The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
PECULIAR FORM OF
CIVILIZATION Being
RETAINED IN Japan
Well Illustrated by Proceed
ings After the Death
of Prince
WRITING REFORM
ADVOCATE DEAD
Count Hayashi Believed Geographic
Method of Writing Was Serious
Bar to Japanese Advance
ment-Life of Minister

Toxic, August 2S.--In the course of a
notable speech made at Toxic, James
Bryce. former British ambassador at
Washington, said he hoped that Japan
would retain her own form of civilization
and not permit her traditions to be swal-
lowed up by the civilization of the west
ern world. He thought it was refreshing
to meet a type that was just as good as
the west and not at all monotonous.
An instance that Japan is retaining her
peculiar form of civilization was found at
the time of the death last month of
Prince Arisugawa. a member of the i'm
perial family. at Mako, near Kobe, after
lingering Illness Although everybody
knew that the prince was dead. the
thorities made no official announcement
and insisted that he should be regarded
as living until the body was transferred
TO Toxic. This took place several days
after his actual demise When the body
arrived at his Toxic residence near the
American embassy, the government made
the announcement of his death.
Tradition Followed
The reason for all this is found In the
old tradition ana custom that no MEM
Der of the imperial family die outside
of the seat of the imperial government,
which today is Toxic. It was curious to
note in the news columns of the Japa-
nese newspapers side by side with the
report of his death and incidents of his
career, paragraphs stating that Prince
Arisugawa was about to return to the
capital as his condition had become
critical
Some Japanese opinion is strongly op-
posed to this custom. 1t was pointed out
that years ago Prince Kitashirakawa
while commanding the Japanese army at
Formosa, after the Sino-Japanese war,
died on the battlefield, being almost the
first imperial prince to lose his life at
the front in the cause of his country.
This event, which was an incentive TO
popular loyalty towards the crown was
carefully concealed by the authorities,
who announced later that the prince had
come to Toxic to report to the throne
about the campaign and died at the cap
ital. Newspapers alleged that this pro-
cedure only served to dim the lustre of
the princes heroism at the front. The
practice should be abolished. they con
tended. as an obnoxious od-time GUS
tom which is more or less ridiculous
Advocated Roman Alphabet
In the death of Count Tadasu Hayashi,
former foreign minister. Japan lost an
earnest supporter of writing reform
He considered the present system of writ
Chinese ideographs a serious bar to ma
tional advancement, and advocated the
adoption of Roman letters.
The Chinese ideographs are not only
complicated in their constructions, but
each character has several different pro-
nunciations and meanings, from two to
five, more. For instance, the Chinese
ideographs for Count Hyashi' may be
prdnounced Berlin, meaning the capi-
tai of Germany.
In Japan before a person can be con-
sidered at all educated he or she has to
learn nearly 2000 of these Chinese char
acters, committing to memory the com
picated construction of each telegraph
and learning the different pronunciations
and meanings well as their proper
uses, i'm addition to the art of caligraphy.
All this is proving too heavy a burden
for the rising generation of Japan, which
has to master one or two foreign Ian
guages as well as different branches of
modern learning.
Prime Minister Uses Auto
Japan's. prime minister, Count Yama-
motto, is total abstainer from the use
of spiritious liquors, but he prefers his
native tea to grape Juice. In his abstem-
iousness he is also like Secretary of State
Bryan in the fact that he does not
smoke, believing that all indulgence in
tobacco bad for his health.
Count Yamamoto is an early riser. At
D . CLOCK precisely every morning he rs
seen in plain Japanese garb. taking a
walk in the neighborhoqd of his residence
in Toxic. Upon his return he reads his
papers with extraordinary attention, from
heavy editorials down to minor city
events. With Countess Yamamoto he
has a plain breakfast, consisting of
milk eggs and rice After breakfast he
begins to get ready for his days work,
while his wife prepares his tea.
Although an admiral the premier wears
frock coat Punctually at he leaves
his home in an automobile and in Is
minutes he arrives at the cabinet offices,
which are inside the palace compound
There he grimly goes through piles of
state documents until at noon he takes
his European luncheon, which invariably
drives the severity from his countenance
and he is then ready for amiable confer
ences with his secretaries
The premier shuns social engagements
and late hours. At D. m. he leaves his
office and goes straight to his home.
After bath and a stroll in his garden,
ne partakes Of a hearty Japanese dinner
for he is a healthy, stout old sailor with
a real appetite, He wears a moustache
and beard, now almost gray, but his most
striking features are his eyes, bright and
penetrating. testifying to the power and
strength within. AT the same time he
has a kind heart His domestics charac-
terize him as an amiabe and sympa-
thetic master.