Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-06-22
0W0reester 1ailn Spp.

VISIT TO JAPANESE PEACH GABDEN.-To
the peach garden we went though the fruit was
no longer procurable but the place was nrat-
tiy laid out with trees, grass, artificial lakes.
bridges, and pleasant summerhouses and yer-
andahs The establishment was under the
management of or belonged to lady. and as
NO. functlonary had staggered about, and
Giiighlened them as to the important positions
Lord Elgln and he held, arrangements were
made for refreshments Their being no chairs
IN Japan, we threw ourselves at full length
upon the nice clean mats Several low tables
just nigh enough for people seated cross-legged
on the ground, were placed near, and then the
hostess upon her news, commencing with the
Ambassador, presented each person with a cup
OF tea. She was remarkable good-lookine
lady-like woman. Nothing could have been
more graceful than her manner; and the pos
ture OF kneeling, accompanied by low bow
10 signify prostration at ones feet is the Gus
ton OF the country, where every subordinate
prostrates himself in the presence of his SUI
perlor. This loving cup having been present
ed, she stood aside, and directed her servants
TO place fruits and other refreshments before
us; her teeth were blackened and consequent
ly she must be a married woman, though no
husband appeared. Possibly she was a widow
but II so, she had decidedly reached that stage
OF wldowhood known as that of mitigated woe
are undecided up to this moment whether to
ascribe our being attended upon by the ugly
handmaidens of the establishment, to the mat
ronly prudence ofour good hostess alone, or to
some vlllalnous reasons of functionary "No. g"
but there, away in the distance, we saw such
pretty girls
The poor ugly ones one should always feel
Tor ugly women, dear reader. Heaven, no
doubt, intended all women, like the flowers. to
be pretty or beautiful an ugly woman is a
mistake-but, any rate, there were two of these
untortunates sent to attend upon the ambassa-
dor and his party. In justice to them, it must
be SAID that their scrupulous cleanliness, neat
ness, and quick wit with which the poor girls
saw exactly what each guest wanted, recon-
clled us to them amazingly and none enjoy
ed the joke more heartily than they did, when
some Of the party beseeched the prudent ma
tron to allow the handsome young ladies to
wait on us; request she met with a shake of
the head, and glance at that abomnabe fel-
low, No z tunctionary," who, doubtless, thus
reVenged himself upon us for the gallon we
had inflicted upon him on his brass-bound de-
mi-peak saddle. The dress of Japanese wo-
men is simple, but graceful. The robe which
crosses the breast, close up to the neck, or a
little lover, according to the taste of the wear
er, reaches nearly down to the ground, and has
loose sleeves, leaving the wrist free. This
robe Is confined round the body by a shawl
which is tied behind in bow, the ends flow
ing. Everything in Japan, even to dress, is
regulated by law, and the sumptuary have been
very strict until lately, when contact with Eu-
ropeans appears to be bringing about a slight
relaxation. The color worn by all classes of
men in their usual dress is black, or dark blue,
of varied patterns; but the women very prop,
erly are allowed, and of course avail them !
selves of the privilege, to wear brighter dress
es. Yet their taste was so good that loud and |
noisy colors were generally eschewed Their
robes were generally striped silk of gray, blue,
OR black; the shawl some beautiful bright color
crimson, for instance; and their fine jet
black hair was tastefully set off, by having
crimson Grape, of very beautiful texture,
thrown in among it. OF course we speak of |
the outdoor dress of the women-their full |
dress within doors is. we believe, far more
gay.-BlacktCood' Magasine.