The sun., 1907-03-31


"a, D.
To the author, IA To every other thought
ful spectator Of the social and political
changes which Japan has undergone in the
last quarter of n century, the main question
s whether a feudal code. such as we see
formulated in "Bushdo," can possibly hold
it's own against the exigencies of modern
hfe Gen. Hamilton. for his part, yields
10 no one in admiration for the knightly
virtues of the old Samurai, but he reminds
I'M that the Samurai are not men of to-day,
b,r men of yesterday, and so. If the old
Bushido code fingers awhile it is as a tran
sient shadow falling athwart a threshold
from which the guest has already taken his
Hrst irrevocable step on a far journey.
Like IaRcadio Hearn, the author discovered
that the longer he lived with the Japanese
the less he understood them.
~ The result Of his patient Investigations
was that everything about these strangers
in becoming 80 obscure and contradictory
that I can only marvel at the TEN Gritty |
.dsplaycd in dashing down what purported
10 be an analysis of their characters before
\ had lived with them a month" For in
stance. Are the Japanese modest IA regards
evidently do not think So for whenever
one of their villages in ManchuTia was occu-
pied by Japanese troops the women were
always sent away. Not that the soldiers
were guilty of M sbehavior, or even of
undue familiarity but simply because the
Japanese code of modesty differs from
that which is accepted alike by Chinese and
Europeans. When it il explained to
Japanese that it is deemed indecent to
strip for a wash in the presence ladies
he is genuinely shocked at the improper
IDEAS which. in his opinion, must underlie
such a frame of mind.
% Are the Japanese modest in the sense OF
refraining from self-laudation? Touching
this point, "a time went on, our authors
opinion underwent a change. At first II was
above all other traits the mOdesty OF the
Japanese which won his profound respect.
j, Never did he witness 80 much as tinge Of
boastfulness about the officers, the nom
commissioned officers OF men Of the First
Army. Gen. Hamilton cannot call to mind
n single instance Of a sober Japanese max
ing a consciously staggering remark, even
In the triumphant reaction Immediately
following a victory. But while it has al
ways been pleasure 10 the author to recog-
nize and honor 40 generous, high and
knightly a quality. he says that now
corner of the veil has been lifted, and 10,
/ seem to perceive figure like that of Pride
sitting throned upon the japanese heart
in great aloofness. The japanese do not
boast after a victory, because they are in
capable of imagining for one moment that
they are not going to win. Bad men may
bet on certaintes, but only fools would boost
about them" Not being n theologian, the
author does not feel called upon to say
whether the quality to which he refers should
he ranked among the cardinal virtues or the
deadly sins Certainly self-reliance was
considered by the Romans a virtue OF the
first order. Possunt quid posse ridentar-
But am sure, nevertheless. that whatever
ths quality may be it is not modesty."
Another quality for which Con. Hamilton
watched in vain was that of the capacity for
gratitude. Here, again, in the midst of
eforts to reconcile conflicting evidence,
he stumbled against the same stony figure
Of Pride barring the way to he feeling of
gratitude which otherwise would be fire.
aUent and welcome visitor to- the Japanese
heart. For small mercie-, indeed, the
Japanese are always unfeignedly thankful.
An act Of consideration, or politeness, or
generosity, or hospitality they will repay.
n they can, fourfold. Weightier Obliga-
lions, on the other hand, they support with
difficulty. Our author believes, however,
that the natural instinct of the Japanese
would be to acknowledge fully and eagerly
Huy obligations they are under to the West,
were II not that in the case of some men
pride throttles the intention before il can In
any way declare itself. Yet here again one
isbafied by contradictions. The very man
who speaks Of steam hammer borrowed
from Armstrong or a system of attack taken
from Germany as if he had originated it him
self will atone by ending humbly, We
have a lot still to learn-a lot to learn
Equally conflicting is the evidence con-
cerning the presence OF sentiment in the
Japanese character Our author tells us
that he should pronounce their genius
purely prosaic and material were il not
Tor their love OF poetry, art and painting
but especially poetry. 1t is true that the
poetry consists in large measure OF
verbal conceits and pUns, but there is real
feeling in Il too. Turning to music, the
inquirer thinks that he has at last reached
. rock Of certtude amid much that 10 con-
Trajectory, for unquestionAbly the whole |
world Of Western music 10 closed TO the
Japanese. Yet when one sees a private |
soldier hanging in perfect rapture on the |
trilI Of a nightingale, what becomes Of the |
theory that his soul is dead TO meIody2 |
AZ for scenery, a Japanese cares nothing |
for IL in the Western sense Of the word,
vet on the other hand you will see a whole |
company Of soldiers stand entranced in !
artistic admiration of a waterfall. As for !
towers, they were simply adOred by the |
whole Japanese army II is probably i'm |
possible. in fine, for a Western man entirely !
70 understand the Japanese-at one moment |
cold. distant, reserved, suspicious, stole; |
a. smother, merry, laughing children; and |
then again resigned, sad. determined to |
de- heroes. ....
a5ss II. .. .
~ N1tplt1aia hnnL |