Japan. By David Murray, LL.D. (T. Fisher Unwin.)—This volume belongs
to the "Story of the Nations " series. Interesting as it is throughout, the final chapter, dealing with "The Restored Empire," will naturally at the present moment attract special attention. The story carries us back about five-and-twenty years, to the year 1868, when Mutsuhito, the now reigning Emperor, came to the throne, and when also the government of the country was consolidated in the hands of a single ruler. Since then the progress of Japan has been such as it would hardly be possible to parallel in history. Even after all allowance has been made for changes that are on the surface only, Japanese thought has been modified with a most extraordinary rapidity. The details of this process lie, in a great degree, outside the limits of Dr. Murray's subject ; indeed, the time has not yet come for dealing with them. What he says, however, of the way in which the change was initiated will be found well worth reading. The earlier history of the country—it goes back as far as the seventh century B.C.- has much interest. It may be noted that the reigning Emperor is the one hundred and twenty-first in order of succession. There is much of course that is mythical about the earlier names. The first twelve Emperors cover a space of 790 years, Kosho and Kean including between them 475-291. With the seventeenth the numbers assume probable proportions, 1,468 years being divided among 104 Eraperors,—a highly probable average of 14 years each being the result. Seventeen only reached the age of 70 years, and we have no centenarians (141, 137, and the like), as in the earlier time.
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