Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-12-04


says that the Prince of Cinano, (Cinano-no-
KamD to whose particular care it seems the en-
peror confded his comfort and amusement, fam
ewing that he was having dull time in the i'm
mense house that had been appropriated to him,
called up some of his jugglers to perform before
linn and help him pass it. One of them was
the Anderson" of Japan--his fcats we're so
wonderful that | am almost afraid to write them
/ wish it distinctly understood, therefore, that
am only repeating uadt Mr. Harris told us, and
mhdt pe consequently beiiere. Here are some of
his feats
No. |. He took an ordinary boys top, spun
it in air, caught it on his hand, and placed it
(stll spnning) upon the edge of sword near
the hilt. Then he dropped the sword point a
little and the top moved slowly toward it. Ar
rived at the very end, the hilt was lowered in
turn and the top brought back. AS usual, the
sword was dangerously sharp.
No. 2 was performed with the top. He spun
it in the air, and then threw the end of the
string back towards il with such accuracy that
it was caught up and wound itself already for u
second cast. by the time it had done this it
had reach his hand and was ready for another
spin.
No. was still performed with the top
There was an upright pole, upon the top of
which was perched little house with very
climb the pole, knock open the said front door,
and disappear. AS well as | remember the
hand end of the string was fastened near the
door, SO that this was almost repetition Of the
self-winding feat.
But feat No. was something even more as
tonishing than all this lie took two paper
butterflies, armed himself with the usual paper
fan, threw them into the air, and tanning gently,
kept them flying about him as if they had been
alive.
'He can make them alight wherever YOU wish
Try him " remarked the Kami (prince) through
the interpreter.
Mr.. IL requested that. one might alight
upon each ear of the juggler. No sooner ex-
pressed than complied with. Gentle undula-
tions of the fan waved them slowly to the re-
quired points, and there left them comfortably
seated. Now, whether this command over
pieces of paper was obtained simply by currents
of air. or by the power of a concealed magnet,
Mr.. Il could not tell or ascertain. One
thing, however, was ccrtain--the pocer ,caS
there
Let us turn from jugglers to theaters. 1t
seems that there are only four Of the latter in
Ycddo, and that they are all alongside of each
other. Hence, if Japanese on the edge of the
city wishes to attend one of them, he must take
some foot exercise before being able to do so.
l say tnat ne must walk, Tor no one nut tne
princes in Japan are allowed to ride, as a gene
raj rule, and hey must rite. either in chair or
on horseback, as they choose. In the latter
case, the horse is led by a groom on each side,
and is never allowed to go out of walk
While passing by these theaters, Mr.. IL. ex-
pressed wish to attend performance. but his
princcly conductor was very much shocked, tell
ing him that none but the common people ever
went to such places. Ii the nobility wanted to
see anything Of the sort, they male the actors
come to them.
Speaking Of the stores of Yeddo, Mr.. H
observed that we would he surprised at their
size, at their contents, and at their great mum
ber of statesmen. each of whom hai his dozen
or more boys standing behind him to execute
| his orders. Upon entering the immense build
ing YOU goods at ALL he said. The,
are stored in fre-proof buildings in the rear
When customer enters and asks for anything
the salesman orders the shop-boys, the shop
boys apply at the fre-proof, the keeper OF tht
| hre-proof checks against each one that which
he takes, the salesman makes his sale eacl
shop-boy returns to the fre-proof his part o
what remains, and at night the salesman ac
counts to his employer for the difference. Thu
is business conducted in the large houses o
Japan