ABSTRACT
THE CONSCIENTIOUS and efficient conduct of new work in Japan was a task which presented the most perplexing difficulties both to employers and em ployed. Their high pay, their different mode ofliving, their want of disciplinary power, and the knowledge of the Japanese that foreigners were more or less indis pensable to them, rendered their European assistants most impracticable and difficult to deal with. Resigna tion, insubordination, absence from duty, drunken ness and other aberrations of conduct among Euro peans employed in the Japanese Government service, became frequent and distressing. On the other hand, the semi-ignorance of the native servants of the Emperor, and the self-esteem, untrustworthiness , craftiness and corruption of the Japanese underlings rendered cooperation by an honourable foreigner with them extremely irritating.
