The Washington herald., 1907-02-03
AT THE HOTELS.


by the use Of our nitrate. said Mr.
Pablo Massenlli. 4 rmer commissioner Of
the government raj ways Of Chile. at the
New Willard. M stay lasted four
months, and it wa, one Of the most de-
lightful experiences Of my life.
1T is no wonder that travellers write
enthusiastically Of a nation where a
stranger hears nothing to offend bis
ideas OF good taste, where no harsh
noises rack his ears. where every little
child behaves beautifully. and where the
foreigner meets with unfailing courtesy.
/ don't suppose the little brown people
are perfect. but certainly they are 50
gracious. their ways are so winning. and
they possess SO much genuine merit Jnat
they simply compel ones admiration.
Theirs is but small country, 10000
square miles in all. and even Of this lin
tied area only One-seventeeath is Mt for
cultivation There are vast tracts of
barren mountains and great areas where
nothing grows save the good-for-nothing
bamboo grass They have no pastoral
lands. and there is not flock Of sheep in
the empire.
small an amount Of tillable soil. s. per
cent OF a population Of 100000 get their
living from the ground. rice. OF course.
being the chief crop. They do not. how
ever. raise enough Of this for their con-
sumption, and import a quantity from
China. When it comes 10 the simple
life, the japanese beat the world The
average WOThngman over there spends
on his clothing not 10 exceed $ in gold
year. and his house rent is equally
moderate.
But It must not be imagined that be-
cause OF this simplicity they do not cher
fish great projects. Indeed. their ambi-
tion is boundless. and they are already
doing big things I saw breweries and
factories al Osaka that would he "A credit
20 any country. and I Witnessed the
launching IN the national snip yards a.
Yokuska Of the greatest battle ship 8fiOat.
the tremendous Satsuma. which is go
tons bigger than the English Dread
nOught. and carries more formidable
armament There were 5000 people pres
ent. including the Emperor. and ] never
saw an equally great OCCASION where every
detail Of the ceremonies was carried out
with such consummate skill including
the provisions for the comfort Of the
spectators. No sooner was the launching
done than work was Immediately begun
on another monster battle ship Of greater
size.
Ny conclusion was that the power of
this remarkable race rests chiefly on the
intelligence of the people. and the stress
they place on educating the young II would
be no surprise If some day they would lead
the world in educational methods. They are
excelled now only by the Germans The
training of a japanese boy begins almost
from the time he can walk. You never
see the little fellows in the house indeed
there is no room for them indoors. the
houses being so small But when the
children Of other races are still being
nursed. these juveniles are out in the
street playing bail AT seven they are
in the schoolroom. and they absorb
learning with a facility that is surprising.
The study OF the English language be-
gins in the primary grades. and in addi-
ton they are taught French and German.
In one Of the largest cities 7 came across
"A party Of 100 school children who had
been brought 800 miles by their teachers
10 see the museums and sights Of me-
tropolis. The expenses Of each child. 50
their teacher told me, were borne by its
q
degree Of pTiva zion and self-sacrifce.
This is the spirit Of the country-hardly
anything for personal comfort. every
thing for intellectual superiority"
a few days ago" said Mr.. J R. Var
dry. Of New Orleans. at the Arlington, 7
was talking with a very successful col
ored man. who has control Of a good
many negro employees. and in discussing
the future Of his race this man said:
" The chief trouble with my people is
that they do not stop to think that their
best destiny is TO become good servants.
Somehow. though they recognize that
they must do some kind of service. their
aim and ambition IS not 10 excel along the
lines OF their employment Now. I make
anywhere from $50 20 500 a month. but
il has been a matter OF years for me 10
TT myself 10 obtain such compensation
There is not one in a hundred negroes
who will exert himself TO make more than
the average wages. The idea of becoming
highly efficient even in a subordinate ca
pacty does not seem 10 enter bis head
Another trouble with many negroes is.
that they are wholly unreliable as help
OF any kind. You can never bank on
them; they may show up for work or
they may go of OF a debauch and send
word they are sink Every day. almost. I
have some experience OF this kind that !
have 10 hide from the boss. A man goes
off on a drunk and 7, out Of sympathy,
perhaps. for his wife and children, report
him as too I'll 10 work -
AZ consider 81 great misfortune that
so honest and capable man as Secretary
Hitchcock is going out Of Office" said
MI A. B. Butler a former Californian.
who is largely interested in oil lands in
the Indian Territory, TO Herald reporter
at the Shoreham.
"Of course in the conduct Of his Office
it was inevitable that Mr. Hitchcock
would make many enemies. but I do not
hesitate to say that his course has been
approved by a vast majority Of the peo-
pie, and though a bitter fight has been
made on him in high quarters. he will re-
tire with the esteem and best wishes OF
millions Of his cOuntrymen. II his sue
cessor Will be as efficient and jealous In
giving a square deal, he viii win the
plaudits Of the nation"
My notion IS that the obtaining OF
10 dig the Panama Canal would
prove a white elephant and
that is the view of many of the biggest
in the country" said Mr. r
c. Lutz, of Chicago. vice president Of one
OF the heaviest dredge and dock COM
panies in the United States, 10 a Herald
at the Raleigh.
Il know Of firms that are splendidly
to do the work, but would take
in bc
great, and the chances Of failure too
many. The ambition of anv man 70 org