is a religious duty. A Jap never kisses his wife or shows her any
evidences of affection. She is a chattel, and if anybody should, by
chance, discover him kissing his wife, he would be frightfully
mortified."

"What of their religious views, Don Mike?"

"If Japan can be said to have an official religion, it is Shintoism,
not Buddhism, as so many Occidental people believe. Shintoism is
ancestor-worship, and ascribes divinity to the emperor. They believe
he is a direct descendant of the sun-god, Yamato."

"Why, they're a heathen nation!" Kay's tones were indicative of
amazement.

Farrel smiled his tolerant smile.

"I believe, Miss Parker, that any people who will get down on all fours
to worship the picture of their emperor and, at this period of the
world's progress, ascribe to a mere human being the attributes of
divinity, are certainly deficient in common sense, if not in
civilization. However, for the purpose of insuring the realization of
the Japanese national aspirations, Shintoism is a need vital to the
race. Without it, they could never agree among themselves for they are
naturally quarrelsome, suspicious and irritable. However, by
subordinating everything to the state via this religious channel, there
has been developed a national unity that has never existed with any
other race. The power of cohesion of this people is marvelous, and
will enable it, in days to come, to accomplish much for the race. For
that reason alone, our very lack of cohesion renders the aspirations of