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The Rev. Dr. William Elliot Griffis, author of "The Mikado's  

The Rev. Dr. William Elliot Griffis, author of "The Mikado's  

Empire" and other books, was born in the city of Philadelphia in 1843. His taste for travel and adventure was inherited from six generations of Devonshire, England, seamen and navigators. Dr. Griffis's father was a coal merchant in Philadelphia during the later portion of his life. After taking a course in the public schools Dr. Griffis entered the Philadelphia High School. When twenty-two he became a student at Rutger's College, and was graduated in the class of [[1869]] with the degree of A.B. Later he was made an A.M. by his alma mater, and received the degree of D.D. from Union College, and Rutgers made him an L.H.D. in [[1899]].  

Empire" and other books, was born in the city of Philadelphia in 1843. His taste for travel and adventure was inherited from six generations of Devonshire, England, seamen and navigators. Dr. Griffis's father was a coal merchant in Philadelphia during the later portion of his life. After taking a course in the public schools Dr. Griffis entered the Philadelphia High School. When twenty-two he became a student at Rutger's College, and was graduated in the class of [[1869]] with the degree of A.B. Later he was made an A.M. by his alma mater, and received the degree of D.D. from Union College, and Rutgers made him an L.H.D. in [[1899]].  

In [[1869]] he visited Europe with the intention of taking a course in theology in the German universities, but his love for travel led him to decide that the best use he could make of his time was to see as much of the Old World as extensively as possible, which he did. Upon his return he took a course in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Dutch Church at New Brunswick.  

In [[1869]] he visited Europe with the intention of taking a course in theology in the German universities, but his love for travel led him to decide that the best use he could make of his time was to see as much of the Old World as extensively as possible, which he did. Upon his return he took a course in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Dutch Church at New Brunswick.  

About that time [[1867]] Japanese students were flocking to this country, and Dr. Griffis became much interested in their condition and formed many personal acquaintances with these young men. He wrote an article about that time in the New York "Independent," which attracted considerable attention. In [[1870]] there came an application from Japan for young men to teach physical science in that country, and one of the most progressive of the 300 feudal rulers of that country, Matsudaira Echizen no Kami, invited him, during that year, to enter upon the work. He accepted the call, and organized a school on the American model at [[Fukui]], and for a year lived alone in that strange country, witnessing sights never before seen by an American. At that time these 300 feudal barons had their own territory, and Dr. Griffis saw all sides of life between the extremes of the ruler and the outcast. He is now the only man of Caucasian race living who lived at a [[Daimyo|Daimyo's]] court and saw the old feudal system in operation. He helped to organize the school in [[Echizen province]], in which is now the terminus of the cross-island railroad in that county. Many of his students have since become prominent officers in the Japanese  

About that time [[1867]] Japanese students were flocking to this country, and Dr. Griffis became much interested in their condition and formed many personal acquaintances with these young men. He wrote an article about that time in the New York "Independent," which attracted considerable attention. In [[1870]] there came an application from Japan for young men to teach physical science in that country, and one of the most progressive of the 300 feudal rulers of that country, [[Matsudaira Shungaku|Matsudaira ''Echizen no Kami'' Shungaku]], invited him, during that year, to enter upon the work. He accepted the call, and organized a school on the American model at [[Fukui]], and for a year lived alone in that strange country, witnessing sights never before seen by an American. At that time these 300 feudal barons had their own territory, and Dr. Griffis saw all sides of life between the extremes of the ruler and the outcast. He is now the only man of Caucasian race living who lived at a [[Daimyo|Daimyo's]] court and saw the old feudal system in operation. He helped to organize the school in [[Echizen province]], in which is now the terminus of the cross-island railroad in that county. Many of his students have since become prominent officers in the Japanese  

Government, and his personal relations with the people were most  

Government, and his personal relations with the people were most  

pleasant. He journeyed frequently into the regions of central and  

pleasant. He journeyed frequently into the regions of central and  

Although his masterwork, "The Mikado's Empire," is his best known  

Although his masterwork, "The Mikado's Empire," is his best known  

book, Dr. Griffis has written three other notable books about Japan.  

book, Dr. Griffis has written four other notable books about Japan.  

These are "Verbeck of Japan," "A Maker of the New Orient," being a  

These are "Fairy Tales of Old Japan", "Verbeck of Japan," "A Maker of the New Orient," being a life of S. R. Brown; and a story, "In the Mikado's Service."

life of S. R. Brown; and a story, "In the Mikado's Service."

 

 

 

==References==

==References==