Mat 21, 1886.1 



SCIENCE. 



453 



thing seemed ready, especially as the Kana-no- 

 kai (the Kana association) was already in the field, 

 and making the urgency of radical reforms in the 

 mode of writing a familiar idea to everybody. 



The Roman alphabet movement originated prin- 

 cipally within the University of Tokio. The first 

 meeting for the purpose of organizing an associa- 

 tion to carry on the movement was called on Dec. 

 2, 1884, at which seventy persons were present. 

 The work of organization was completed early in 

 the following January. A committee of forty, 

 including several well-known foreign scholars, 

 was then appointed to draw up a scheme of trans- 

 literation (adapting Roman letters to our sound). 

 As Japanese does not contain any very peculiar 

 sound, this task was comparatively easy, although 

 it was not until after some heated discussion that 

 the committee could come to a decision. The 

 committee, wisely it seems to me, seized on what 

 was already in vogue, — for of course Japanese 

 had been written with the Roman alphabet before 

 this, — and fixed it into a convenient and simple 

 scheme. The system adopted is very much like 

 that of Dr. Hepburn, the venerable American mis- 

 sionary who published some years ago a Japanese- 

 English dictionary. With the completion of a 

 transliteration scheme, the Roman alphabet asso- 

 ciation, or Roma-ji-kai, as it called itself, was in 

 fair working-order. Its publications, setting forth 

 its objects or explaining its scheme of translitera- 

 tion, were cast broadside. The association was 

 received with enthusiasm, and was a great success 

 from the first. In June, 1885, — that is, six months 

 after its organization, — its members numbered 

 2,904 persons ; in December of the same year, 

 6,202 persons ; and at the present date of writing, 

 the membership is about 7,000. These belong to 

 all parts of the country, and are from every 

 station in life, from cabinet-ministers to story- 

 tellers. In the first meeting, held in December, 

 1884, there were present only 70 persons. In the 

 general meeting, held in January of the present 

 year, the large Central hall of the Engineering 

 college in Tokio was filled. At least 1,200 persons 

 listened to interesting addresses made on that oc- 

 casion by Count Inouye, the minister of foreign 

 affairs, and by the Hon. F. R. Plunkett, the Eng- 

 lish minister in Japan. The association publishes 

 a monthly magazine, named Romaji Zctsshi, and 

 distributes it gratis among members. It contains 

 essays on all sorts of subjects by well-known 

 writers, besides the transliterations of extracts 

 from popular books. In it the entire practicability 

 of writing Japanese with the Roman alphabet has 

 been demonstrated. The association is also having 

 a Japanese dictionary compiled. 



Some of the newspapers make a practice of 



printing a small part of their issue in Roman 

 letters, and thus aid in familiarizing people with 

 it. In some provinces local societies have been 

 organized to cultivate the use of the Roman 

 alphabet. 



The movement is likely to make its way fastest 

 among scientific publications. Already the Tokio 

 physico-mathematical society publishes its pro- 

 ceedings in the Roman letters. 



Stupendous as is the task which the Roman 

 alphabet association has before itself, its friends 

 are sanguine that it will accomplish its purpose. 

 The prospects are very favorable in every respect. 

 For instance : the Department of education some 

 time ago sanctioned the teaching of English in 

 primary schools. The knowledge of English, of 

 course, implies the knowledge of reading and 

 writing Japanese in the Roman alphabet. Let the 

 Roman alphabet be taught in public schools, and 

 in a generation or two we shall have accomplished 

 the desired reform. If the change were toward 

 any thing very difficult or disagreeable, it might 

 be hopeless. As things are, however, the pros- 

 pects are very bright. 



From the first, foreigners have been in favor of 

 the movement, and have furnished some very 

 useful and active members. Altogether several 

 hundred, including diplomatists, editors, mission- 

 aries, teachers, scientific men, are enrolled in its 

 membership list. The association has also received 

 pleasant recognition abroad from newspapers and 

 societies. Conspicuous among this stands the 

 action of the London philological association. At 

 the meeting held Dec. 18, 1885, that learned body 

 passed a resolution of sympathy with the Roman 

 alphabet movement in Japan, moved by Dr. Fur- 

 nisvall, and seconded by Professor Skeet, the 

 president, and Henry Sweet, the philologist. 



The Roman alphabet association has thus ac- 

 complished a great deal in one year of its exist- 

 ence. As in all similar undertakings, it suffers 

 from lack of funds. This alone limits the sphere 

 of its activity and usefulness. K. Mitsukuri. 



Tokio, April 23. 



THE AMERICAN CLIMA TOLOG1CAL ASSO- 

 CIATION. 



The third annual meeting of the American 

 climatological association was held at the College 

 of physicians, Philadelphia, May 10 and 11, Dr. 

 William Pepper presiding. The opening address 

 of the president was devoted to the subject of the 

 distribution of phthisis in Pennsylvania. The 

 president reviewed the results of similar investi- 

 gation by Dr. Bowditch in Massachusetts. Dr. 

 Bowditch had found a remarkable correspondence 



