Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 149, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1910 — THE OPTIMISTIC JAPANESE. [ARTICLE]

THE OPTIMISTIC JAPANESE.

Hi«T Know No Dlwonngcmtntp Imlllßi Cheer folly at Trouble. The Japanese are the most optimistic people on the face of the earth. Kick a coolie and he will get up smiling; tax him and he will wonder why he wasn't levied upon long before; give him a disaster %nd he will say It might have been worse. He knows no discouragement. Pew races In history have been so heavily taxed as have the Japanese to overcome the cost of the last war. They look upon their huge debt lightly, and when the government told them they would have to pay it they laughed cheerfully—and went at It. Commercial activities are doubled, even trebled. A smart legislative body put exceedingly heavy taxes on cigars and tobaccos, luxuries all Japanese forego. In doing this the white foreigner was made to help out the struggling masses. Horses are as rare in Japan as buffalo are in this country to-day. One may walk a dozen blocks down the principal street of any Japanese metropolis without seeing a single horse. The owners of what few there are pay dearly for the privilege of keeping them. The friend of man in most other countries, here the horse is judged man’s worst enemy. If the country were overrun with horses thousands of rickshaw coolies would be out of a job, and a condition In which people are out of Jobs is not good for any country; particularly Is It bad for war debts, as It lets them run on indefinitely drawing princely Interest.