Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-22

q one letter, once more, and tell thus
the story of what will really be our
last days in the capital.
1 NV first "cut" was merely the sub
sfitution Of one item of inspection Tor
another. On the way across from San
Francisco I made the acquaintance OF
IN interesting group of passengers
Mrs. Charles S. Reifsnider, her mother,
Mrs. Gordon, and her young son. They
we're going back to japan after an ex-
tended absence. Mrs. Reifsnider is the
Vife of the suffrag an Bishop OF TOXIC
Of the Episcopal Church and president
If st. Paul's University. Mrs. Gordon
On an educational mission 81 years ago,
and is still residing here.
! Mrs. Reifsnider having given me an
Urgent invitation to so out to see st.
Nauls University. finally managed to
do so, taking advantage Of soft spot
IN the schedule for that purpose. Bishop
Heifsnider came in for me from the
suburban scene OF his educational
labors. He is, by the way. Q native OF
frederick. Md, and has been engaged
il Episcopal Church educational work
for = good many years. He was made
president In 1912 and has seen this in
skttution through It's fourth disaster by
IRE and earthquake. 1t is growing rap
ifily and steadily and has become one
81 the important educational tnstitu-
lions Of Japan.
Damaged by Quake.
when the earthquake of September
4 1923, occurred Bishop Reifsnider and
his family were taking their vacation
a the mountains about 90 miles from
Tokio. Not knowing just what had
happened, but fearing the worst. ne
made his way at once to the capital a
most difdcult and indeed dangerous
task. owing to the disruption OF the
railway lines and the terrible conges-
ton of the remaining facilities due TO
the food Of refugees pouring outward.
He found that the institution had suf-
fered severely, but had been spared de-
Gtruction, and that none OF the person.
mel. thanks to the fact that the vaca-
ton was still running, had been injured.
One of the most singular effects of the
quake was the jumping Of the chapel
walls. a few feet from the ground,
considerable distance OF their footings.
The entire superstructure had, OF course
to be rebuilt. Several other buildings
had TO be completely rased and built
anew.
As result Of generous contributions
from the States and from the sustain
ing members of the institution, the
funds were soon forthcoming. and after
only 0 brief period st. Paul's. founded
first as q small school In 1858 and es-
tablished as university I'm 1907, was
again under way. with larger attend
ance. As result q continued growt e1.
students. Its admissions are about one
third Of the applications. Though sew
ersl hundred candidates pass the ma
triculation examinations annually. only
ttsat relatively small percentage can be
taken owing 10 the limitation Of facili..
ties.
from other sources I havs learned
that the scholastic standard Of Sc.
Pau1's University Is highly regarded.
The institution Is q part OF the govern
Ment supervised system OF higher edu-
cation, conforming TO the oficial regu-
Iattons and receiving, therefore, status
that gives its graduates prestige. met
D number Of the faculty members, all
Japanese. and all exceptionally i.ttrac-
tive men. -,
Communists ut werk.
Bishop Reifsnider, who 1t was evident
holds the highest and most affectionate
esteem of the student body, told me
that there has been practically no radi-
cA1ism among the undergraduates of
the institution. which thus contrasts
somewhat Strtktngly with other large
schools and universities, which are Just
It present suffering rather severely and
increasingly from this condition. In
two Of the largest Of the capitals uni
versities, Waseda and Imperial, students
have quite recently been dismissed for
fomenting trouble, the notation Of
which Is believed to be attributable TO
Communists who are active In propa-
ganda among the younger men m
Japan.
The morning spent at st. Pauls en-
outraged me to believe that educational
Standards are high and rising In Japan
md that splendid work Is being done
" Representatives OF America for the
benefit Of Japan's advancement.
Z This morning I went out 10 the
Women's University. situated in the
same general quarter as St. PaupS.
did this contrary to first intention.
enough the visit was q scheduled fsa-
6ure, because I found at the hotel that
only few of our party had reported
Tor the trip, and joined them to main
tafn our average. was most glad that
I did so when we came to The place
and saw the evidences Of eagerness for
tae American newspaper men" to zee
what Japan Is doing in the way Of
women's education. And truly there is
good reason for the pride Of the faculty
q this institution, al Japanese women