istry, electricity and magnetism, engineering and mechanics, manufactures and industrial arts, metallurgy and mining, together with dictionaries and encyclopædias, enjoy the largest demand. In chemistry, Remsen is one of the popular authors; in metallurgy, Phillips's work heads the list; in electricity and magnetism, Thomson's works find the largest number of purchasers; and there is an active demand for Taggart's "Cotton Spinning." The favorite dictionary is "Nuttall's Standard Dictionary," of which the firm above named has already sold between 200,000 and 300,000 copies! Next comes "Webster's Condensed Dictionary," and even "Webster's Unabridged" sells at the rate of from 50 to 60 copies per month. The "Students' Standard Dictionary also sells well.

Works on scientific subjects, especially new publications, are in great demand, and show the eagerness of Japanese students to become acquainted with the results of the latest investigations. In astronomy, Newcomb and Holden's popular treatise comes first. In pedagogics, Herbart is the most popular author at present. In history, Fisher's "Universal History heads the list; in general, works on modern history are in greater demand than those of earlier periods. The greater demand for language books, among which the Otto series stands first, may be due to the near approach of the date of mixed residence. Mathematical books are only in fair request.

In medicine, German books have practically driven

from the field works in other languages. In politics and diplomacy, however, French works are preferred; Walker's "Political Economy," Jevons's "Money, and Bastiat's "Science of Finance" have a large sale. In law, German works are beginning to predominate. Taine's "English Literature" heads the list in works of that class, and is used as a text-book or work of reference in several higher institutions of learning. Of books on Japan, Griffis's "Mikado's Empire" maintains its ground as the favorite. Works on antiquities and ethnology, elocution and oratory, theology and religion, are said to be practically devoid of demand; but philosophical works find good sale, with Herbert Spencer in the van.

Fifty years ago a foreign book had to be smuggled into Japan and studied secretly; and many an earnest scholar paid with his life the penalty for desiring a broad education through books. Fifty years ago, Dutch books were about the only ones, except Chinese, that got into the empire even by smuggling. Now information is eagerly sought from all quarters of the globe; and books in many languages are readable by Japanese.1

It is generally supposed that languages, like poets, are "born, not made," and that the changes in a language come, not artificially, but naturally. Interesting, therefore, is the spectacle of an attempt to effect a tremendous reform in a language, many centuries old, by legislative enactment. The nation

1 Reprinted, by permission, from “The Dial,” Chicago.

which is making this apparently foolish and useless attempt is Japan, which has already often startled the world by its marvellous reforms. And if its wonderful success in legislative reforms in other lines are any criterion in this case, it will succeed in effecting much-needed reform in its language. At the sixteenth session of the Imperial Diet, a sum of money was appropriated for a "linguistic commission." This was appointed in the spring of this year, has held several meetings, and has already arrived at some decisions. It has been decided, for instance, that "a phonographic script" is to be employed; but the much discussed question, whether it shall be the common Japanese kana (syllabic characters) or Roman letters, is still on the docket. It is also proposed to reduce the number of Chinese ideographs in common use. Moreover, the differences between the written and the spoken language are to be abolished; and the formal epistolary style is to be reformed. It has also been decided that the whole system of Japanese etymology must be "carefully revised." Even the "problem of local dialects" is to be attacked, and "a standard dialect fixed." It is noticeable that the commission is not afflicted with trepidity, but is proceeding with the utmost courage to attack the most difficult problems. It is composed of some of the most practical as well as the most scholarly men of the empire, and its work will be watched with the deepest interest, both at home and abroad. And the great changes already effected in the Japanese language since the

country was opened are some warrant for believing that this commission will achieve a measure of success.1

And yet we understand that legislative enactment alone cannot make these reforms perfectly effective; but we are gratified that intelligent public opinion will support these reforms, not only theoretically, but also practically. For the full fruition of such reforms must be attained through the schools and the public press; and the latter has already begun to work along these very lines. It is, indeed, well for Japan that her leaders realize the necessity of breaking loose from her thraldom to Chinese letters, literature, thought, and ideals.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Rein's "Japan"; "Advance Japan" (Morris), chap. xi. ; Knapp's "Feudal and Modern Japan," vol. ii. chaps. i.-iii.; and "Japan in History, Folk-lore and Art" (Griffis), pp. 76-91, 104-107. For special study of the language, Imbrie's "EnglishJapanese Etymology," Chamberlain's "Hand-book of Colloquial Japanese" and " Moji no Shirube "2; Aston's "Grammar of the Japanese Written Language "s; and Brinkley's Dictionary. On the literature, Aston's "History of Japanese Literature," entire; see also Chamberlain's "Japanese Epigrams" in Transactions Asiatic Society of Japan, vol. xxx. part ii.

1 Reprinted, by permission, from "The Dial," Chicago.

2 Or "Practical Introduction to the Study of Japanese Writing." 3 Noss's Lange's "Text-book of Colloquial Japanese" (1903) is very valuable.

CHAPTER XV

EDUCATION

OUTLINE OF TOPICS: Old-style education; study of Dutch; modern education; branches of curricula; three kinds of schools; school age; the Imperial Rescript; kindergartens; elementary schools; middle schools; higher schools; universities; normal schools; agricultural schools; technical schools; commercial schools; foreign language schools; art and music; eleemosynary institutions; female education; professional schools; private schools; mission schools; foreign instructors and study abroad; teachers' associations; libraries; scientific study; defects of Japanese education. - Bibliography.

T

HE old-style education was at first Buddhist,

afterwards Confucian, in method and matter. It comprised chiefly instruction in the Japanese and the Chinese languages, literature, and history, and was mostly confined to the samurai (knights), or military class. Female education consisted mainly of reading and writing Japanese, the elaborate rules of etiquette, and "polite accomplishments" in music and art. All instruction was given pretty much by the Chinese system of lectures; and a "memoriter" method of learning hampered original investigation. Especially in the domain of Japanese history, so called, on which rested the political institutions, skepticism was practically synonymous with treason.