The San Francisco call., 1913-08-10
Fad Encouraged by Man
Who Has Been Collect
ing Reptiles for 20
Years
LITERATURE OF WEST
IN POPULAR DEMAND
Professor From Imperial
University Highest Type
of Scholar

TOKYO. Aug. 9-To make pets of
snakes is the latest hobby of Japanese
society Fashionable women are cui-
tivating fancy for small and live
serpents. They have about them the
snakes, which are easily tanned
The man who has done more than
anybody else to establish this hobby
is Kinjiro Nakamura. who has been
engaged in the snake business for more
than 20 years and who has a wonder
ful assortment of reptiles.
The most productive districts for
snakes in Japan are certain mountain
sections near Tokyo and Nikko. Here
they are caught in large numbers Jap
anese snake catchers drink sake before
starting out to hunt large serpents, so
that they will not be stupefied by the
poisonous breath Of the reptile. A
real combat occurred recently between
three men and serpent 20 feet long.
The snake poised It's head about six
feet above ground, knocked two men
down with it's tail. rendered another
unconscious by its poisonous breath
and then escaped
But Mr.. Nakamura has found other
uses for snakes He says they are
popular as tonics for the digestive or
gans. and that some are used success
fully as a remedy for pulmonary con-
sumption. There is the food question,
too. Nakamura says that the Japanese
viper is splendid as a stimulant, either
in powdered form or eaten with Japa-
nese soy. In the districts around
Nikko rice with snake -fricassee is con-
sidered most royal dish. The viper
is also good as cure for stomach
trouble, if taken soaked in Japanese
sake.
FOND OF WESTERN ART
Steadily increasing interest is mani
tested by the Japanese in western art
and literature. Most of Shake6peare's
works have now been translated into
Japanese by Prof. Yuzo Tsubouchi. of
Waseda university. and have been
staged in leading theaters in Toyko and
other cities throughout the country
Recently the Imperial theater OF Tokyo
had crowded nights with Julius Cae-
sar"
Longfellow and Mark Twain are as
familiar to the Japanese as Shakespeare
and Milton. Goethe's Faust has been
translated into Japanese on instruc-
tions from the government, and 1t has
been put on the boards of leading
houses in the empire.
At present "The Lady With the Ca
melias'' is having a vogue in moving
picture halls in Tokyo. and the wonder
ful acting of Nine. Sara Bernhardt is
very much appreciated by the Japanese.
OF this French novel by A. Dumas,
Japan possesses full translation.
French art is household term in
Japan. Prints and reproductions OF
the great masterpieces of France, both
Latin quarter of Tokyo A section
of Japanese artists has recently be-
come much affected by the continental
st-Impressionism." Robins scuip-
lures are greatly admired here. and the
famous French sculptor has been asked
to send over some of his works to be
exhibited in Tokyo.
Some Russian authors. such as Count
Tolstoy, Maxim Gorky, Ivan Turgi-
nief and others, also are appreciated
by Japanese readers.
JAPANESE SCHOLAR FOR HARVARD
Professor Masaharu Anesaki of the
Imperial university, who goes to Har-
ward university this autumn as the
first Japanese lecturer to Cambridge,
represents the highest and finest type
of Japanese scholar.
Doctor Anesaki Is fully cognizant of
the role he will play in telling Ameri-
can students of Japanese civilization,
and he intends to do his part in bring
ing the west and the east closer to-
gether-the great fundamental question
enlivened recently by the California
land BILL
The professor. in a conversation a
few. days ago, voiced his conviction in
the unity of mankind which he de-
clared to be especially essential in
these days when every nation must
pass from isolation into the great
sphere of international relations.
While my lectures will necessarily be
scholastic and explanatory of the phil
osophy of Japan he said, II will make
an effort to explain the viewpoint of
the far east, taken as whole. /
think this is misunderstood in the
United States, and / hope to be able
to prove that this viewpoint is entirely
reconcilable with the viewpoint Of the
west"
Doctor Anesaki will try also to pro-
mote in America a scholarly interest in
Japan, particularly In the religious and
moral deNelOpmenI OIL the JdpdneSe
with reference to art and literature.
He will lecture on the schools of re-
ligion and philosophical thought OF
Japan in relation to those of India and
China. He will not appear as an apolo-
gist. for Japan, or a champion of the
Japanese.
His lectures will be in "the spirit of
truth, and he will deliver them in
English. He is an accomplished lin
guist. and could lecture equally we'll in
French or German.
Professor Anesaki will sail for the
United States August II.
MOVE PRIVILEGES FOR WOMEN
So much interest has been taken in
the question of rights of Japanese
women that important publications
have gathered symposium Of views
Of prominent men. The great major
ity favor an extension OF privileges to
women.
Viscount Uchida. former ambassador
to Washington, declared it is quite JUS
tifiable for educated japanese women
to follow the examples of their west
ern sisters in claiming political rights.
He feels, however. that the long es-