New-York tribune., 1907-09-08
By WILLIAM ELLIOT GRIFFlS. DID.
Drawing by Howard Mccormick

the occasion Going over to the American, he bowed
very low sucked IN his breath, and delivered hl1E-
self as follows:
NV master sends word to YOU that he is exceed
ing1v delighted TO see YOU this morning, and would
come and pay his respects IN person; but beng
quite indsposed he begs that you VIII come over and
see him, that he may present to you his compliments
in person
Highly pleased with such message, the American
disnl0unted came over to the Daimio, bowed. and
made effusive returns OF compliments
What did the foreign rutflan say: asked ne
DalmO of the interpreter
He SAYS he IS very sorry for riding so near YOU.
begs YOU TO excuse him. and presents his very best
wishes.
The palanquin moved away, and the horsenan
rode off, both pleased with each other
Inquire into the of history, and 1t would ne
found that the discovery that business makes
politics and and that the real forces
of progress lie IN trade, enterprise and achievement
uD like Ionah's gourd All credit TO those japanese
who in Europe and America discovered that
topsyturvydom this subject lay IN Japan and
not in the Occident. and even full honor TO such
men as Baron Shibusawa, Japan leading tnancler
who gave up high Government position To he
banker and promoter. virtually renOunCIng no.
bility TO descend into the Commoners gradel Never
thcless the real credit and honor belong elsewhere
Bringing Out the Merchants
THE American missionaries the pioneer teachers
L beginning as early 1880, trained up genera
ton to understand that a merchants calling hon
orable that integrity lay At the base OF commercial
it strong. The inSIstence of the great army
of American teachers who began their work IN
1870. that civilization rests upon the productive
classes, and on sound social ideas and political
economy, Japan To modern ideas. Their COM
plete victory when at the opening of the trSt
railway IN 1872, four merchants, in their cotton
clothes, actually stood IN the EmperorS presence,
offering him congratulations
One has only to read the biographies of the
chants, mine owners, corporation officers, and men
of wealth in the Japanese Who's Who of 1907,
realize the magical change As the winged rod
entwined with SerpentS. held IN MerCurys hand,
symbozed power. diligence, and wisdom, Mp
pons new Caduceus in rapidity and promptness.
industry foresight. and integrity Instead OF the
swords of the Sdmura crossed the Tv-
CoOnS spear with the trefOil of lyeyaSu, who hoped
TO keep his system of inclusion and exclusion intact
and iron banded forever, the national embleTS are
the imperial chrvSanthemum IN full bloom and the
risen in his strength. In spite of two big wars
within ten of each other, Japan rolls up fresh
millions of wealth between every risIng and setting
In spite of that somewhat mythical China
at the seapOrtS by tourists, but unknown
III the interior, the Japanese trust each other.
When the " Seventh Financial and
Economic Annual of Japan for 1907, printed bv
the Department of Finance. and. BY means II
colored diagrams, tables. detailed reports, and
pthy historical phs compares the figures
of forty years, noting the amazing increase Of
wealth, one. without wholly losing respect for
Mercury and Aladdin, begins 70 believe that fairy
tales after all only condensed history