“These twenty-nine sermons may indeed be called a contribution to sermonic literature. Here is rare spiritual insight, winning appeal, poetic beauty of expression.” T. G. S.
| + | Bib. World. 29: 76. Ja. ’07. 160w. |
Watson, W. Petrie. Future of Japan; with a survey of present conditions. *$3.50. Dutton.
Mr. Watson “aims to predict the trend of Japan’s development, but he does so by analyzing and reasoning about the Japan of to-day, its tendencies, conditions, ‘atmosphere,’ and aspirations. The book is not so much one which records achievements or glances at historical perspectives as one which takes up basic aspects of character and derives by philosophical induction a knowledge of what is to be expected.” (Outlook.) Mr. Watson’s conclusion is “that Japanese development will not materially influence the civilization of the west; that as a universal fact Japan is almost negligible; that she will try to carry out her destiny without the aid of religion, yet that so far as she will attain success, it will be more and more upon Western lines.” (Ath.)
“Yet, though one may dissent from Mr. Watson’s conclusions (perhaps on account of a bias as purely personal as his own) full justice should be rendered to the absorbing and stimulating qualities of his book. In it the salient characteristics of Japanese life and mentality are admirably brought out.” Osman Edwards.
| + − | Acad. 72: 477. My. 18, ’07. 1540w. |
“We would, however, willingly exchange much of his philosophy for more of his information.”
| + − | Ath. 1907, 2: 38. Jl. 13. 450w. |
“If the author has learned from original sources the actual workings of the Japanese mind, and if he were more familiar with ... the great transforming forces evident in the press, the literature, and the life of the nation, especially since the outbreak of the war with Russia,—his opinions might have been quite different.”