Phenomena which a foreigner may attribute to a lack of emotion of, at least, to its repression, may be due to some very different cause.  Few things, for instance, are more astonishing to the Occidental than the silence on the part of the multitude when the Emperor, whom they all admire and love, appears on the street.  Under circumstances which would call forth the most enthusiastic cheers from Western crowds, a Japanese crowd will maintain absolute silence.  Is this from lack of emotion?  By no means.  Reverence dominates every breast.  They would no more think of making noisy demonstrations of joy in the presence of the Emperor than a congregation of devout Christians would think of doing the same during a religious service.  This idea of reverence for superiors has pervaded the social order—­the intensity of the reverence varying with the rank of the superior.  But a change has already begun.  Silence is no longer enforced; no profound bowings to the ground are now demanded before the nobility; on at least one occasion during the recent China-Japan war the enthusiasm of the populace found audible expression when the Emperor made a public appearance.  Even the stoical appearance of the people is passing away under the influence of the new order of society, with its new, dominant ideas.  Education is bringing the nation into a large and throbbing life.  Naturalness is taking the place of forced repression.  A sense of the essential equality of man is springing up, especially among the young men, and is helping to create a new atmosphere in this land, where, for centuries, one chief effort has been to repress all natural expression of emotion.

While touring in Kyushu several years ago, I had an experience which showed me that the stolidity, or vivacity, of a people is largely dependent on the prevailing social order rather than on inherent nature.  Those who have much to do with the Japanese have noted the extreme quiet and reserve of the women.  It is a trait that has been lauded by both native and foreign writers.  Because of this characteristic it is difficult for a stranger, to carry on conversation with them.  They usually reply in monosyllables and in low tones.  The very expression of their faces indicates a reticence, a calm stolidity, and a lack of response to the stimulus of social intercourse that is striking and oppressive to an Occidental.  I have always found it a matter of no little difficulty to become acquainted with the women, and especially with the young women, in the church with which I have been connected.  With the older women this reticence is not so marked.  Now for my story: