6l2 



NATURE 



{Oct. 2%, 1880 



Kenjo), commenced in 1S72, for the cultivation of foreign 

 and Japanese fruits and vegetables ; 2. A shoe-manu- 

 factory (Seikuuajo), begun at the same time, for extending 

 the manufacture of boots and shoes of European style ; 

 3. A weaving-factory (Shokkoba), begun in 1S73, where 

 silks and other fabrics are woven, principally in foreign 

 looms : this branch sent three workmen to Europe to 

 learn the art of foreign weaving ; 4. A physical and 

 chemical branch (Semikiyoku), which has a sub-branch 

 at Miyadju, in Tango, eighty miles distant, and which, 

 with the assistance of two foreign workmen, is promoting 

 and teaching the manufacture of chemicals, soap, effer- 

 vescing and lemon drinks, cloisonne -ware, porcelain, &c. ; 

 adjoining it is the Senkojo, for teaching dyeing on foreign 

 methods; 5. The female industrial school, Jokoba, already 

 mentioned; 6. The Bokujo, ormore properly Bokuchikujo, 

 which is an experimental farm, established in 1S71 with 

 the object of improving the breeding of cattle and of 



teaching agriculture, the foreign cattle and sheep being 

 chiefly purchased in America, and the milk produced 

 jsemg sold in the city ; a branch farm exists at Komo 

 in Tamba, about sixteen miles from Kioto ; 7. A depart- 

 ment (Yosanba) for promoting the multiplication of silk- 

 worms; 8. A pauper industrial department (Jusansho), 

 established in 1S69, with a branch at Dosembo, in the 

 south-eastern part of Kioto County, where agriculture and 

 the manufacture of earthenware are the principal employ- 

 ments of the pauper colony ; 9. A street-sweeping depart- 

 ment (Kuwakaisho), where compost is prepared on the 

 French method ; 10. A paper-manufactory, established 

 in 1S75. There exist also separate branches for making 

 and teaching how to prepare leather, beer, and mineral 

 waters. A museum is in course of formation." 



Of course the educational establishments of the country 

 interested Sir Edward greatly. We have heard much of 

 the admirable university of Tokio and its famous engineer- 



ing school. But all over the country, at least so much of 

 It as Sir Edward Reed visited. Government is evidently 

 doing what it can to give facilities for education of the 

 best kind. Schools of all grades and for all classes and 

 both se.xes are being everywhere established, and some 

 of those Sir Edward visited seemed to be admirably 

 organised, though some of the subjects taught, espe- 

 cially to girls, are amusing. We all know what a hold 

 science has taken upon the Japanese ever since they 

 opened their country to European and American influence. 

 1 hey have been shrewd enough to see that through the 

 encouragement of science lies the surest road to national 

 progress, and the Government has spared no pains- nor 

 expense to place education in science in the first rank ; 

 and this feature is seen throughout all their schools. The 

 present purpose of the Government is evidently to make 

 education universal all over the country, and to bring it up 

 to a standard equal to that of the foremoU countries in 

 Europe. Every soldier Sir Edward Reed noticed in the 



barracks at Osaka had a little library of books all to him- 

 self, and this is a relic of the old days of Japan, when the 

 samin-ai class were at once the soldiers and scholars of 

 the country. Sir Edward is sanguine enough to hope that 

 the time may come in this country when soldiers will 

 occupy a comparatively high position in the social scale, 

 "and when the army will attract to it the surplus members 

 of the civil community of all grades that are respectable 

 and well instructed." Sir Edward was, moreover, struck 

 with the size of the men in various parts of the country, 

 as contrasted with the little fellows that are sent over here 

 to be educated, and with the common idea entertained in 

 Europe of the stature of Japanese. Indeed Sir Edward's 

 testimony on this point is so novel and so different from 

 that which has been generally accepted, that we should 

 like to see some attention given to the subject by those in 

 a position to throw light upon it. Sir Edward met at 

 Kioto Mr. Akamalz, a highly-educated Buddhist priest, 

 who had been to Europe to study and report on the 



