EEVIEWS OF RECENT BOOKS 191 



will give an insight into Chinese thought. They will find that the 

 work of translation is difficult, if not often impossible. It is therefore 

 the easiest thing in the world to show the translator's shortcomings 

 and failures : and if one or two things are mentioned that seem hostile, 

 it is not so in fact but rather offered in the spirit of sympathy with the 

 translator's difficulties. For instance take tg & in the second line of the 

 first poem, which Mr. Fletcher translates "sit apart." Whilst in a way 

 that is quite true yet really the meaning, the force is lost. Does not 

 Shen tso rather suggest Browning's description of David groping in the 

 dark to find Saul in the tent? That is to say, the lady sits deep- 

 within : "Sits apart" suggests the presence of others. But the very idea 

 is that she is solitary. Again "Wet traces of tears, can be seen as they 

 curl." The original is much stronger "The cheeks wet with the traces 

 of scalding tears," — and Chu lien doesn't necessarily mean a "curtain of 

 pearl" : but is the common name of a screen. Now this much is got 

 from "Grief" a four line poem on page 1. 



We do not propose to say any more in the way of criticism. Mr. 

 Fletcher is an industrious student of Chinese. His notes are often 

 useful, and the presentation of both the Chinese and English texts 

 will offer the student a good opportunity of comparing the ideas of 

 the one and the other. Those' who are not particularly interested in 

 the Chinese will find in these translations much of the beauty of the 

 Chinese. 



Modern Japan — Social, Industrial, Political. By Amos S. and S. W. 



Hershey. (The Bobbs-Merrill Co., Indianapolis.) 

 This book is packed with useful information, set forth in a clear and 

 attractive manner, and it is decidedly a book for the times. Much of 

 its contents will be already familiar to residents of the Far East, but 

 there is also a great deal which will be new, and very much which is of 

 vital importance to those who desire to form a correct estimate of 

 modern Japan, and to understand the mutual relations of the countries 

 touching the Pacific ocean. 



The Japanese themselves will be quick to appreciate and profit by a 

 work written with such evident friendliness, and yet with a fairness 

 which does not hesitate to point out some weaknesses. When the range 

 of subjects dealt with is so extensive, there would be little satisfaction 

 in quoting scrappy extracts ; the book should be read in its entirety. 

 The chapter on "Japanese aims and policy in China" is one of special 

 interest to residents in China, and we heartily commend it to all who 

 wish to understand the points at issue between the two nations. Refer- 

 ring to Japan's early promises, and her subsequent action re Kiao Chou, 

 the authors say that it is to them "a very painful duty to have to 



