A ROMANTIC CAREER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143980, 24 December 1912, Page 7

A ROMANTIC CAREER.

One of the most remarkable of the band of Europeans who. have, played a prominent part, in the re-shaping of far Eastern affairs, died the other day. This was Captain Brinkley, editor of the Japan Mail, and one of the few remaining links between the old and the new Japan. Captain Brinkley’s career was full of romance. Ho went to Japan in 1867 in command of the British battery of artillery, which was stationed at Yokohama to protect the first European settlement. From the first Captain Brinkley was impressed by the charm of a country .that appealed to his love of adventure and his artistic temperament. He soon learned the language, and got into touch-with some of the leaders' of the progressive forces. One of the most enlightened of the feudal princes applied to the British Minister for Captain Brinkley’s services as military export, but before permission could bo obtained from Ho mb the new Japan was born. Then, with the sanction of the British Government, Captain Brinkley took up an important post in the new military school at Tokio,. and the rest of- his life' was devoted whole-heartedly to the service of Japan. He married a Japanese wife, and brought a successful action tr> compel tho British Minister to recognise the marriage. Captain Brinkley had a most profound l knowledge of. Japanese affairs; and, Working behind the scenes, he was able to influence European opinion on Far Eastern questions. Not Only did he do so as . correspondent of The Times, but his position as the lepding unofficial Englishman in Japan enabled him to, impress, his views om visitors, in search of information. :■ Every Western journalist or distinguished , traveller who visited Japan called on Captain Brinkley, and it was only natural that his opinions should find their ways into the articles and books written about these tours. He had a great admiration for what was best in the Japanese character and way of life, and his championship of Japan was not always to the liking of his superficially-informed countrymen in the Treaty Ports. Captain Brinkley, was a personal friend and adviser of the statesmen and thinkers who made .modern Japan, and he lived to see the fulfilment of hopes which at one time seemed to be the most extravagant dreams.