are Of
fered than anywhere on the globe, was
a most faithful reproduction, placid
and inscrutable seated on his lotus
throne.
The moat and bridge approaching the
imperial palace were amongst the views
of Toxic, with lovely tea gardens and
splendid beds of iris. This flower, the
lecturer said, represented the Japanese
love for simplicity, those natural
forms of which the iris was an exam
pie being especially valued by them.
The mountain scenery In the vicinity
of Miyanoshlta. peak beyond peak.
with gradations OF forests, We're as
nearly a reproduction OF that marvel
Gus region as the art OF man could
compass The views OF Fujyama
brought back its ethereal lines with
vivid reality to those who have seen
II and cherish It as Il memory of per-
feet beauty.
The wonders of Nikko were present
ed with equal fidelity--the red lacquer
bridge sacred to the Shotgun. now
opened twice a year to the p pilgrims;
the sacred horse OF the gods; the mon
keys that adorn the facade of the lit
tie Shinto temple with their lesson.
See no evil, speak no evil, hear no
evil"; great temples. themselves, with
their gorgeous color and their marvel
Gus carving; the avenues of crypto-
merla all were shown just as they
present themselves to the eye OF an
observant traveller. Space would not
permit even the briefest mention Of the
entire series OF views, not one OF
which was commonplace or inferior.
The collection. with the brief clear
comment of the lecturer. was alto
gether excellent.