LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

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TRIBUTES. 337 independence. His body perished, but his name is beyond the reach of oblivion. Many of the coming generations will hear of him, to take heart and fol­low him. This may perchance be a comfort to his spirit. Learning the sad news of his death we lament the loss to society of a true freeman, and present herewith our humble condolences." Mr. Jichiro Tokutomi, who is preparing a life of Mr. Neesima, to be published in Japanese, wrote in the "Nation's Friend," of which he is the editor:-" Lamartine tells us that, next to his blood, his tears are the most precious things a man can give. Individually we have lost him to whom we looked as to a father and teacher, for strength and light and love, -Mr. Joseph Neesima. As a society we have lost the leader of the cause of moral reformation in Japan. We have done our best to keep back our tears, but in vain. It is now no time to express our sorrow, for it cannot to-day be contained in letters and words. Nor is this the time to eulogize him, to analyze his character .... Not only brave men, but those soulless waves which wash the shores of Oiso seem to mourn for him. But his spirit of consecra­tion still lives, and shall not we who enjoyed his per­sonal teaching take courage and work on after him in this spirit? An elaborate eulogy, a magnificent fu­neral, a splendid monument, these would not please him. Far better is it for us to do our daily duty, to help forward little by little with our whole heart and life the moral regeneration of society, that our land may be the home of men and women loving liberty, truth, charity, and God. This, indeed, would be pleasing to him, and let him who admires his charac­ter and deplores his death think of these things. You,

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