In the drawing room of my domicile there is a painting
by Heine who accompanied Perry as his official painter
on his historic trip to Japan. It depicts farmers on the
eastern side of the Hudson gathering hay, with the river,
mountains and Japan to the west. When it was exhibited
in New York City, Heine was approached to join Perry���s
expedition. My father also had in his bedroom a print
based on a Heine painting, depicting Perry in a splendid
Japanese interior. The point is that Japanese culture,
art and trade have been a mainstay of American history
ever since.
HYLAND
