The sun., 1919-09-03
Grotesque Stories Provide
Basis for Misunderstanding
in This Country.
TAKE SNAP JUDGMENT
More Intimate View of Orient.
al Character Calculated to
Dispel Prejudice.
BY WALTER LEON HESS.

ment OF Japanese bank In Yokohama.
Possessed Of imaginative mind and a
facile pen the traveller sent broadcast
not even trust each other they have to
have Chinese cashiers in their own
banks" This Columbus of the Far
East did not analyze-most foreigners
observe without Investigating facts--the
reason for the presence of the Chinese.
After the opening of Japan to COM
merce traffic with China was the FIRST
step in Japan's entrance into interna-
uonal trade. In this the Chinese had
been previously schooled for many years.
They were experts in foreign exchange,
with which the Japanese had no expert
ence they were apt In English and for
egn tongues. The Japanese were quick
10 see the advantage of an interchange
Of ideas with the "seijojin' men from
the West-America, England and Eu-
rope. These foreigners could find them
selves Immediately in touch through the
instrumentality of the Chinese with an
other Oriental nation whose language
they could not speak or read. Further.
Chinese merchants in Japan were plenti-
full at the outset.
China as the nearest neighbor would
OfTeT n very DTODtF IildIhoL iOT JdpdhccC
goods in the same measure that the
japanese could study the wants Of world
trade from their Chinese neighbors. In
catering to this trade Japanese banks of
necessity would employ a Chinese who
in this manner found his way into
small corner of the international bank
ing institutions which Immediately
cropped up in japan.
Even within the past three months
an address has been delivered before an
American bankers association which
pointed to the cashier hoax as serious
fact But the lecturer must confess that
in his Journey he failed to sojourn at
all in Japan except while the steamer
discharged cargo, at longest a period OF
three days, two at Yokohama and one at
Kobe. Or. did he take a steamer that
did not touch Japan at alb just as Japan
has not touched him?
Snap Judgment of Travellers.
From this fallacious. we hope now,
exploded premise have emanated more
kinds OF balderdash about the Japanese
character than any one could chronicle
in a life time. From this too firmly
bedded root, planted world wide where
1t would do the most harm, have sprung
the virile branches of doubt and fear
and mistrust which the unthinking
world assumes in its attitude on most
problems in which japan Is interested.
It is no wonder, therefore, that those
ignorant of the facts should interpret
the post-peace bugbear of Shantung in
this light az ~
We have no purpose to discuss this
burning question. 1t is too heavily in
volved with facts which are not in
possession even of those who presume
to give an ultimate decision upon it
one chiefly qualified to discredit Japan
at whatever cost. whether right or
wrong, in her attitude, to which at this
writing she has as yet given no ex-
preston. We desire merely to put this
adverse and valueless criticism IN its
true light 1t Is pleasure, from our
knowledge of Japan and the Japanese,
as we'll from our intimate acquaintance
with some foreign writers on Far East
ern questions, to relegate this bugbear
to the domain Of the Cashier hoax,
which still remains a disease with writ
ers Of easy conscience and little knowl-
edge or none at all.
Before the war many OF our own
countrymen undertook to criticise Eu-
ropean manners and customs and even
European politics, either from hearsay
information or at least without either
personal, accurate knowledge of, those
manners and customs and the historical
circumstances of national development
that have brought the customs and man.
ners Of any particular European coun-
try into being and developed such as
they are down to the present time.
Testimony of travellers is too often
taken at It's face value. The expert
ences abroad of any chance witness Is
seldom subjected to judicial analysis.
The man in the street has made up
his mind as to a given foreign trait
and then seeks testimony TO pear out
his snap Judgment. II any foreigner
flies in the face OF the customs of
country In which he is a soJourner he
not only misrepresents the best of his
own country among strangers but he
draws his host into treatment Of him
self, even II courteous, at least In such
manner as must be distasteful even
to his own ideals OF hospitality. True
friendship as a result OF such contact
Is OF course impossible.
Light on Japanese Character.
To illustrate: Imagine in peace times
the writer in company with a foreign
friend seated on the verandah of
european Hotel A motorcar with a
huge American flag at each of its four
corners drives into the hotel court and
from 1t four sober civilians are shout
ing at full voice, "Hurrah for the United
states, Gods own country" There must
De some excuse for the blush that fol-
lows the inevitable question: Are all
Americans like thisT' 1t makes a pa
uiotic American feel as II in the house
OF an English host he had deliberately
knocked TO the door the dish of mutton
cehops from the hands of the butler. 1t IL
inevitable that some citizens of any coun-
uy may cause discredit by such behav-
nr' while 1t is obvious to right think
ing people that the faults of a few are
neither possessed by nor should the con-
sequences thereof be visited upon a
whole nation.
II is fortunate that the great ma
!ority OF travellers In foreign lands seek
70 command the respect of their hosts
ana not to outrage their sensibilities. In
mis- respect the Japanese vie with every
other nationality and are perhaps even
more punctilious. Travellers In Japan
VINO 'acquiesce In sitting on floors in
stead OF on chairs" find our hosts charm
ing their manner and manners toward
Us uenghtful, and as a result we be-
eoine friends. They would be positively
unhappy " they thought us IN the slight
esq uncomfortable.
It Is the Japanese unf1lnchlng desire to
e pohte, which Is too often misunder-
stoou as masquerading which gets him
,no difficulties with the average stranger
%ho has not formed the habit of an
SrtyLlng what he does not understand.
tr,shchmen, until lately, used to be con-
siuered insincere because Of their invari-
~ polite manner Let us then accept
ne Japanese at his true and undoubted