Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/723

 NOTES AND ABSTRACTS' 707

And again, to make the village's self-government firm, a scheme has been adopted to raise a village fund of 10,000 yen, and it is already in process of execution.

a. Inatori Village, Kama County, Shieuoka Prefecture. Though rich in natural resources, if men who strive to utilize them and turn them to best advantage be wanting, prosperity cannot be hoped for. In Inatori Village, Kamo County, Shizuoka Prefecture, we find pioneer men who make it their business to promote the prosperity and independence of their village.

If we go from the harbor of Shimoda, in the southern extremity of the Izu peninsula, northward some ten miles, passing through more than ten winding mountain paths, we come to luxuriant forests. These are the forests of Inatori Village. These forests are mostly of pine trees, and were planted for the purpose of producing a village fund of 250,000 yen. At first the people of the village con- sidered the plan too vague and foolish, and only a few approved the scheme. But the pioneer of the village, Matakichi Tamura, succeeded in persuading his fellow- villagers to plant the young pine trees. Unfortunately, this first attempt proved a failure, most of the young trees withering away. So the opposition of the villagers was increased, and there seemed no hope left for a second trial. However, Tamura was dauntless. He went around, spade in hand, and himself planted trees everywhere, and at the same time encouraged the stubborn people to do the same thing. He said : " Trees should not be planted by the hand only, but also by the heart." By this he meant that they must be planted and reared carefully nay, kindly, as it were. At last his efforts were not in vain, and the result is the luxuriant forest around the village.

Again, on our entrance to the village, we see some three hundred men and women assiduously working in several scores of boats. These people are gathering the Tokoroten-gusa, a kind of edible seaweed.which may be called the most important natural resource of the place. Indeed, this, too, is the result of co-operation. The net profit of the last five years from this source alone amounted to more than 3,500 yen, more than 40 per cent, of which has been deposited as a school fund, while a portion has been constituted a village fund and has been invested in land.

The uncommonly prosperous administration of the village owes much, of course, to its rich natural resources, and yet at the same time it owes not a little to the untiring efforts and indefatigable spirit of Tamura. He had been the vil- lage master for six years, during which time he always lived in the village office and sacrificed his private affairs for the sake of the prosperity of the village. No one could excel him in earnestness and faithfulness. But one day he thought and said to himself : " It is easy to coerce by public authority, but if the people are not intelligent enough, success, though once attained, cannot last long. Certainly it is my duty as a private villager to develop the real strength of the people." So he left the village office, to return no more, took off his uniform, and let his wife burn it. Since then he has devoted himself to the improvement of agriculture and to the general prosperity of Iriya ; that is, the division of the village in which he lives. He has tried to be virtuous himself and to induce others to be virtuous also. First of all, he established a " meeting of house-masters." There he gave lectures on agricultural, economical, educational, and moral subjects. In this manner he formed his plans and schemes. As the main product the raising of silk-worms was encouraged, and as an additional product the cultivation of oranges was taken up. Every year i o per cent, of the whole profit is deposited under the name of " long peace-giving money," a sort of reserve fund.

In this way the farmers were encouraged. But if household help be wanting, it could not be called satisfactory. So he began a " meeting of mothers," where he lectures on home education, housekeeping, etc. To encourage mothers, there is a vote for the best girls, and each girl who has the honor of being elected is pre- sented with a work-box which is to be taken to her new home. It is no wonder that the people of the neighboring villages apply to these girls for marriage.

The meeting for mothers is not enough. So a " meeting of daughters " was started. Housekeeping and sewing are taught, and lectures on morals are also given.