1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 99 



much idle tattling and gossip among the lower classes ; and, 

 while profanity is not indigenous, in periods of anger, con- 

 tempt or derision, such emphatic epithets as, " ruffian," 

 " villain," " fool," " beast," " scoundrel," etc., are not 

 uncommon. 



The ingrained courtesy of speech common to these people 

 leads them often to put a more favoral)le construction upon 

 some of the inelegant expressions too common among a 

 certain type of foreigners than they deserve, or than 

 greater familiarity with the vernacular of foreign sailors 

 and adventurers would justify. An amusing instance is 

 related by Miss Bird. On one occasion she remarked to her 

 interpreter, " What a beautiful day is this." Immediately 

 consulting his note book, "You siiy 'beautiful day.' Is 

 that better English than ' devilish fine day,' which most 

 foreigners say ? " Surely foreign teachers and missionaries 

 are not to be credited with all the evidences of civilization 

 in tlapan. 



One of the most worthy of the foreign employees of the 

 government, a gentleman of French birth but of American 

 citizenship, was the general engineer a^nd superintendent of 

 the mines in Yezo. I knew him as a man of the strictest 

 honor and integrity, and having a keen sense of justice ; such 

 a one as the Japanese themselves would term a square man. 

 Becoming the victim of unfulfilled promises on the part of 

 certain officials, concerning the management of mines dele- 

 gated to him under his contract, he had tendered his resig- 

 nation (much against their wish), to take effect in three 

 months, and was called to Tokio to await the expiration of 

 this period. 



In the meantime, while annoyed by the persistent efforts 

 of the higher officials to bend him to their purposes by the 

 ofier of pecuniary advancement, in substitution for the execu- 

 tive authority of which they had deprived him, a telegram 

 came from the mines saying that they were on fire, and ask- 

 ing what should be done. The officials, seeking safety in 

 the time of danger, dispatched a messenger to my friend's 

 house. The engineer, on hearing the hurried message, 

 ejaculated with undue emphasis of impatience, "Oh, damn 

 it!" turned on his heel, and, ere he could collect himself, 



