MODERN MONGOLS. 619 



burst of intellectual vigor that has lifted Japan to the front rank of 

 civilized nations. It is merely a revival, analogous to the dambreak 

 of pent-up energies that followed the collapse of mediaeval despotism. 

 Instead of having to work out their salvation by tentative efforts, the 

 Japanese, it is true, had the advantage of ready-made patterns, but 

 that difference has perhaps been more than offset by achievements af- 

 fecting the reforms of four centuries in as many decades, and by modi- 

 fications which, in more than one instance, have improved upon Cau- 

 casian models. 



"The organization of the Japanese transport system," says a press 

 dispatch from Taku, "was a revelation to western staff officers; bodies of 

 troops, with their equipments of stores and camping outfit, were landed 

 without a hitch, in quick succession, and moved to the front without a 

 moment's loss of time. No delay, no confusion, no blockades of wharf- 

 boats and baggage carts; everything worked in smooth grooves and in 

 evident conformity with a prearranged and oft-rehearsed plan." 



And in 1897, after the affront of the Eussian intervention, the vic- 

 torious islanders, compelled to forfeit half the rewards of their valor, 

 proceeded to make the very best of the other half, and their provoked 

 diplomats managed to preserve their dignity, as well as their complete 

 presence of mind. The Japanese police enforces law and order without 

 waging Blue-Law wars against harmless amusements; there are no as- 

 sociations for the prosecution of bathing youngsters, no anti-concert 

 crusades, no suppression of outdoor sports on the day when ninety-nine 

 of a hundred wage-earners find their only chance for leisure. 



The 'Yankees of the Orient' have a code of honor without duellos, 

 trade syndicates without 'trusts', giant cities and ghetto suburbs without 

 anarchists. Their labor riots are settled by a dispassionate court of 

 appeal. Their schools, Professor Arnold informs us, are hampered by 

 'fads' and experiment committees, but not by boards of bigot trustees. 

 In spite of Buddhist conventicles, the emergence of the educated classes 

 from the shadows of religious feudalism is a complete emancipation. 

 The Japanese 'Council of Finance' has adopted American custom-house 

 methods and Belgian systems of graded taxation. There is, indeed, a 

 good deal of eclecticism in the supposed surrender of indigenous insti- 

 tutions; foreign methods have been adopted only on the evidence of 

 their efficiency, and always with a view to making them subservient 

 to national purposes. The key to the distinctive characteristics of 

 the North Mongols can be found in Sir Edwin Eandall's definition of 

 Terseverance combined with shiftiness.' The Asiatic Yankees can 

 turn, dodge and deviate while keeping a pre-determined aim steadily in 

 view, and it is by no means improbable that Mongol influences have 

 impressed similar peculiarities on the character of the northeastern 

 Slavs. Muscovy was a Tartar Khanate for a number of centuries, and 



