330 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
after European and American chemists had sought it for decades in vain. Messrs. Hirose and Ikeno are equally distinguished in botany.
For the foundations of logic and philosophy the civilized world is indebted to the Greeks, precisely as it is for mathe- matics and science. It now seems that to use Goethe's phrasing pretty nearly all that is reasonable in these disciplines has already been thought; and certainly Japanese have no more need to show originality in these subjects than Americans have. As to general philosophic ability and interest, Japanese students have betrayed no deficiency to their instructors whether at home or abroad. Those who suppose they have gained benefit from the peculiar metaphysics of Christian Science will be interested to learn that it was closely matched in the early nineteenth century by Kurozumi Sakyo, who at thirty-five years of age, while rapt in his devotions to the rising sun, was so penetrated by the yoki, or positive and cheerful spirit, that "his heart suddenly became pure, and he laid hold upon that life which vivifies the universe." The yoki had previously saved him from mortal sickness, and now it enabled him to cure others of various diseases a practice which has been continued to this present by his followers, who constitute a considerable sect in Japan.
Though the Japanese have proved, not simply position, but pre-eminence on the modern plane of culture in the spheres of politics and warfare, they had learned the principle of these activities from the West. But in the case of art no such discount can be made ; for the Japanese art, both fine and decorative, that has won recognition the wide world around, is an exclusively Mongolian product. This recognition has been tendered, not only by confessed admiration, but by that imitation which makes the sincerest praise. We have the authority of Richard Muther for the fact that French impressionism was inaugurated by enthusiasm for the artistic marvels that Japan exported soon after its opening to foreign intercourse. Enthusiasm for the Japanese swept over the studios of Paris like a storm; and in a short time great collections were made by such masters as Manet, Tissot, Whistler, Degas, and Monet. Finally, the Paris Inter-
