Japan and the Japanese. 
He discovered that people exercised great reserve in relation 
to religious matters, until they found him to be a Protestant, 
when all reserve vanished, and " a religious conversation 
was prosecuted without hesitation." 
But still, the attitude of the governing power was one of 
unmitigated hostility to Christianity. Every Japanese man 
and woman was compelled to sign a paper once a year, de- 
claring that he or she was not a Christian, and specifying 
the particular form of Buddhism adhered to, while rewards 
were offered to all who gave information of any departure 
from the ancient superstitions. Yet, the spirit of persecution 
could not crush out the influence of Christianity which had 
been spreading silently but powerfully, by means of mission- 
aries, artisans, and professors in colleges. These Christians 
were mostly Americans, and while faithful to the terms of 
their contracts with the Japanese Government, in so far as 
they related to their secular employments, they were also 
faithful to their allegiance to the God of heaven. 
Mr. Clarke, an American gentleman, was engaged to 
teach science at a college in the city of Shidzuoka. Upon 
his arrival, a written paper, engaging that he should keep 
silence on the subject of Christianity for a period of three 
years, was placed before him for his signature. As might 
be supposed, this occurrence was a very perplexing one for 
Mr. Clarke ; his outfit, training, and passage to Japan had 
exhausted all his stock of ready cash, and he could ill 
afford to lose his appointment. On the other hand, he 
could not dare to violate his conscience, and straightway 
told the interpreter so. You had better sign," rejoined 
the interpreter ; depend on it the Government won't give 
in." Mr. Clarke considered for another moment ; then he 
said, " Tell the Government I can't sign. I could not live 
three years in a pagan country, and keep silence on the 
