29 



oclns, as it were, took a more decided turn, when the 

 next class came out ; for with this class, as we saw, 

 the students ceased to be Government cadets. They 

 and the classes following them, instead of being 

 educated at Government expense, only borrowed 

 money to be returned in instalments. They owed 

 to the Administration of the Hokkaido not a moral 

 but only a financial obligation. They needed not to 

 stay in the Hokkaido : they needed not to serve in 

 its government. The whole world was open before 

 them. They could go wherever they desired. The 

 wide range of studies they pursued, if it lacked pro- 

 fundit} r , gave them a broad basis for action. It fur- 

 nished them with clear enough notions of the 'world, 

 science and letters, wherewith they could adapt 

 themselves td all conditions and requirements. 

 Especially useful to them was the knowledge of 

 English, which enabled them to gain access to an 

 inexhaustible store of knowledge. In all depart- 

 ments of activity and in all parts of the Empire, are 

 their names to be met with. . While those who are 

 in Kens are chiefly identified with educational work, 

 such as are in Tokyo betake themselves to official 

 careers, journalism and education. Not a few have 

 made their names in the domain of authorship. A 

 long list of works might be cited covering the field 

 of Agriculture, Physics, Chemistry , Botany , Engineer- 

 ing, History, Zoology, Fishery, Geograph} T , Travels, 

 Economics and Literature. 



If a single town and a single province of knowl- 

 edge is to be pointed out, where the graduates are 

 found in largest number, it is naturally and fitly the 

 town of Sapporo and the province of Industrial Arts. 



