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numerous stone shops where natural stones are sold, but no such place exists in any part of Europe. Of course, there is one drawback to our gardens—i.e., they are more ornamental than useful: this is a drawback which must be modified, and it is already being modified in many cases; but, on the other hand, European gardens seem to lack artistic elements to altogether too great an extent. It is almost incomprehensible to me that in the case of Europeans, who are fond of hanging in their rooms landscape pictures, and who are so fond of travelling in mountainous regions, running after beautiful scenes and views of landscapes of different types, it should never have entered their minds to apply to their gardens the same ideas. In this respect I can venture, without any diffidence, to say that Japan is above any nation in the world, and foreigners would be much benefited if they would begin to appreciate our style of gardening. I am glad to see that there are several Westerners in different countries who have already begun to do so.

The Japanese attainments in literature are in some measure inferior to those in art. In art we can talk with a certain amount of confidence with foreigners, though not always on equal terms, but in literature we do not feel the same confidence when we come to talk with the people of the Western civilized nations. We have, however, a sufficient stock of our literature accumulated through centuries to amply show our national minds and feelings.

An article by the late lamented Sir Edwin Arnold, and published in an issue of the Daily Telegraph a few days after his death, begins thus:

‘The time will come when Japan, safe, famous, and glad with the promise of peaceful years to follow, and to reward this present period of life-and-death conflict, will engage once again the attraction of the Western nations on the side of her artistic and intellectual gifts. Already in this part of the globe persons of culture have become well aware how high and subtle is her artistic genius; and by-and-by it will be discovered that there are real treasures to be found in her literature. Moreover, England, beyond any other European country, is likely to be attracted to this branch, at present naturally neglected, of what may be called the spiritual side of Japanese life.’

I, as a Japanese, cannot pretend to guarantee this saying of Sir Edwin Arnold as being perfectly correct, but, at all events, a great deal seems to be contained in it. We have already seen that our arts were in a state of great advancement in the Nara period; but in literature we have nothing of that