Omaha daily bee., 1912-07-27
IN OTHER LANDS THAN OURS
Pertinent Pointers on Doings in Foreign Countries.
Golden Era of Japan.

Golden Era of Japan.
In the romances of modern history II
is doubtful If an equal in the fasci-
mating interest of achievements can be
found for the record of the reign Of EN-
peror Mutsuhito Of Japan. On November
8, 1852 while Commodore Perry was pre-
pairing for the famous mission which re-
suited in the opening of Japan to Ameri-
can commerce, the ruler of the Oriental
yankees first saw the light In the i'm
perial palace at Kyoto. AS a boy he
knew no playmates and did not know
what play was. He was reared in an
imperial atmosphere as secluded from
the people as the people themselves were
from the outside world. Though Perry
gave the Japanese an object lesson In
soldiers were still fighting with bows
and arrows and swords In the civil war,
which ushered Mutsuhito to the throne In
1868. The young emperor did not grasp
readily the causes Of national strife. 1t
was still death to leave the country. but
few of the leaders challenged fate by
going abroad to study modern life and
methods. One of these was the late Mar
quis Ito, assassinated In Korea last year.
To this aggressive and receptive states
man and his associate missionaries is
largely due the credit Of showing the
emperor the broad road Of modern devel-
opment which has made Japan the won
der of the world. Mutsuhito cut loose
from the traditions Of caste and customs.
At one stroke he destroyed the exclusive
ness Of centuries by appearing among his
people in public. Ports were opened tc
all nations. A modern constitution was
adopted in 1880 and representative as.
sembly followed. Modern war methods
were late In coming to Japan, but the
natives adopted them. The Satsuma re-
bellion was crushed in 1877 later on &
section Of China was threshed and IT.
navy destroyed. Ten years ago thu
great Russian power, presumed to be in
vincible, was whipped to standstill
This great struggle for national life lef
Japan with tremendous public debt
but the people bear II with the courag
i
Pile with, Russia. Progress In the arts o
peace--in manufacturing. shipping, agri
| culture and education-have been equal!
astonishing to the outside world. Right!
| Is the Mutsuhito reign called "th
Meija"--the era of enlightened progress
the golden age Of japan.
/ N
The effect Of high taxes on municipa
progress is forcefully shown in an Ameri
i can consular report on the cost OF hous
| ing in Paris. Taxation In France touches
not only the land and the improvements
but makes a separate levy on the win
dows Of dwelling or other building. Th'
steadily upward tendency Of the govern
ment's share Of the landlords income fol
years past Is shown in restricted expan
sion Of habitations and q consequent up
lift in rents. Twelve years ago Pari
| had s10.4ss dwellings. representing I
rental value of $S7. 100000. Last year tn,
report shows s3S,SN dwellings and tn,
rental value raised to $115.9O0,000. In thi'
period the population of Paris increased
10 per cent, while the number of dwell
ings increased 20 Pc. cent. This abnor
NAL condition, seemingly contradictory
/ is accounted for by q decreased numbel
of persons to each house, chiefly single
men. occupying separate apartments. II
1890 the average number Of persons t.
each dwelling was 800. In 1911. 1t hat
dropped to 2.Ss. Even at this time" say
the consular report, ut is very diff
cult to find suitable lodging at reason
able prices advances in rent OF 25, 3
and even 50 per cent have not been rar'
in the last three years. In order to assur'
homes for the increase Of 10000 inhab
itants annually and constitute reserve
of per cent of vacant dwellings 1t II
estimated that in the next three year.
SC, 600 additional dwellings would be neces
sary During the last decade the numbe
of structures In Paris increased onl,
2.7si. Although 1O,225 new houses wer'
erected (not counting addiuons). 74S
houses were demolished during the sam,