ABSTRACT
OUR life on the west coast, especially when we were among the mountains with the Noto folk (most of whom had never seen a foreigner), helped us to understand what Japan had been, and to appreciate the gigantic work she has accomplished in recent years. The difference between the Japan of to-day and that of two-score years ago astounds one. She has done in forty years much that other nations have been four hundred in accomplishing. Her system for this accomplishment was marvellous. She had, for instance, the greatest kindergarten that ever was, greater than ever will be again probably. It was a kindergarten that included a whole nation both young folk and old, but chiefly it was for those who had attained their growth.
