| Show K M framk MM I 1 QUEER QUIRKS QUIRK I 1 1 IN HUMAN t X I 1 t j DESTINY 1 I 1 t T t 4 X j by HARRY R CALKINS M MM service how the west touched japan first contact between the people THE of japan and modem europe occurred in 1542 when a portuguese ship was blown upon one of 0 the smaller islands of the japanese group for many centuries ceni urles the Is island land empire had complete isolation evolving its own civilization the portuguese adventurers expected nothing less than instant death at the hands of these dwarf chinese to their surprise uey they were welcomed closely questioned about europe by inquisitive hosts and royally entertained this adventure was followed by catholic missionary expeditions thir ty two years later japs had become christians in however the government decided that for all their marvelous firearms the people of europe had little of value for japan missionaries were ordered away and of their converts were killed in 1501 1391 contact with the western world was almost completely severed it was left tor for an american three centuries later to resume tile the intercourse begun by the portuguese commodore perry with four warships sailed into bay in july bringing sewing machines and frown ing cannon the yankees desirable merchandise enabled the signing of it commercial treaty which was the forerunner of treaties with european powers popular feeling was stirred against tills this welcome of foreigners and the shogun was bitterly attacked by the feudal nobles the tha illk makados ados of japan since 1330 1336 had been merely nominal rulers their chief functions being religious the mikado was now backed against tile the shogun a sort of all powerful powers of prime prima minister to expel foreigners ten years after perrys visit however a squadron of british french dutch and american ships bomba bombarded d ed jap ports after the had fired on foreign vessels the efficacy ot of european gunnery caused a new change of heart in the mi party japan again became a pupil of t the he west and just a halt half century after perrys visit slie she became embroiled with russia giant of european nations and won a war with modern weapons |
