Thisevening，here，asinthousandsofothervillages，themencamehomefromtheirwork，atetheirfood，tooktheirsmoke，enjoyedtheirchildren，carriedthemabout，watchedtheirgames，twistedstrawropes，madestrawsandals，splitbamboo，wovestrawrain-
coats，andspentthetimeuniversallyinthoselittleeconomicalingenuitiesandskilfuladaptationswhichourpeopletheworseforthempractiseperhapslessthananyother。Therewasnoassemblingatthesakeshop。Poorthoughthehomesare，themenenjoythem；thechildrenareanattractionatanyrate，andthebrawlinganddisobediencewhichoftenturnourworking-classhomesintobear-gardensareunknownhere，wheredocilityandobedienceareinculcatedfromthecradleasamatterofcourse。ThesignsofreligionbecomefewerasItravelnorth，anditappearsthatthelittlefaithwhichexistsconsistsmainlyinabeliefincertaincharmsandsuperstitions，whichthepriestsindustriouslyfoster。
Alowvoiceisnotregardedas“amostexcellentthing，“inmanatleast，amongthelowerclassesinJapan。Thepeoplespeakatthetopoftheirvoices，and，thoughmostwordsandsyllablesendinvowels，thegeneraleffectofaconversationislikethediscordantgabbleofafarm-yard。Thenextroomtomineisfullofstormboundtravellers，andtheyandthehouse-masterkeptupwhatIthoughtwasamostimportantargumentforfourhoursatthetopoftheirvoices。Isupposeditmustbeonthenewandimportantordinancegrantinglocalelectiveassemblies，ofwhichIheardatOdate，butoninquiryfoundthatitwaspossibletospendfourmortalhoursindiscussingwhethertheday’sjourneyfromOdatetoNoshirocouldbemadebestbyroadorriver。
Japanesewomenhavetheirowngatherings，wheregossipandchit-
chat，markedbyatrulyOrientalindecorumofspeech，arethestapleoftalk。Ithinkthatinmanythings，speciallyinsomewhichlieonthesurface，theJapanesearegreatlyoursuperiors，butthatinmanyotherstheyareimmeasurablybehindus。Inlivingaltogetheramongthiscourteous，industrious，andcivilisedpeople，onecomestoforgetthatoneisdoingthemagrossinjusticeincomparingtheirmannersandwayswiththoseofapeoplemouldedbymanycenturiesofChristianity。WouldtoGodthatweweresoChristianisedthatthecomparisonmightalwaysbefavourabletous，whichitisnot！