and emotional people, such as the Japanese, various ideals will naturally find extreme expression.  As society grows complex also and its various elements become increasingly differentiated, so will the ideals pass through the same transformations.  A study of ideals, therefore, serves several ends; it reveals the present character of those whose ideals they are; it shows the degree of development of the social organism in which they live; it makes known, likewise, the degree of the differentiation that has taken place between the various elements of the nation.

VIII

LOVE FOR CHILDREN

An aspect of Japanese life widely remarked and praised by foreign writers is the love for children.  Children’s holidays, as the third day of the third moon and the fifth day of the fifth moon, are general celebrations for boys and girls respectively, and are observed with much gayety all over the land.  At these times the universal aim is to please the children; the girls have dolls and the exhibition of ancestral dolls; while the boys have toy paraphernalia of all the ancient and modern forms of warfare, and enormous wind-inflated paper fish, symbols of prosperity and success, fly from tall bamboos in the front yard.  Contrary to the prevailing opinion among foreigners, these festivals have nothing whatever to do with birthday celebrations.  In addition to special festivals, the children figure conspicuously in all holidays and merry-makings.  To the famous flower-festival celebrations, families go in groups and make an all-day picnic of the joyous occasion.

The Japanese fondness for children is seen not only at festival times.  Parents seem always ready to provide their children with toys.  As a consequence toy stores flourish.  There is hardly a street without its store.

A still further reason for the impression that the Japanese are especially fond of their children is the slight amount of punishment and reprimand which they administer.  The children seem to have nearly everything their own way.  Playing on the streets, they are always in evidence and are given the right of way.

That Japanese show much affection for their children is clear.  The question of importance, however, is whether they have it in a marked degree, more, for instance, than Americans?  And if so, is this due to their nature, or may it be attributed to their family life as molded by the social order?  It is my impression that, on the whole, the Japanese do not show more affection for their children than Occidentals, although they may at first sight appear to do so.  Among the laboring classes of the %est, the father, as a rule, is away from home all through the hours of the day, working in shop or factory.  He seldom sees his children except upon the Sabbath.  Of course, the father has then very little to do with their care or education, and little opportunity for the manifestation of affection.  In Japan, however,