The Literature, History, and Civilization of the Japanese [pp. 306-329]

Y
1872.] OF TUb' ~PANE5E. 32~
acquire a command of the langnage. Experience has shown,
in regard to the Chinese, for example, that those who hav&
cultivated this laugnage by attending the course in Paris, have
a decided advantage in China over those who have begun the
study only after reaching that country. I dare affirm that it
will be the same with the Japanese, and that the earnest students who shall overcome in this school the principal
difficulties of writing and grammar, will need only a few
months in Japan in order to obtain a perfechon which it is
extremely difficult to acquire, especially at present, when they
seek in Kanagawa or Nagasaki for instructions which could
have been gained easily and without expense in Europe.
It is my intention to pursue, in my lessons, a method embracing both that of Robertson and of Ollendorff, which have
been so successfully used in the study of English and German.
We wi]l not take up new difficulties until we have perfectly
mastered the previous ones, and I shall take pains to have
you bring up constantly in our exercises the rules which have
been explained in the preceding exercises.
I hope in following this rational and trnly practical method,
to make as pleasant to you as possible the acquisition of an
important language, which, as we have seen, is deserving in
every respect of your earnest and careful study.