Volume II Part 13 (1/2)

[Illustration: [japanese]]

I have reatest plague I was co of,--but the _fu-mushi+_ There is yet another small one, I have not found out the name of They make a whole roo _fu-uishi+ng thereen and the black By the way, I will put a _fu- on the table so that I think itthe rest to eards to you, and pray you to take good care of your health

With every best wish, believe me ever,

Most faithfully, LAFCADIO HEARN

TO SENTARO NIshi+DA

kumAMOTO, 1893

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DEAR NIshi+DA,--It gave et your last kind letter There wasconsequent upon the stagnation of three hundred years As to the consequence, however, only two theories are possible

The instability ration to be perration?

That is what nobody can say There is this, however Usually alike this line,--the undulations signifying waves of reaction This movement is doard, and ends in ruin However, so far, the undulations in japan have been, I think, of a very different character,--so like this:--which would her plane than before

The doubt is whether aon,--whose undulations are too large to be seen in a space of thirty years

[Illustration]

You have noticed that under all the surface waves of a sea, far vaster waves _ voyages

Mr Senke has sent racious letter anybody ever received in this whole world, and how to answer it at all, I don't know He has also promised to send some souvenir; I am not quite sure what it is: I must _try_ to write him a nice letter when it corace for which there is no equivalent in Western speech at all; and whatever I try to do, it ar and common beside the splendid courtesy of Mr Senke's style

LAFCADIO HEARN

TO OCHIAI

kulad indeed to get your letter It caone upon an excursion to Oita, so that I did not receive it until to-day (the 11th), when I went to the school to see if there were any letters for me

Don't think any more about any et them quickly: only think about what makes you happy But as for Christianity, of course that is a matter for your own conscience; and I would not advise you at all unless you are in doubt I can only tell you this,--that there are a great ion--a very great her Christianity” is a pure code of ethics; and that code of ethics recognizes that in all civilized religions,--whether of japan, India, China, Persia, or Arabia,--there is _soree in the deepest teaching about duty and conduct to one's fellow ood s which even very good men cannot approve: that is not the fault of the true part of religion, but only the fault of social conditions--that is, the state of society No state of society is yet perfect; and there can be no perfect religious systeood is, nevertheless, taught by all civilized religions Nearly everything which is eternally true is taught by one as well as by the other; and therefore a society cannot throay its religion on account of soion represents the experience of a nation with right and wrong--its knowledge of morality But as society is constructed quite differently in different countries, the religion of one country may not be suited to another That is why the introduction of a foreign religion s which are right in one country ht in China or in japan to leave one's parents, and to neglect theland and Ao away from their parents, and do not think it a duty to support them;--and there is no family relation in those countries such as there is in the Orient And therefore ion are not suited to the kinder and ions teach loyalty, and so, and to remain independent, it is very necessary that her people should reion teaches loyalty;--therefore it is still very useful to her And that is why there is anger shown against soion They are not blamas, but only for what seems to be not loyal

Perhaps it is better that you should not think a great deal about religious questions until you becoh to study scientific philosophy--because these questions ought to be studied in relation to society, in relation to history, in relation to law, in relation to national character, and in relation to science Therefore they are very difficult But if you should like to read the highest thoughts of Western people about _ious ideas, I can send you soion agrees with the highest science What I ion is the belief in eternal laws of right conduct However, as I said, to think about these questions at all requires great study and eneral way is this,--Do not believe a new thing told you because it is told you; but think for yourself, and follow your own heart when you are in doubt But reht you have been valuable to society--and have been useful for thousands of years--so that we cannot despise them

I send you a book of old Greek stories to read Perhaps it will interest you You will see from the stories how different the old Greek life was fros You must tell me, too, what books you like to read--novels, history, etc; perhaps I shall be able to send you soed;--think only how to make yourself a noble and perfect enerally been those who ot into plenty of trouble when they were boys

And never, _never_ be afraid--except of your own heart