August 27, 1904.]
under official orders, in the management of the foreign financial operations of the Im- perial Government. In 1887, its capital of three million yen was doubled; and in 1896, after sixteen years of business, another multiplication by two made the capital twelve millions. The story smacks of the well-known horse-shoe-nail calculations; but sober history is incomplete if a subse- quent increase, in 1899, is not recorded. On that occasion, a third issue of 120,000 shares doubled the capital for the third time, making it twenty-four million yen. Half of that last issue has been called up. Of the total 240,000 shares, 60,400 are owned by the Japanese Imperial Household. The Reserve Fund stands at Y. 9,320,000. The architect aud designer of the handsome structure to which we thus call attention was a Japanese, Dr. YORINAKA TSUMAKI, who also undertook the chief contractor- ship. The building quite dominates one end of the Benten-dori, a thoroughfare well known to the curio-hunting tourist. It covers an area of 43,758 square feet, and it is, by a close approximation, about a hun- dred feet high, with four floors. Native woods and native granite and marble were used, and so far as we remember, no ladder was ever planted anywhere upon the build- ing, which was screened with the scaffold- ings and inclined planes so familiar to dwellers in the Orient. From the spacious hall of meetings, through the reading and waiting rooms down to the patent strong vaults and safe deposit chamber, there is much to wonder at and admire, and a startling object lesson for any who have still to realise the difference between the modern Japan and the Japan of only a few decades ago.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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147
pity for those deprived of a worshipping | powers. posterity-a deprivation that the Chinese Russo-Japanese war are absolutely dissimilar Of course, the conditions, in the shudder at-enters into it. It is this that to those postulated. So far, Japan has had has caused us to wonder sometimes at the no ships available to be detached and sent obvious contempt embodied in various so far away from her own waters, or we references in DYEE BALL'S "Things Chinese," | should have heard less of the panic amongst a fault, we may add, that is nowhere to be merchantmen. found in his prototype, BASIL CHAMBER-interferences recorded must go far to Still, the effects of the LAIN'S Things Japanese." Note, as awaken our Home authorities to the possi- an example of what we deprecate, the tone bilities in case of such a war as we have of comments on geomancy, or fung shui." presumed possible. The "dear loaf" would Really, if it could possibly be profitable, in such case be something much more real there would be a strong temptation to argue and significant than a mere election cry, that the estimation of the disappointed, Hence, doubtless, the periodical'advocacies neglected, and angry spirits is not a of national granaries, and national insur- 'farrago of nonsense.' In the evolution ance, subjects at present under consideration of supernatural beliefs, it is one of the first by a Commission. concepts that would naturally occur in the "untutor'd mind" of the savage observer of nature, It is a thought that has never yet been quite banished, even by the orthodox Protestant, whose anthroponiorphism lingers with the Chinese beliefs we are so apt to laugh at.
CRUISERS,
(Daily Press, 25th August.)
The position or treatment of the Suez Canal, in case (reat Britain were at war with a naval Power, has often been a sub. ject of speculation. Some have suggested that we, or rather our population at Home, would be placed in dire straits if the Suez Canal were to be blocked by a European cuemy. The blocking of the canal, as everybody who has ever passed through it must have realized, would not present in- superable difficulties. It would be by no n caus so hazardous or tedious an operation as the Japanese discovered the bottling of Port Arthur to be. Once blocked, there
THE CHINESE RITES FOR THE would he a great augmentation of traffic
DEAD,
|
home to us.
EXAGGERATION.
(Daily Press, 25th August.)
Those who recognise the mental limitations of humanity are not surprised at, nor de- ceived by, the inevitable over-emphasis of persons who are pro-this and anti-that. L'Echo de Chine, the decidedly pro-Russian journal which thinks it sinful for the other
journaux Shanghaienne" to be pro- Japanese, has for some time been carrying its diatribes to absurd lengths. Our aversion to vulgar controversies cannot restrain us from labelling as very silly our Gallic contemporary's recent description of the Japanese action at Chefoo as "ane violation indigne des principes les plus élémentaires de la civilisation et de l'humanité." So far, if we except the recklessness with which "mines " were allowed to bestrew the high seas, and debar the cavalier treat- meat of unarmed Japanese junks and coasters, the Russo-Japanese war has to be described as a war in which those principles have been well observed by both sides. We discount the alleged Russian atrocities in Manchuria, and the Japanese illtreat- ment of Coreans, attributing such nucleus of fact as may underlie these reports to the "black sheep" always to be found in every army. Perhaps we ought to add that the sentiment quoted would be reasonable in the mouth of a Quaker, a Tolstoy, or a Stead; but we would be surprised to hear that the bellicose Echo de Chine claimed to speak from a common platform with those idealists. Rather we would attribute to our excitable contemporary some
such emotion AA the kitten evinces, when it
demonstrates before its feline mother its ability to swear at nothing in particular.
TARIFF COMMISSION'S REPORT.
round the Cape, and the southern route would thus become a happy hunting ground (Daily Press, 24th August.)
for inimical cruisers. The telegram we To-morrow the Chinese fourteen-day rites published yesterday morning, referring to in honour of the otherwise unhonoured dead the presence of a Russian cruiser off south- come to an end. Part of an article in a
east Africa, brings this all the more forcibly contemporary, describing the "festival" as
In a footnote to that message, it appears at Shanghai, where its observance we suggested that the Russians were prey. is more noticeable than in this Colony, ing on vessels that are following the Cape we reprint in another column. In some route to avoid Canal dues. Another obvious succeeding comments, the writer of that and excellent reason for avoiding the Caual article betrays a rather unflattering opinion has been afforded by the presence and be of the sincerity of the bonzes who toster haviour of the Russian Volunteer cruisers the ancient custom, He computes the in the Red Sea, so that we have to-day some annual expenditure of the Shanghai Chinese, illustration of the state of things as they for placating the manes of the departed who would be were the Canal actually obstructed lack posterity, to be over $60,000, and sug-as suggested. Commander W. C. CRUTCH- gests that Buddhist priests, from motives LEY of the Royal Navy Reserve has recently of self interest, "tell their believers and said that there would be other and equally "votaries that these wandering spirits are important difficulties attending the pur- (Daily Press, 26th August.) "capable of doing immense harm to people suit of the Cape route, the question of coal-
The CHAMBERLAIN "Commission" has "who are in health, if not assisted in getting ing facilities being particularly emphasised. already published the results of its inquiry "into Hades, where in proportion to the Cape Town could supply a couple of thou into the Iron and Steel industry; and we weight of sins committed in life a spirit sand tons a day, Saldanha Bay might be have been favoured with an advance copy has to wait for long or for short periods very helpful; but East London, Port of the report. The committee of inquirers "his turn in passing the turnstile, or Elizabeth, Durban, and tierra Leone as admit that until they have investigated all "Whee. of Life, and so transmigrate once coaling places have not been properly en.
the trades they cannot make any final re- more into the life of the Upper World." couraged, and could (at present) render commendations; but on the strength of It does not seem quite fair to libel the Chi-only meagre assistance. On the other hand, what they have been told by expert witnesses nese as peculiarly foolish in such belief. the opinion of another expert, Colonel Sir already examined, they have arrived at cer- The idea that demoniacally-minded spirits H. M. JOZIER, offers an anesthetic for the tain conclusions which are incorporated in may wreak mischief to the living is older fears being felt. His opinion is that no the present bulky book. These are published than China, is cosmopolitan in its habitats, conceivable enemy would find it of service to-day in another column. Notwithstand- and has as much to he said in its favour, to block the Canal, as they would depending the imposing list of witnesses cited, and logically speaking, as some of our own be- upon it, equally with ourselves, as the route liefs, probably shared by the writer quoted, for coal, ammunition, and food. It is a which pertain to the interest better behaved question for naval experts, almost solely, spirits are supposed to take in our mundane and we have seen that doctors may differ. well-being. Indeed, in view of the ancestor If the presence of a few cruisers in the Gulf worship of the Chinese, with its idolatrous of Aden can induce vessels to reduce their reverence for their fore-elders, this custom cargo space in order to bunker for the is lifted on to a higher plane than the mere. voyage round the Cape, it is not easy to ly manichæan instinct of mollifying the realize what things would be like in the event powers of evil. The element of altruism, of of a European war between supreme naval
求
the formidable catalogue of official returns mentioned as having been consulted, we fancy the suggestion will be made that wit- nesses have been called only" for the pro- secution" of particular propaganda. Cer- tain names familiar in the iron and steel world do not appear in the list now pre- seated, a fact that may mean little or much, accor-ling as we sympathise with the aims of the promoters of these investigations,