JAPANESE AUTHORS, Under the iron rule of the Tokugawa Dynasty, the position of an author was at best " doubtful one. "Apart from the severe censorship so characteristic of that age, literature was not sufficiently patronised to make it " means of livelihood, Even in time of peace, the pursuit of arms was the all absorbing life for all true-hearted Samurai. A fierce spirit of militarism penetrated even into the calm domain of letters, and literature forsaking its noble duty of exalting the moral greatness of man, unblushingly praised war and its red honours, And it is a satisfaction to reflect that the punti 1 not yet introduc ced, so few books or the better partanly came down to us. They consist of well-written histories, among which Nihowaishi, sands foremost, and badly constructed romances to which Hakkenden and a few others form Free from the hurry-scurry of the present pleasant exceptions. Written in an age day, some of them' may be favourably contrasted with the new productions whose recommendation is being up to the time.
With the new government it was fondly expected that a golden time had come for authors, Andtherewereappearancestowarrant this hope. Tt was known that the government was adopting European manners and customs, but where was Europe? and what kind of the government had the people over there?
At this opportune time appeared 2 work treating on foreign coun-of which immense editions were sold ishing rapidity. Another work kind followed, then another and so on with success. They were written by Mr. Fukusawa, the first author of New Japan. The style of his writing reminds us of Benjamin Franklin being simple, accurate and inimitable.
Soon afterwards younger authors began to make their appearance. Their works were translations of the English political books more or less modified to meet the taste of the public who at this time accepted all new opinion with childish credulity. These authors or translators had an easy task before them, but their first success ruined them at last, Authorship became a rage, hundreds of new men joined its ranks, but being enraged at the indifference with which their works were treated began abusing and cutting each other. To these worthy gentlemen, we ate indebted for what are called the sensational and slashing styles of Japan and above all the present press-law which makes the newspapers so cautious and uninteresting and which would never have been so severe but for their brutal criticism upon the government and everything else. And as if to crown all these evils, a bad taste has lately crept upon the public,—a taste for cheap books. Thus was brought about the calamity of authors, now prevailing in Japan.
The authors of the present day are composed of the best element of Japan, but who regarding themselves as the real aristocrats of belles-lettres think it below their dignity to descend to the level of humanity. Many of them held government offices, but had given them up preferring the uncertain chances of the literary profession to serving a government with which they could not agree. The following table shows what their chanees are Selling price of 1,000 copies at 50 cents a copy....$500, $200
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.