New-York tribune., 1911-02-12

tions Have you a man?' one of these
llnguists once asked her point blank in
q streetcar Native policemen often be-
gin an answer to inquiring foreigners
with "Sir, or madam, as the case may
be-"
The ways of the japanese shopkeeper
are certainly beyond understanding. or
the application of the nations gift for
, imitation to foreign labels and trade
marks, and to foreign art, the author
speaks feeingly. In fact, her book Is
filled with observations of little things
that often point to larger ones. The
patriotism Of the nation, she says, is
genuine and deep, but not more so than
that Of the peoples of the West. i hap
pen to know that every soldier who was
drafted off 10 the war did not run TO
il as child runs to his mother. with all
the beautiful eagerness the japanese
government tried to make believe he
did" And in this connection she tells
a grew some story:
II was the case OF a poor old couple living
nea. Toxic who, having but single son,
pleaded that he might be excused SEQ. from rom
tered, tered the War ONCE. . Finally the
Mar Office replied courteously that the son
should remain at home. but as the ohIy
condition On when me IaroT .C,r, WVu,u hiroeai
granted was that he should report hlinsell
/ an headduartcTs Immediately, they sent tle
youth off at once with hearts 1ull Oh Joy iMul M
expectation. That whole afternoon IheS
waited Then. just al nghtfali,
handcart appeared at the door ana when
the old couple hurried out, 10 their horror
the men in charge handed them tne uodu Ii
body of their boy, remai KING Simply, " re
shall remain at home with you: DlaDoll-
cal2 Perhaps, but true, II the recruIls
called at the same time are 10 pe Detiere1 sn ,ot
The war Office would say. they are aS,; nSL
sun. ! know of at least haI dozen ie"uS
10 vouch for the story.
In the end our author confesses
frankly that she cannot answer the ques-
,ion whether she likes or dislikes the
Japanese behind their screens. The pen
dulum of her mind keeps swinging be-
tween their good qualities, those OF Ola
Iapan. and their bad ones, mostly new
\ wise old missionary 10 whom she ap-
roaled for light told her that there exists
~ nresent a very curious state Of analrs
IN the country. "The government Is
much older than the people politically
but the people are much older than the
government sociologically." a book
worth while adding to the crowded shef
devoted TO Japan
Of Professor dAutremers work one
can speak only with unqualified praise
If is a book for the serious worker, deal
ing with the new empire in all its phases
geographical and geological, agricultural
commercial. industrial and financial;
with the economic condition of the popu-
lation. the growth Of cities, with rail-
roads, posts and telegraphs, the press
laws. courts and tribunals, the army and
navy. the future of the country abroad
and the development Of political prob
lens within--a comprehensive digest OF
the progress the nation had made at the
end of the year 1909 NJ. d'Autremer
handles statistics with informing clear
ness, and is. moreover, qualified Tor MS
task by long residence in Japan. His
foresees the possibility of sufficient In
ternal troubles 10 keep Japan busy at
home, but, when discussing her army, he
observes incidentally, 10 no great power
in particular. ST Cis pdccm, para beiium.
AS a market for the West, he says,
Japan will constantly dwindle in i'm
portance She will take first place In
Far Eastern markets, bat Will never 10