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AN OBJECT LESSON. 233
trusted to his memory alone, lest he should be de-
tected in using pencil and paper.
It is difficult to exaggerate the impression made
upon the Japanese by the peaceful diplomacy of
Perry, even though it was backed by an imposing
display of great war-ships. Notwithstanding the
events of later years, the idea of the United States
as "the Great Pacific Power," then photographed
upon the Japanese mind, remained as a permanent
impression.
To the majority of the Mikado's subjects the
United States of America is still the land of inven-
tion, comforts, schools, colleges, teachers, mission-
aries, hospitals, physicians and of the forces of peace
and Christianity, rather than of war and aggression.
of the Ameri-
Despite all their fear of the religion
cans, a fear nourished and diligently fostered by
the government, a new meaning was in many
minds given to Christianity.