LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

87/372

COURSE OF STUDY AT AMHERST. 71 still alive and well. He possessed the elasticity of temperament characteristic of his race, but his deep faith in God, to whom he committed both himself and his dear ones, alone enabled him to maintain the se­renity of his purpose not to turn back in the path which he had chosen. His course of study in Amherst College was a spe­cial one, for he had no previous knowledge of Greek or Latin. China had been his Greece and Rome. He here, however, began the study of Latin, and in re­turn for instruction in Japanese given to his room­mate, Mr. \-Vm. J. Holland, received from the latter instruction in Greek. In 1869, Mr. Holland became the head-master of the Amherst High School, and Nee­sima was thus enabled to continue under his guid­ance his Greek studies. Of the natural sciences, chemistry, physics, botany, mineralogy, and geology, he was especially fond, and he retained his interest in these branches throughout his life. Mr. Holland, who subsequently visited Japan as naturalist of tha expedition sent out by the United States government to observe the total eclipse of the sun, was at that time devoted to scientific study, and in his company N eesima enjoyed many pleasant excursions to the environs of Amherst in search of mineralogical and botanical specimens. His note-books contain very accurate and complete abstracts of the lectures on physics and chemistry, with drawings of all the ap­paratus employed. These drawings were made during the lecture with a rapidity and facility which aston­ished his classmates. It is well known that the Japanese mind does not turn naturally to speculative inquiry. Confucianism, as a code of ceremonial usage concerned with practi-

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