The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-27

to be Of much value to the education
al department., which is contemplating
a reform in the present system of ed
ucation. This it believes to be urgent,
in view OF the feeling that a degenera-
ton of physique is taking place
among girl students.
The educational Office had been in
terested in the question what kind of
mothers the graduates of the girls
middle schools make, and an investi-
cation along this line was made. Then
Baron Takagi. president of the Jikein
Medical school, offered some concrete
suggestion to promote the work by
sending out series of questions. He is
convinced that the rising generation
shows signs of physical retrogression,
and says that the causes Of this ten
dency must be corrected.
1.-THE young men and women are
steadily running low in weight" Baron
Takagi declares, land there are indi-
cations Of general degeneration. Par
ticularly is this noticeable among the
girls who have pursued their studies
in the middle grade, or even the high
err schools When they are married
they prove unsuitable mothers physi-
cally. They are not in condition to
nurse their own children. So-called
ladies of the upper or aristocratic
classes show q decided deficiency in
this regard"
Enthusiasm and faith in the sue
cess Of his mission fill the Rev. Kak-
ichi Tsunashima, a Japanese pastor in
the Congregational church. who has
been commissioned by his church to
go to the United States and endeavor
to help solve the California land ques-
ton. His chief activity will be in
making an appeal to Americans as
Christians. He expects to sail for
America Dec. 81, on the steamer
Chiyo Maru.
Righteousness and civilization will in
due course of time be appreciated.
He thinks that the question Of Japan
csc land ownership in California Is
too big a problem to be settled in a
short time. and that it does not admit
of a temporary solution. He will try
to solve it on the broad basis of uni
versal love and Christian brotherhood.
In fulfilling his mission Mr.. Tsuna-
shima expects to visit churches, pas
tors associations, and other Christian
organizations, and to write and
preach his thoughts and ideals as op-
portunity offers. He says there may
be faults and shortcomings on the
part Of the Japanese, but by his pro-
posed undertaking he believes he can
persuade his countrymen to a better
mode of life.
Drilling soldiers in the task Of how
to fight under CALLING fire was the
keynote of this years big military
maneuvers of the Japanese army at
Nagoya, according to foreign experts
who were present.
Every day the purpose Of the man
euvers was to test the moral courage
Of an army which found itself ex-
posed to complete humiliation, or at
least a ruinous onslaught from the
enemy. Detachments were sent across
a field where artillery and quick-flr-
ing guns were supposed to be merci-
lessly decimating their ranks.
Everything possible was done to
show the foreign attaches the plan Of
the maneuvers and so far as could be
observed no secrecy was maintained.
Every evening a Japanese officer gave
a lecture to the military experts,
pointing out the plan and operation
Of the maneuvers upon an immense
map hung upon the wall.
The emperor was active throughout
the maneuvers and it was noticeable,
as another evidence Of the growing
spirit of democracy in Japan, that he
personally shook hands with each mil
itary attache.