Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-20
THE GAZETTE.
TUESDAY MORNING. sErrrupEn 20, 1853
LIFE IN JAPAN.

LIFE IN JAPAN.
From an interesting letter written from Ma
gasaki, which appeared i'll the Scotsman, we
take one or two extracts:
1.-The revolution that has taken place in for
eign relations with Japan since the English
and American ships began to trade at Ma
gasaki, some three months ago, is truly won
derful. In fact. may say, without much
exaggeration, that the Anglo-Saxons have
made about as much progress in Japan IN
three months as the Dutch have done in as
many centuries! Since the trade was open
cd TO other nations the Dutch flag is not
even predominant. The English discharge
and load quicker, sail faster, and in gener-
III way work round the llollanders, who have
not the same notion of the value OF time
The late rush Of foreigners to Nagasaki has
completely upset the equilibrium Of the
small, quiet trade that has been done, as if
by machine. for two hundred years. As
might have been expected, everything is
overdone, and every one who tries his hand
there now is sure to be disappointed. This,
however, will find its level in time. When
the Japanese get used to low prices for imp 'rts,
they will be able to take off increased quanti-
ties, and when the demand for their exports
has its legitimate effect they will increase
the production.
The Government of Japan is u phenome-
non. 1t is the most absolute desPotsm in
the world, and perfectly successful. The
people are as submissive as lambs. They
never seem to dream of opposing the will OF
their superiors. The Government is carried
on by swarms of officers, who seem to be
ubiquitous, acting Us spies on the people and
on each other. These officials are each in
his turn the abject slaves Of their immediate
superiors up to the Emperor himself. They
dare not accept the smallest present without
permission" A merchant dare not buy or
sell any goods without a general permit, or
elsea special sanction for each transaction.
In this way you will readily perceive that be-
sides the regular government monopolles,
any article Of merchandise is liable TO be
come a Government monopoly at any mo-
ment by simple order. And yet with all
this-what we call slavery-the people seem
to feel no hardship. Their bondage sits
lightly on their shoulders. They seem hap
py, comfortable, and well-to-do. No signs
Of meanness. poverty, or shabbness. The
streets and houses are clean to proverb.-
The people take great pride in cleanliness
The floors Of their houses are carpeted with
fine, clean, white mating Of native manu-
facture, SO clean that they put of their shoes
before entering room. Foreign visitors, by
the-by, are expected to do the same; but John
Bull is much too bumptious to humor the
natives in that way. As to their personal
cleanliness, that is placed beyond all doubt
by the institution of public baths, wherein
you may see the whole population every al
ternoon washing by turns.
For the present this despotism is consistent
with great prosperity and contentment on
the part of the people, but it seems to me that
it is only their exclusive policy that has kept
it so. The people have no knowledge OF IL
berty, and consequently they do not know
that they are enslaved. If they have an
influx of noisy. busting Europeans among
their population, they may, by and by, tind
out their true position and try and alter II"
IMPORTANCE OF PuNcTUALITY.-Metho is
the very hinge of business, and there is no
method without punctuality; it is important,
because it subserves the peace and good tenn
per of family; the want Of it not only in
fringes on necessary duty, but sometimes OK.
cludes this duty. The calmness of mind
which it produces is another advantage OF
punctuality; disorderly man is in hurry,
he has no time to speak to you, because he
is going elsewhere; and when he gets there
he is too late for his business, or he must
hurry away before he can finish it. Pune
tuality gives weight to character. "Such
a man has made an appointment and |
know he will keep it." And this generates
punctuality in you: for like other virtues 1t
propagates itself Servants and children
must be punctual where their leaders are 50.
Appointments, indeed, become debts. owe
YOU punctuality, if have made an appoint
ment with you. have no right to throw
away your time, if | do my own.
An ELOQUENT ExTRAcT.-Generation af-
ter generation have felt as we do row and
their lives were as active as our own. The
heavens shall be as bright over our graves as
they are around our paths. Yet little
while and all this will have happened. The
throbbing heartw will be stilled, and we shall be
at rest. Our funeral will wend its way, and
the PRAYERS will be said, and we shall be lett
IN the darkness and silence of the tomb
And it may be that tor short time we snaii
he spoken Of, but the things of lite shall
creep on and our names shall be forgotten.
DAYS will continue to move on, and laugh
ter and songs will be heard in the room
where we died and the eyes that mourned
for us be dried and animated with JOY, and
even our children will cease TO think of US,
and will remember to lisp our names no more.
/,
A LEXANDRIA COUNTY COURT, JUNE 9,
n ls59-William A. Dean Co. vs.. r. W.
Robinson and others-In Chancery. This cause
came ON to be heard this 9th day Of June, 1859,
anon the bill and exhibits filed in the cause.-the
iii being taken for confessed to the defendants,
al was argued by counsel. On consideration
whereof The Court doth adndgc, order, and decree,
thar this cause be referred to one Of the Master
Commissioners Of this Court, who. after giving not
he, than two weeks notice, by publication IN one
~ more newspapers published in Alexandria, shall
ascertain and report 10 the Court what liens exist
AGAINST the property in the bill mentioned, BY deed
Of trust. judgment, or otherwise the amount ana
of Srcb l;ens and tho annual value OF