A BOY OF OLD JAPAN.

Copyright 1901, by LEE & SHEPARD

All rights reserved

A Boy of Old Japan

Norwood Press
Berwick & Smith, Norwood, Mass.,
U. S. A.

TO
MY LITTLE SON
HENRY A. S. VAN BERGEN,
IN RECOLLECTION
OF OUR PLEASANT VISIT
TO CAMBRIDGE

I am under deep obligations to the publishers,for giving me an opportunity to tellthe story of the rejuvenation of Japan.I was a witness, although at that time I did notcomprehend the movement, but I, and thosefew who are still living, do now.

From a federation of mutually autonomousoligarchies, Japan was metamorphosed into anEmpire which holds Russia at bay. From anation occupying 150,000 square miles, it hasexpanded by the addition of Formosa, and itspopulation has grown from thirty millions toforty-five millions. An oriental people adoptedoccidental progress, and within three decades orlittle more than one generation, digested and assimilatedour progress.

I have known, and was personally known tothe men, whose story I have endeavored to tell.They are now honored under the simple nameof Genrô,—statesmen of Revolutionary Times.Of the brilliant array of patriots whose namesappear in these pages, only Ito, Inouye, andOKuma remain!

I have kept the names. Why should I not?Only honor can be bestowed upon such patriotsas they; and the world delights to honor them.Besides, there is a healthy spirit for the youngin a true story of devotion, sacrifice, and self-restraint.How often does a child, when readingan interesting story, ask: “Papa, is thistrue?” In this case the father may conscientiouslyanswer: It is.

All the characters as portrayed in thesepages, were living actors in the great nationaldrama. Of those whose names have never beforeappeared in print, Karassu Maru, the onlyimpulsive noble I have ever known, was thefirst imperial governor of Yedo. He died inAugust, 1872, and I attended his funeral.Honami came to Yedo with the emperor, but hewas soon sent back to Kyoto, where he wasplaced under guardianship.

I have enjoyed the retrospective communicationwith my old friends. If my readers do so,they owe the pleasure to the publishers, whosuggested the composition of the book.

R. van Bergen.

Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 12, 1900.