The story
“The spirit of democracy prevalent at some of our large American colleges makes possible the association of students of different nationalities and religions. Although there is still a degree of snobbishness traceable in the social life of some colleges, the college at which the hero of The East and the West attended is one of the most democratic. It was therefore natural that our hero should chum with a Japanese student, who worshipped Buddha. Both boys found each other’s company congenial and interchanged considerable information during their close association as roommates. The strong friendship formed at college, the boys continued after graduation. The Japanese spent a part of his time before sailing back to the ‘Flowery Kingdom,’ at the home of his friend. Before sailing, he invites his chum to be his guest on the trip east. Of course, the American accepted the invitation, and his father, who is a theatrical producer, was happy to have his son go and polish his education by traveling through foreign lands.
“When the Westerner arrives in the sunny East, he is much interested and impressed by the Eastern customs, and the character of the people. He is introduced to a relative of his host—a pretty Japanese girl. She attracts his disinterested admiration by her graceful dancing and petite chic appearance. He does nothing that would convey the impression to the girl that he is in love with her, because he remembers ‘the girl he left behind.’ The impressionable Japanese damsel is carried away, however, by the force of the American’s manners, and loses her heart to him. Poor, suffering girl, her love is not returned. The American was much impressed by the girl’s skill as a dancer. So, when he decides to go back to God’s country, and not conceited enough to imagine that the girl would fall in love with him, he tells her that if she would like to try to win glory on the American stage, he would tell his father to give her a chance. He sails back to America and his sweetheart. In the course of time he makes good his promise to the girl of the East. She comes to America, and when she makes her debut on the stage here as a dancer, she wins considerable applause and is momentarily happy. But when she hears of the engagement of her idol to an American girl, her hopes are shattered, and no longer desirous of fame or glory, she decides to sail east. Her plans are expedited by the arrival of a letter from her father, commanding her to return and marry the chum of the American—who is secretly in love with her. Obedient to her father’s commands, and happy to fill the vacuum created by an unrequited love, she sails home.”
Summary from The Moving Picture World · 20 September 1911
