274 IVORY AND THE ELEPHANT 



Besides rules and regulations, every artist adds his own ideas 

 to these, and with skill and individuality peculiarly his 

 own, helps on a progress which reveals to us a great field 

 for artistic exploitation, considering the masterpieces that 

 have lately been evolved. 



*'Our works in ivory carving show wonderful delicacy and 

 artistic finish and the vital spark, so to speak, of talent and 

 accomplishment, and are greatly admired not only at home 

 but abroad. 



"But the education in the art consists of the teacher's 

 verbal instructions, directions, etc., and the pupil's willing 

 hands; there never has been nor can be any mere text-books. 



"It is a record of the secrets learned by his own individual 

 experience that Mr. Soma Kuninosuke, member of the 

 Tokio Society of Carving, has recorded in the book which he 

 has named 'The Methods of Ivory Carving.' He is ambi- 

 tious to raise the standard of ivory carving and add somewhat 

 to the nation's fame and glory. With these few words 

 I recommend this book to the public, for I am very much 

 pleased to say that it will give great benefit to future stu- 

 dents." 



The fourth introduction is furnished by Doctor Kawata, 

 one of the foremost students of the Chinese classics and Lec- 

 turer-in-Ordinary to His Majesty the Mikado. He gives 

 some interesting information as to the use of ivory in an- 

 cient China. Of this and other matters regarding ivory 

 carving, he says : 



"Looking through the ancient Chinese books we find 

 mention of quite a number of vessels and ornaments cut 

 from ivory; for instance, ivory chopsticks are noted in the 

 great history called 'Shiki,' dynastic and biographical 

 records reaching back as far as the beginning of the Han 

 [B. C. 206, A. D. 220] dynasty. 



"When you examine our old records you will find that aU 



