in aye = 
91 
powerful nation in existence. They had no desire to be better 
than they were, and resisted all improvements. When a railway 
had been made they broke it up and threw the rails into the 
river. In every shop there was a board with some beads on a 
string, and when purchases were made the shop-keeper summed 
up the amount to be paid on the board. 
At Nagasaki they found the streets wide, substantial and 
European in character, the women were free to go about as 
they pleased, and there were general signs of a well governed 
country. English seemed to be spoken everywhere. In 
travelling in the East they are very much puzzled with the 
dollar, which varied so much, but in Japan it is worth two 
shillings. It cost millions to make the change, but they had 
now an admirable system of currency all over Japan. At Kobe, 
an old Japanese town, telephones were introduced in 1890, and 
there were ‘‘ Call’ offices all over the city. Since 1885, the 
streets and houses had been lighted with electricity, and their 
hotel was a most comfortable one, fitted with conveniences equal 
to those in London. English words were used everywhere, and 
it made one feel proud to note how the English tongue eclipsed all 
others. It was sometimes amusing to see how the King’s English 
was murdered, such as “‘ beefs and muttons,’’ and ‘“‘ shoes make 
here.”’ 
Japan was a wonder to the world—within forty-eight years 
she had transformed her customs, habits, laws, and style of 
government, and had made more progress than other nations in 
hundreds of years. Hngland had been copied as to her navy, 
and Germany as to her army. Japan still pressed to the front 
with unabated energy, and was destined to be the leading nation 
of the East. As education spreads, the Japanese begin to see the 
folly of falling down to gods of wood and stone, so that half the 
people had left the faith of their forefathers and had no creed at 
all. There never was a better scope for missionary effort than 
now in Japan. The Japanese had investigated the various 
religions of the world and discovered their weak points. 
Having described visits to the Gymnastic Clubs and to the 
Temples, which were disappearing gradually, the Lecturer gave 
an account of the interesting features of Tokio, Nikko, Yokohama 
and many other places which he visited. 
During the tour his son had taken a large number of photo- 
graphs of temples, gods, landscapes, modes of travelling, &c., all 
of which were shown on the screen, and gave an excellent idea 
of the country, and the customs and habits of the people. 
At the close appreciative remarks were made by the President, 
and in replying to a hearty vote of thanks, the Lecturer observed 
that during the whole of the time they were at sea, they had 
never had an hour’s illness, nor ever missed a meal. 
