The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1918-11-20
IN UNITY
Japan and the United States Ex.
change Ideas.
island Empire Owes Its Systems Of
Technical Education to an Amerl-
can, and in Return Has
Taught Us Much.

The arrival here sometime ago of
mission of eight officers of rank and
distinguished record from Japan Is
proof of at least two things. 1t wit
neSscs TO the steadfastness of the ma
tional character, in seeking progress
slvcness as well as progress; and to
Japan's purpose to keep in the fore
ground of invention and achievement,
remarks New York Sun. No other
nation realizes more keenly that in the
rivalry of civilization the old must per-
petually be renewed. There can be no
standing still.
From the dawn OF history Japan has
excelled in fine and dainty work. Her
museums Illustrate the fact that her
craftsmen invented and adapted. A lit
ile more than real, not poetical,
''cycle of Cathay," that is, sixty years
ago, according to oriental reckoning,
the hermit nation suddenly found her
self in the market place of the world.
Though at first da2ed, resources of
mind and material were not lacking.
Agc-old taste, skill, experience and
reserve armies of trained craftsmen
were at hand. Foreign teachers con-
fcrrcd no gift Of brains or secrets of
cunning. They simply pointed out the
now paths and taught the modern
methods of meeting the nations needs.
As early as 1SG1-G3, after three years
labor, our own Raphael Pumpelly, still
among us in ViSor, revolutiOni2cd min
T.. -, In,
the intense inward political struggles
between the old and the new were over,
and japan had a truly national govern
mont, the alertness Of her people 10 the
new situation supplied a striking fea-
turc in the history of modern educa-
zion.
At Il date when in Europe manual
and technical training was still new,
md among us the Rensselaer, Polytech-
ME school ut Troy was Il lonely vet
eran, Yale and Harvard were at be-
EiDningS in this form of education, and
even the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology Il baby, Japan had started
In the race. Even before the depart
ment Of education had been created,
Ehe necessity of Japan's training her
Own engineers, chemists and masters of
applied science was pointed out to the
Important government. The newly
elaborated scheme dividing the empire
into eight great educational districts
was, with the curricula, submitted to
AN American for criticism. He noted
the serious defect of no provision for
technical education. A long letter out
lining courses of technical education
and addressed to the Dali 10 kuan, the y
supreme council, fell as spark upon
powder. The department of education
was created and chronological school |.
started simultaneously in Tokyo. The
system has ever since that time had
healthful development.
In addition to the eight universities /.
and 37,S10 lower schools of all sorts, +.
there are now in operation under the /.
government eighteen technical schools T.
of the higher order, requiring a four
years course after graduation from the I.
middle schools, while those under To-
cal or private auspices number many |
more. 1t was settled at court, by the !
United States minister in Yeddo, in the |
case &C. -. EIael Pumpelly, that an en-
ginecr, civil mining, or mechanical, |
WAS a gentleman and eligible to audi !
ence of both the president of the Unit !
ed States and the emperor of Japan. |
Ever since, the official and social status |
OF man trained to use his hands and |
brain in unity has been secure in the |
miA,adO's empire. At least two score |
Of Americans have received imperial |
decorations for promoting technical |
science in Japan.
Nothing but good can come of mu- I
tual exchange of ideas. What the jap |
nneSr have borrowed from us is in the |
limrlight, and we boast of it; what /
hundreds of American inventors and /.
seekers for knowledge have found in I
Japan and taken as loan is cryptic and |
untrumpeted. Yet our debt is none the |
less zeal. 1t is well for the two civili- |
2atiOns TO enrich each other. If, in adj |
miring legend, King Solomon set the |
mechanic on the throne to signify the |
basis of his realms wealth, none the |
less should both republic and empire |
honor tile techniclan who unites power |
of brain and the discipline of education |
10 deXterity Of manipulation. Honor |
80 the technical workers of Japan and |
America