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haracteristics by which man is parted from the brutes。 In reasoning power； in artistic sensibility； in delicacy of perception； it is the same story。 If this were simply the impression at first sight； no deductions could be drawn from it； for an impression of racial similarity invariably marks the first stage of acquaintance of one people by another。 Even in outward appearance it is so。 We find it at first impossible to tell the Japanese apart； they find it equally impossible to differentiate us。 But the present resemblance is not a matter of first impressions。 The fact is patent historically。 The men whom Japan reveres are much less removed from the common herd than is the case in any Western land。 And this has been so from the earliest times。 Shakspeares and Newtons have never existed there。 Japanese humanity is not the soil to grow them。 The comparative absence of genius is fully paralleled by the want of its opposite。 Not only are the paths of preeminence untrodden； the purlieus of brutish ignorance are likewise unfrequented。 On neither side of the great medial line is the departure of individuals far or frequent。 All men there are more alike；so much alike； indeed； that the place would seem to offer a sort of forlorn hope for disappointed socialists。 Although religious missionaries have not met with any marked success among the natives； this less deserving class of enthusiastic disseminators of an all…possessing belief might do well to attempt it。 They would find there a very virgin field of a most promisingly dead level。 It is true； human opposition would undoubtedly prevent their tilling it； but Nature； at least； would not present quite such constitutional obstacles as she wisely does with us。
The individual's mind is； as it were； an isolated bit of the race mind。 The same set of traits will be found in each。 Mental characteristics there are a sort of common property； of which a certain undifferentiated portion is indiscriminately allotted to every man at birth。 One soul resembles another so much； that in view of the patriarchal system under which they all exist； there seems to the stranger a peculiar appropriateness in so strong a family likeness of mind。 An idea of how little one man's brain differs from his neighbor's may be gathered from the fact； that while a common coolie in Japan spends his spare time in playing a chess twice as complicated as ours； the most advanced philosopher is still on the blissfully ignorant side of the pons asinorum。
We find； then； that in all three points the Far East fulfils what our theory demanded。
There is one more consideration worthy of notice。 We said that the environment had not been the deus ex materia in the matter； but that the soul itself possessed the germ of its own evolution。 This fact does not； however； preclude another； that the environment has helped in the process。 Change of scene is beneficial to others besides invalids。 How stimulating to growth a different habitat can prove； when at all favorable； is perhaps sufficiently shown in the case of the marguerite； which； as an emigrant called white…weed； has usurped our fields。 The same has been no less true of peoples。 Now these Far Eastern peoples； in comparison with our own forefathers； have travelled very little。 A race in its travels gains two things： first it acquires directly a great deal from both places and peoples that it meets； and secondly it is constantly put to its own resources in its struggle for existence； and becomes more personal as the outcome of such strife。 The changed conditions； the hostile forces it finds； necessitate mental ingenuity to adapt them and influence it unconsciously。 To see how potent these influences prove we have but to look at the two great branches of the Aryan family； the one that for so long now has stayed at home； and the one that went abroad。 Destitute of stimulus from without； the Indo…Aryan mind turned upon itself and consumed in dreamy metaphysics the imagination which has made its cousins the leaders in the world's progress to…day。 The inevitable numbness of monotony crept over the stay…at…homes。 The deadly sameness of their surroundings produced its unavoidable effect。 The torpor of the East； like some paralyzing poison； stole into their souls； and they fell into a drowsy slumber only to dream in the land they had formerly wrested from its possessors。 Their birthright passed with their cousins into the West。
In the case of the Altaic races which we are considering； cause and effect mutually strengthened each other。 That they did not travel more is due primarily to a lack of enterprise consequent upon a lack of imagination； and then their want of travel told upon their imagination。 They were also unfortunate in their journeying。 Their travels were prematurely brought to an end by that vast geographical Nirvana the Pacific Ocean； the great peaceful sea as they call it themselves。 That they would have journeyed further is shown by the way their dreams went eastward still。 They themselves could not for the preventing ocean； and the lapping of its waters proved a nation's lullaby。
One thing； I think； then； our glance at Far Eastern civilization has more than suggested。 The soul； in its progress through the world； tends inevitably to individualization。 Yet the more we perceive of the cosmos the more do we recognize an all…pervading unity in it。 Its soul must be one； not many。 The divine power that made all things is not itself multifold。 How to reconcile the ever…increasing divergence with an eventual similarity is a problem at present transcending our generalizations。 What we know would seem to be opposed to what we must infer。 But perception of how we shall merge the personal in the universal； though at present hidden from sight； may sometime come to us； and the seemingly irreconcilable will then turn out to involve no contradiction at all。 For this much is certain： grand as is the great conception of Buddhism； majestic as is the idea of the stately rest it would lead us to； the road here below is not one the life of the world can follow。 If earthly existence be an evil； then Buddhism will help us ignore it； but if by an impulse we cannot explain we instinctively crave activity of mind； then the great gospel of Gautama touches us not； for to abandon selfegoism； that is； not selfishness is the true vacuum which nature abhors。 As for Far Orientals； they themselves furnish proof against themselves。 That impersonality is not man's earthly goal they unwittingly bear witness； for they are not of those who will survive。 Artistic attractive people that they are； their civilization is like their own tree flowers； beautiful blossoms destined never to bear fruit； for whatever we may conceive the far future of another life to be； the immediate effect of impersonality cannot but be annihilating。 If these people continue in their old course； their earthly career is closed。 Just as surely as morning passes into afternoon； so surely are these races of the Far East； if unchanged； destined to disappear before the advancing nations of the West。 Vanish they will off the face of the earth and leave our planet the eventual possession of the dwellers where the day declines。 Unless their newly imported ideas really take root； it is from this whole world that Japanese and Koreans； as well as Chinese； will inevitably be excluded。 Their Nirvana is already being realized； already it has wrapped Far Eastern Asia in its winding…sheet； the shroud of those whose day was but a dawn； as if in prophetic keeping with the names they gave their homes；the Land of the Day's Beginning； and the Land of the Morning Calm。
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