To the Editor of the "Nortu-Cumva Dany News"
Si,—Brrron's letter, is both wel⸗ come and refreshing (not to mention sane) appearing as it does in the midst of many wild tales one hears irom visitors recently returned from Japan, Tales of the most appalling treatment; of gratuitous insults, of grudging service (or none at all) and of incidents that I cannot bring myself to repeat, Happily I am in a position to endorse all that Barrow says, for during 8 our recent stay in Japan we received nothing but courtesy and willing assistance at every turn. In public conveyances of every description in which we travelled frequently, we encountered not only common politeness which it is the inborn nature of every Japanese to extend to visitors, but down-right friendliness, In towns and country villages alike we were made to feel welcome and our slightest wish was immediately complied with, Small services were performed for us and proffered gratuities smilingly refused in most cases.
Not only amongst the civilian population were we treated with respect and kindness, but on both the outward and return trips in the N.Y.K. Express we had, as fellow-passengers, scores of Japanese service men of all ranks who, from the highest to the lowest, showed us extreme good-will and were alway: ready to exchange a friendly greeting.
Where, one wonders, lies the reason for this vastly different treatment of visitors to Japan? One is led to the conclusion that it must be that some people go around looking for trouble, convinced that they will find it, and so assuredly they do. Also, there are some people who possess a most unfortunate manner end who, unwittingly, stir up ill-feeling and resentment amongst all with whom they come in contact, and, it is these people, repeating (and, in their indignation, possibly exaggerating) their experiences" who may do incalculable harm.
Until I, personally, am subjected to abuse and insults by the essentially refined Japanese people, I shall find it hard to believe that they are capable of replying to common courtesy and good-will with anything but courtesy and good-will themselves, Shanghai, Nov. 26.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.