KUMAMOTO, January, 1894.
DEAR OCHIAI,--Many thanks for your kind letter, with its kind
wishes,--and many happy New Years to you.
I have been very glad to hear of your success at school, and all the
news about your reading. I think Mr. Nishida's plan is very wise and
good. It is true that the lives of such men as Clive and Hastings--and
above all Napoleon--are full of interest and romance, because they show
the wonderful things that can be achieved by force of character united
with great intellect,--Clive being the best man, morally, of the three.
But, on the other hand, it is sadly true that the genius and the courage
of those three wonderful men were not employed in the noblest way,
but most often in a bad cause. Strong characters are very attractive,
because those who read about them take pleasure in imagining what
they would do if they had the same power and opportunity. But strong
characters are only really admirable when they are employed in a good,
just, noble cause. And of such characters, the number in Western history
is few. Pericles, Miltiades, Epaminondas, were nobler than Alexander;
yet people like to read about Alexander, who was not a good man. Marcus
Aurelius was nobler than Cæsar; but people like to read more about
Cæsar, because he was a great conqueror. And so on through all Western
history. There is splendour and honour in brave fighting for what is
right; but I do not think we ought to allow ourselves to praise brave
fighting for what is wrong. Bravery is noble only when the object is
noble. As a quality, it is not peculiar to man at all;--a wild bull is
braver than any general. It is very noble to sacrifice one's life for
a good cause--for love of parents, country, duty; but we ought not to
admire the throwing away of life for an unjust cause. The real rule by
which to measure what is admirable and what is despicable is the rule of
Duty.
That is why I admire very, very much, all that was noble in the old
Japanese life,--its moral code, its household religion, and its
unselfishness. Everything is now passing away. By the time you are as
old as I now am, all Japan will have been changed; and I think you will
remember with regret the kindness and the simplicity of heart and the
pleasant manners of the Old Japan, that used to be all about you. The
New Japan will be richer and stronger and in many things wiser; but it
will neither be so happy nor so kindly as the old.
Well, I trust you will have all possible success,--not only in your
school-life, but in all your life to come. I have hopes you will do
great and good things, and that I will hear of them.
Ever affectionately yours,
LAFCADIO HEARN.