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with the development of benevolent work for the maintenance of ex-convicts or discharged prisoners of good conduct, but we regret to state that the work of such a social nature as the support of discharged prisoners is still in a state of infancy amidst the rapid progress of affairs in Japan since the Restoration. According to the report of November, 1900, there are at present in our country thirty-two societies for aiding such persons, and eight of them have been incorporated as legal bodies. These societies claim to have looked after 3,358 discharged prisoners up to the present time, but owing to the short time they have been in existence their methods of business are still imperfect, and their efforts have failed of any very great success. Be that as it may, however, they are introducing many improvements into their plans, and the number of such societies is increasing yearly, which augurs well for the future, and it is probable that ere long the social condition of Japan will have greatly improved by reason of the further progress of civilization and the gradual development of philanthropic ideals.