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however； exists even when least suspected。 This common ground of
content consists of those qualities held to be most essential by the
individuals concerned； although not necessarily so appearing to other
people。 Sometimes； indeed； these qualities are still in the larvae state of
desires。 They are none the less potent upon the man's personality on that
account； for the wish is always father to its own fulfilment。
The want of conjugal resemblance not only works mediately on the
child； it works mutually on the parents； for companionship； as is well
recognized； tends to similarity。 Now companionship is the last thing to
be looked for in a far…eastern couple。 Where custom requires a wife to
follow dutifully in the wake of her husband； whenever the two go out
together； there is small opportunity for intercourse by the way； even were
there the slightest inclination to it； which there is not。 The appearance of
the pair on an excursion is a walking satire on sociability； for the
comicality of the connection is quite unperceived by the performers。 In
the privacy of the domestic circle the separation； if less humorous； is no
less complete。 Each lives in a world of his own； largely separate in fact
in China and Korea； and none the less in fancy in Japan。 On the continent
a friend of the husband would see little or nothing of the wife； and even in
Japan he would meet her much as we meet an upper servant in a friend's
house。 Such a semi…attached relationship does not conduce to much
mutual understanding。
The remainder of our hero's uneventful existence calls for no particular
comment。 As soon as he has children borne him he is raised ipso facto
from the position of a common soldier to that of a subordinate officer in
the family ranks。 But his opportunities for the expression of individuality
are not one whit increased。 He has simply advanced a peg in a regular
hierarchy of subjection。 From being looked after himself he proceeds to
look after others。 Such is the extent of the change。 Even should he
chance to be the eldest son of the eldest son； and thus eventually end by
becoming the head of the family； he cannot consistently consider himself。
There is absolutely no place in his social cosmos for so particular a thing
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The Soul of the Far East
as the ego。
With a certain grim humor suggestive of metaphysics； it may be said
of his whole life that it is nothing but a relative affair after all。
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The Soul of the Far East
CHAPTER 3。 Adoption。
But one may go a step farther in this matter of the family； and by so
doing fare still worse with respect to individuality。 There are certain
customs in vogue among these peoples which would seem to indicate that
even so generic a thing as the family is too personal to serve them for
ultimate social atom； and that in fact it is only the idea of the family that is
really important； a case of abstraction of an abstract。 These suggestive
customs are the far…eastern practices of adoption and abdication。
Adoption； with us； is a kind of domestic luxury； akin to the keeping of
any other pets； such as lap…dogs and canaries。 It is a species of self…
indulgence which those who can afford it give themselves when fortune
has proved unpropitious； an artificial method of counteracting the
inequalities of fate。 That such is the plain unglamoured view of the
procedure is shown by the age at which the object is adopted。 Usually
the future son or daughter enters the adoptive household as an infant；
intentionally so on the part of the would…be parents。 His ignorance of a
previous relationship largely increases his relative value； for the
possibility of his making comparisons in his own mind between a former
state of existence and the present one unfavorable to the latter is not
pleasant for the adopters to contemplate。 He is therefore acquired young。
The amusement derived from his company is thus seen to be distinctly
paramount to all other considerations。 No one cares so heartily to own a
dog which has been the property of another； a fortiori of a child。 It is
clearly； then； not as a necessity that the babe is adopted。 If such were the
case； if like the ancient Romans all a man wanted was the continuance of
the family line； he would naturally wait until the last practicable moment；
for he would thus save both care and expense。 In the Far East adoption is
quite a different affair。 There it is a genealogical necessitylike having a
father or mother。 It is； indeed； of almost more importance。 For the great
desideratum to these peoples is not ancestors but descendants。 Pedigrees in
the land of the universal opposite are not matters of bequest but of
posthumous reversion。 A man is not beholden to the past； he looks
forward to the future for inherited honors。 No fame attaches to him for
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The Soul of the Far East
having had an illustrious grandfather。 On the contrary； it is the illustrious
grandson who reflects some of his own greatness back upon his
grandfather。 If a man therefore fail to attain eminence himself； he always
has another chance in his descendants； for he will of necessity be ennobled
through the merits of those who succeed him。 Such is the immemorial
law of the land。 Fame is retroactive。 This admirable system has only one
objection： it is posthumous in its effect。 An ambitious man who
unfortunately lacks ability himself has to wait too long for vicarious
recognition。 The objection is like that incident to the making of a
country seat out of a treeless plain by planting the same with saplings。
About the time the trees begin to be worth having the proprietary
landscape…gardener dies of old age。 However； as custom permits a Far
Oriental no ancestral growth of timber； he is obliged to lay the seeds of his
own family trees。 Natural offspring are on the whole easier to get； and
more satisfactory when got。 Hence the haste with which these peoples
rush into matrimony。 If in despite of his precipitation fate perversely
refuse to grant him children； he must endeavor to make good the omission
by artificial means。 He proceeds to adopt somebody。 True to instinct；
he chooses from preference a collateral relative。 In some far…eastern
lands he must so restrict himself by law。 In Korea； for instance； he can
only adopt an agnate and one of a lower generation than his own。 But in
Japan his choice is not so limited。 In so praiseworthy an act as the
perpetuation of his unimportant family line； it is deemed unwise in that
progressive land to hinder him from unconsciously bettering it by the way。
He is consequently permitted to adopt anybody。 As people are by no
means averse to being adopted； the power to adopt whom he will gives
him more voice in the matter of his unnatural offspring than he ever had in
the selection of a more natural one。
The adopted changes his name； of course； to take that of the family he
enters。 As he is very frequently grown up and extensively known at the
time the adoption takes place； his change of cognomen occasions at first
some slight confusion among his acquaintance。 This would be no worse；
however； than the change with us from the maid to the matron； and
intercourse would soon proceed smoothly agai