Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-09-12
Lananase Peculiarities.


Japanese Peculiarities.
Itseems that the national exclusiyeneSs of
This ueculiar people is also exhibited in their
social habits Tho streets OF their towns pre-
sent only dead wall upon each side, the hcu-
ses being situated in gardens behind them, and
hidden as much as possible by trees and shrub
berry. Being under constant surveillance, the
people are much given TO hiding themselves.
Their dress consists of one loose robe with
girdle about the middle This IS very cool
arrangement for summer weather, but in win-
ter is not quite so comfortable. However,
they manage to keep warm by ievying contri-
buttons upon each other, for whenever one
member of family goes out in cold weather,
he borrows the garments of all who remain
within and puts them over the other
The Japanese idea Of a shoe is peculiar The
article with them is simply sole, and IS
worn not for the protection of the foot-wflch
in fact it does not cover-but for the preser-
vation of mating upon their foors-the sole
being always slipped off at the door, the wear
er going barefoot in the house The shoe,
therefore. is only intended to keep the foot
from contact with the earth, and thus from
.oilinc the mating, which it is matter OF
pride to keep very clean. This. indeed, is a
very essential matter, the mating Is used
not only for a carpet, but for a table-cloth
and mattress as well, being in fact the only
article of furniture in the house. The inmates
sit, and eat upon the floor.
The Japanese pillow-for they indulge in
that luxury, is curious affair. 1t consists OF
little block of wood, with sides OF unequal
width, so that by turning it over-whlch IS Oh
ten done even in sleep-the head may rest at
different points of elevation. This peculiar
pillow Is made necessary from the fact that
the hair is made upright upon the head, mat
ted together with grease and secured by pins,
which by their material indicate the rank of
the wearer THIS pillow is considered a very
comfortable affair, and altogether superior to
the bags of feathers on which we outside bar
barians are wont to rccline our heads.
The Japanese, like the Chinese, take their
food with chopsticks, and indicate their en-
ioyment of it by loud snoring noise, not AT
all agreeable to civilized ears.
Being ALWAYS accustomed TO sit with their
legs bent up upon the floor, they find it pain
full to sit on chairs, complaining that the part
of the leg which hangs down, . is all the same
rs ii were cut off,
The mandarinS, when they 90 abroad, have
always great retinue: an umbrella capable of
covering thirty or forty persons, is held over
their heads, while two go before with
brooms to sweep away evil spirits in the air!
They believe in spirits, but not in the immor-
tality of the soul.
When 4 japanese gentleman walks abroad
he is always accompanied by servant whose
duty it is to carry three essential articles-an
umbrella to shade his master-his slippers, for
it is the genteel thing to 90 blrefooted, and
an eating-box containing food, lest his mas
ter should become faint on the way. When
this happens, the gentleman sits down upon
the groud, opens his box and eats his dinner
The japanese are bound to support their pa
rents while living, and to worship them when
dead This worship is the only social enjoy
ment they have, for they make an amusement
oft, though one would think it a very grave
one In fact the graveyard is the only place
of public resort, and is made place ofsensu-
al enjoyment. Every day the household re-
sorts to the family tomb, and there INDUCES
in eating, drinking, and wailing alternately.
This is their worship. Formerly they were
required to be three years by the graves Of
their parents, now fifty days wiIldo and they
sometimes even hire men to watch in their
stead. This indicates a lamentable decline of
piety, which, however, is not without its par
allel among the professors of higher faith.
.sV1croR GALBRAITH.'-This beautiful Iy-
ric by LoNGFELLow, in the May number of
Putnam's Magazine, is founded on fact il ap-
pears. The st. Paul (Min.) Democrat gives it
and adds to the complete understanding of the
poem. Victor was the son of DR.. Galbraith :,
of Galena, Illinois. He went to Mexico in
one of the Illinois regiments. lie was young
man of progressing appearance, active mind,
and too much independence and pride for a
soldier. The writer had forgotten that he
was 4 bugler, which it appears from the poem
he was. For some threat against his captain,
perhaps provoked by the insolence or tyranny
of his superior, he was tried, condemned and
shot, as narrated by Mr.. Longfellow. The un-
execution, destroyed their aim. and at the
first discharge he only horribly mangled.
The second fire E'put him out of his pain
and thus ignominiously died s:Yictor Gal
braith by the hands of his comrades. The
news of his melancholy fate, borne to his old
father, to his mother, to his brothers and sis
ters, was but one of the million ripples of
grief and agony that flowed from the desoIa-
ting tide of war. 1t would have been hard
for that old father to have heard news of the
death of his SON. pierced and hewed bv the