In the 2ist year of Meiji (1887), "The City, Town, and Village Regulations" were issued, and the foundation of local self-government was established. These regulations were in no small degree modelled after those of the Western countries, but at the same time the utmost care was taken to eucoura; publio opicit and to develop good el customs. In fact, the spirit of national unity which had been fostered during these twenty-five centuries since the foundation of the Empire, was the original element out of which the present system of local self-government was developed. Only a short time has elapsed since these regulations were issued and our country now in the midst of improvement in respect, and yet there are not wanting certain exemplary village communities, which may be regarded as Model Villages, worthy of imitation by
villages, we get the following three, and others. Selecting the Dost of tha model now proceed to describe some of their chief features.
I. Minamoto Village, Sanbu County, Chiba Prefecture.
The prosperity of " community owes much, of course, to the efforts of its but unless the people of the community ce-operate for tle same end, its prosperity is not to be expected. Especially where natural resources are wanting, this ce-operation is the more important to secure the w prosperity of the whole The most remarkable in this respect is Minamoto Village, in Sanbu County, in Chiba Prefecture.
This is only a small village of some three hundred houses, but its administration is in perfect order and there are many things noteworthy. For instance, one of the most remarkable things in the village is the way in which the pass-books of the villagers are kept. Almost all the people of the village unite in saving all the money they can and deposit 4 savings a8 Postal Deposits in the village post-office, and the pass-books are kept, not in the homes of the depositors as is the case everywhere else, but in the post-office itself. Moreover, instead of the villagers going to the post-office, the authorities come to gather the deposits. And again when recently the " War Loan Bonds" were issued this little village subscribed for certain amount and that \bove par in every case. Such is the spirit of union in' this little village, Again this spirit is exhibited in the elec-of public men. From the election of the members of the House of Representatives to that of the members of the village-council, all the villagers get together, deliberate over the matter, nominate one well-qualified candidate, and promise to vote for him. Is this not s beantifal spirit of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.