Wisconsin School for the Deaf - Tattler Yearbook (Delavan, WI)

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Whatever was known concerning Japanese history down to the time of Commodore Perry came chiefly from the Dutch, so the world owes them a debt of gratitude for what they accomplished. For nearly two hundred years Japan was practically a hermit nation, allowing no foreigners in. and forbidding any natives to leave the island. In 1848 the United States began to show a special interest in the opening of negotiations with Japan. There were several reasons for this: American citizens had a great deal of money invested in whale fisheries near Japan, trade hail been opened up between America and China, and chief of the reasons was the discovery of gold in California, making that state a centre of trade with the Far East. To travel from San Francisco to Hong Kong, the ships were obliged to be overloaded with coal. The only remedy would be to establish a coaling station on one of the Japanese Islands. It was Anally decided by the United States government that an expedition under Commodore Matthew C. Perry be sent to negotiate with Japan for such a station. For nearly a whole year Perry spent his time making preparations for the great task he had been chosen to perform. It was not diflicult to got men to join his expedition. As soon as the news of his plans had leaked out. ho was flooded with applications, not only from America but from England. However, he took only those who he was reasonably sure would make no trouble for him and would obey his commands. At last everything was in readiness: and on November 21. 1852, four large vessels slowly sailed out of Norfolk harbor enroute for Japan. In spite of the warning that the Japanese government had by the Dutch of the preparation and coming of this expedition, its bold entrance Into Yedo Hay was a great surprise. As the huge ships plowed through the peaceful waters, the bay was lined with troops and frightened people, who ran to their homes and hid. Perry did not hesitate. The boats were were anchored and the crews landed. Commodore Perry had with him a letter from the President of the United States to the Emperor, explaining the object of the expedi- tion. “It whs. the letter said, to establish a friendship between the two countries, to arrange for privileges of trade, for the care of ship wrecked sailors, and for the appointment of a convenient port where coal and other supplies might be obtained by vessels of the United States. In dealing with the Japanese officials Perry, by his force and assurance of his friendly purpose. made a deep impression. As soon as the letter was delivered, they left the island saying they would return for the answer in the near future. The government of Japan was greatly troubled. It was not in favor of negotiations but was afraid to refuse. It had lived in seclusion so long that it had no knowledge of other nations ways. In spite of Perry’s friendliness. the Japanese didn’t trust one with such great ships and powerful armament. The people were reminded by the Shogun of Japan of what happened in China after the foreigners opened up trade with that country. He said. The policy of a foreign nation is first to trade with her. then to introduce its religion, and then to stir up strife. No. Japan will not submit. We will fight before we will do that!” After Perry left, the government made preparations for defense, as it had only small ships and no armament except rusty swords. Monastery bells and many metal articles of luxury were melted into cannons. On Perry's return with a fleet of seven ships, ho presented the Japanese with various kinds of gifts, made in our factories. After much discussion an agreement was made at a meeting in Knuagawa near Yokohoma. which was then merely a village. This took place March 31. 185-1 It was immediately sent to Washington for ratification. Within a short time there was a rush of other nations into Japan to muko similar terms with the country. Perry’s expedition was the wedge that opened up this once shut-in nation to the world and its advanced ways. It was not very long before this agricultural country had been transformed into a modern industrial nation. Japan developed and became modernized at such great speed that there is little wonder she has reached out for more land to give room for her people and supply natural resources for her manufactories.

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A later flag had a coiled rattlesnake, the idea of Benjamin Franklin, with the legend. “Don't tread on me. In 1776 a flag with red and white horizontal stripes and the rattlesnake diagonally extended across it was introduced and was used by the navy for some time. Once more a new flag was adopted. This was the first standard flag of the United States, raised by Washington in the year of 1776 on Prospect Hill near Boston. This flag was the red ensign flag of Great Britain, with white stripes drawn across its red field making thirteen stripes that represented the thirteen colonics. The “Union-Jack containing the king's colors was on the blue canton in the corner. This flag was raised at Washington's headquarters. when the reading of the Declaration of Independence took place on July 4, 1776. Approximately a year and a half later, the well known Betsy Boss flag with its thirteen stripes was presented to Congress by General George Washington, in the year of 1777. Washington together with a committee had decided to employ Betsy Ross, an expert seamstress of that day. to make a national flag. She made it from a sketch that Washington drew. He explained to her the meaning of the three colors used. He said. “We lake the stars from Heaven, and the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her; and the white stripes shall go down to posterity, representing liberty. Mrs. Ross insisted on making the stars five-pointed instead of six. and placed them in a circle in the Held of blue, in imitation of King Arthur’s round table. Thus a new constellation was born and in 1818 was established as our definite Mug by Act of Congress. However, it was destined to change only as the nation grew, for the rising of each new star in the blue field of the canton indicated that a new state hud been admitted to the union, and that enlarged the constellation. Our flag, the Flag of the United States, as we know it today, symbolizes to mankind the birth of the first nation on earth, which was dedicated to personal and religious liberty, a haven where men. women, and children from all over the world, because of religious beliefs, might take refuge and enjoy “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. PERRY'S EXPEDITION TO JAPAN B MARY ANN l.AKKN THK newspapers these days publish a great deal about Jupan's aggressiveness, her ruthless invasion into China, and of her flooding our markets with wares to be sold at low prices. In reading of these atrocities the question arose in my mind, Why does Japan do this? In my search for an answer, I was led to the study of Perry’s expedition to Japan in 1854. that really was the seed from which has grown the modernization, yes. even the aggressiveness, of Japan. In order to better understand the present situation, let us go back to the days when Japan was a hermit nation and learn the reason for this seclusion. For hundreds of years previous to 1542, when Europeans first set foot on these islands off the eastern coast of Asia, the Japanese lived simple lives, perfectly happy in their rice fields, and their fishing industry. Then came some Portuguese sailors to pay them a visit. They were so taken with the beauty of the country’s snowcapped mountain peaks, its silvery waterfalls and its blue lakes, that when they returned home, their enthusiasm spread throughout Europe. As a result missionaries were sent from Portugal and Spain to Christianize thin nation, and traders flocked there from Spain. Portugal, England and the Netherlands. The foreigners soon began fighting among themselves over religion. This, with the spirit of trade for big profits, so thoroughly disgusted the people of Japan that an order was issued by the ruler that all foreigners leave the island or be sentenced to death. However, the Dutch were allowed to remain on a small island of about three acres. With them and the Chinese a limited amount of trade was carried on.

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THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE By ALICE HENDRICKSON FOR more than three hundred years nil of us Americans have been using a language which was adopted by our forefathers. Language is a very valuable gift and without it people probably never would have been able to communicate with one another. Let us think of the growth of speech, which is oral language, from its’ beginning. Speech comes to every person unexpectedly like breathing, but it has to be perfected. The origin of language is an unsolved problem. Some people think God gave it to the very first people or that it was a gift applied by the Deity immediately after CJod created the first man, Adam. More likely, language came to man first by signs or exclamations. It is hard to say which came first. Of course, all language is really expression of thought made by signs, such as the spoken word made with voice, or written signs made with the pen. or signs made with the body. Signs were made by many savage tribes by gestures and without speaking. England was taken by the Angles who came from Northern Germany about the fifth century, and they called it Angleland which later came to be known as England. They called themselves and their language English. England was invaded by other Teuton tribes. Recause of all the different tribes that came into England, in this way the language changed. The language of the upper classes had words such as ••prince , royalty , throne and others which originated from the Norman-French while the most commonly spoken words came from the early English, loiter England became the home of many Greek and Latin scholars, who brought with them the learning and culture of Greece and Rome. Many other tongues soon increased the words in the English language. This English language of ours is continously growing and changing as the years go by. One certain idea may be expressed in several different ways by different people or races. The deaf, for instance, when they use their special language are like this. They use only the necessary signs to make a clear picture, omitting the articles ‘‘the , a , and an , and words similar to these. The same was true when language first came into use. Most words are signs of certain ideas but have been changed more or less as time passed. The English which we speak and write today is not the same as our English ancestors used. The changes take place so slowly that we hardly recognize them. They often effect (1) the vocabulary (2) meaning of words (.1) pronunciation and spelling (4) and the way in which they are used in expressing a thought. Many words that have been used in our English language have gone out of use entirely and are said to be obsolete. They are words such as thilk meaning the same; “tour , buyer; ‘•couth , known; holt , wood; and others. Words such as sooth , truth; wot”, know; eke , also; and ruth”, pity are used in ancient or archaic English. New words spring up just as fast as the old ones go out of use. These new words may either be a way of expressing things just for variety or in naming new things and ideas. Sometimes new words which were in use many eani ago are brought back by newcomers. The process of the rising and disappearing of these words can be readily noticed. Some of these words are sometimes called slang and cultured people dislike using them in their daily speech, but if they are used often enough they become a part of our accepted vocabulary. Boss , chum , mob , snob , and others are examples of this. Slang phrases can also often be found. People often use slang just to be humorous while others, in different kinds of work, often use slang that fits their types of work. Take lumbering for instance. For the expression start in or begin they may say break ground while the soldiers may say gather your pots and kettles . This proves that there is actually little difference between slang and legitimate speech. Another method of word formation is called shortening”. Examples of this are van” from caravan, hobby from hobby horse, “wig from periwig, cab” from cabriolet, cheat from escheat. Still another method is called back formation. For example shoy (chaise), chinee (Chinese). skate (earlier skates), cave (earlier eaves), and others. There are also compound words formed by thinking of two different things and putting