SUICIDE-EASTERN AND WESTERN VIEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1416, 17 April 1912, Page 5

SUICIDE-EASTERN AND WESTERN VIEWS.

Sir,—The difference between Western and Eastern modes of thought, is strikingly illustrated in their respective attitude's towards suicide. As Chamberlain points out: "The courage to take life, l>e it. one's own or that of others, ranks extraordinarily high in public esteem" amongst the Japanese. It is rather a gruesome subject not well fitted for discussion in your columns, but I am inclined to think that tho private Bill mentioned in your cables this morning will prove to bo a concession to .a deeply-rooted national custom. ■ It is treated of at length in appendix "A" in Jlitford's "Talcs of Old Japan," by Hearn in many of his books, in Chamberlain's "Things Japanese," and by the Baron Suyematsu in his interesting book "The liisen Sun." Thero does not seem to mo the slightest resemblance between the Japanese and the American mental attitude, and of the two I think the Japanese much the more admirable. Visitors to Tokio will remember the tombs of tho Torty-Seven Ronins, those doughty malefactors who obediently suicided in response to official command, and may recall Chamberlain's comment, "The enthusiastic admiration of a whole people during two centuries has been tho reward of their obedience to the ethical code of their time and country."—l am, etc., TIIOS. PRIXGLE. April 8.