Now that the Japanese have been so largely relieved from the incubus of the older social order, the question rises whether they are showing powers of originality.  The answer is not doubtful, for they have already made several important discoveries and inventions.  The Murata rifle, with which the army is equipped, is the invention of a Japanese.  In 1897 Colonel Arisaka invented several improvements in this same rifle, increasing the velocity and accuracy, and lessening the weight.  Still more recently he has invented a rapid-fire field-piece to superintend whose manufacture he has been sent to Europe.  Mr. Shimose has invented a smokeless powder, which the government is manufacturing for its own use.  Not infrequently there appear in the papers notices of new inventions.  I have recently noted the invention of important improvements in the hand loom universally used in Japan, also a “smoke-consumer” which not only abolishes the smoke, but reduces the amount of coal used and consequently the expense.  These are but a few of the ever-increasing number of Japanese inventions.

In the, field of original scientific research is the famous bacteriologist, Dr. Kitazato.  Less widely known perhaps, but none the less truly original explorers in the field of science, are Messrs. Hirase and Ikeno, whose discoveries of spermatozoids in Ginko and Cycas have no little value for botanists, especially in the development of the theory of certain forms of fertilization.  These instances show that the faculty of original thought is not entirely lacking among the Japanese.  Under favorable conditions, such as now prevail, there is good reason for holding that the Japanese will take their place among the peoples of the world, not only as skillful imitators and adapters, but also as original contributors to the progress of civilization and of science.

Originality may be shown in imitation as well as in production, and this type of originality the Japanese have displayed in a marked way.  They have copied the institutions of no single country.  It might even be difficult to say which Western land has had the greatest influence in molding the new social order of Japan.  In view of the fact that it is the English language which has been most in favor during the past thirty years, it might be assumed that England and America are the favored models.  But no such hasty conclusion can be drawn.  The Japanese have certainly taken ideas and teachers from many different sources; and they have changed them frequently, but not thoughtlessly.  A writer in The Far East brings this points out clearly: 

“While Japan remained secluded from other countries, she had no necessity for and scarcely any war vessels, but after the country was opened to the free intercourse of foreign powers—­immediately she felt the urgent necessity of naval defense and employed a Dutch officer to construct her navy.  In 1871 the Japanese government employed a number of English officers, and almost