LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

323/372

GIFTS 1'0 THE DOSH!SHA. 305 ganized under Mr. Neesima's supervision, grew out of the desire of its founder to create a second Doshisha. The presence of such an audience for such a purpose in the hall of one of the most magnificent shrines of Buddhism shows the change which had been wrought in public sentiment. The son of the governor was at that time a student in the Doshisha, and his two daughters were being educated in the Kyoto Home. Mr. Neesima's connection with the Iwakura Embassy in 1872, his efforts for the school dming the early period of opposition, the prominent positions taken by its graduates in public life, had called attention to the work in which he was engaged. He himself had repeatedly declined all offers to enter the service of the government, but he had always cultivated his ac­quaintance with the influential men of his time, ancl his earnest, self-sacrificing devotion commanded their respect and sympathy. In July a dinner was given him by Count Inouye, late Minister of Foreign Af­fairs, in order that he might present his cause to a number of distinguished guests. He was then nearly worn out by his efforts, and fainted away while speak­ing. The result of this meeting was the pledge of about $30,000, as stated in the following plea for the university, prepared by Mr. Neesima and published in November in twenty of the leading newspapers of the empire : --" It was long ago that I formed the intention of establishing a University in Japan, and for many years I have been earnestly laboring to accomplish this purpose. Now the current of public opinion has become so favorable to my plan that the present time seems to be favorable for making my purposes known to the public and soliciting their help in accomplish.

※このページを正しく表示するにはFlashPlayer10.2以上が必要です