ABSTRACT
Now, though you may safely compliment your Japanese friend when he takes you to his house in suburban Azabu of Tokyo on his fine refusal to disturb the sweet simplicity of his Japanese home with the horrible discords of European ' innovations,' your Japanese friend may not respond with the aptest trope, as, ' Yes, we have defended and we will defend our hearths and homes against the Revolution.' Being a gentleman, he will not insult you through the Revolution. Besides, there is no hearth in his house, and there is no Japanese word quite equal to your ' home.' < Yes, we do presume to make a stand upon our unworthy braziers, and by your leave we still contemptibly sit upon the floor '—the heroic trope does not gain upon adaptation to Japanese utensils and habits. There is a clear need of some happier expedient to permit your Japanese friend to say what he might justly say in response to your compliment.
