KUMAMOTO, April, 1893.
MY DEAR NISHIDA,--About the sentence that puzzles you (as it well might
puzzle anybody unaccustomed to what we call "rant"),--the phrase simply
signifies the Bible. It is based on the idea that Christ is the "_Light_
of the World" (Light and Glory being used synonymously); and the origin
of this expression again goes back beyond Christianity into ancient
Gnostic ideas,--_probably_ based on the Iranian belief of Ormuzd, the
(Persian or Iranian) God of _Light_, as distinguished from Ahriman, the
Spirit of Evil and Darkness. The common Christian people know nothing of
this; but from childhood, they are accustomed to hear the word "Bible"
coupled with the words "light" and "glory" and "illumination,"--and
to see pictures representing a Bible surrounded with rays of light
beaming from it as from a sun. "The glory of the mechanic's shop," i.
e., illuminating the darkness of labour, the suffering and gloom, by
light of consolation, etc.--But I must say that all this is what we call
"rant" (worse than "cant");--it is of no earthly use to let the boys
read it. I used always to skip it. The article is not even good English:
it is fanatical "gush" and humbug. If I were you, I would not bother
with it at all,--except for your own amusement, as a study of queer
ideas. I don't mean to say _all_ writing of this sort is bad;--some
of it is very beautiful, although the ideas be false. But that stuff
in Sanders's Reader is the sort we call "_cheap_ rant,"--such as any
uneducated Sunday-school teacher can spout by the mile....
I do not think Setsu can travel again this year. I expect to become a
father about September, or perhaps even sooner. So we shall not see
Tōkyō in 1893, at all events. And the chances are that I shall not
be able to travel very far;--as I shall have to be in constant weekly
communication with the mail-steamers for America. The preparation of the
printed proofs will be hard work.
I am sorry about Goto. You summed him up, however, very keenly a long
time ago.--We have a wonderful drawing-master here, who painted a
wonderful oil-portrait of Mr. Akizuki. And that man is only getting $12
a month (counting the deduction of his salary for building warships)!
Yet he is really a fine artist.
Besides the letter of introduction I gave you to Mr. Kano, I also wrote
him a long letter about you last year. Should you go to Tōkyō,
therefore, remind him of that. Or, if you wish, I will write you at once
a third letter to take with you. You will like Mr. Kano at sight. He
charms even the most reserved foreigners, and still he is perfectly easy
and simple in his manners. Faithfully yours,