Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-05-22
The Innnnsss ar Wnshinnton.

| the observed of observers whenever they ap-
pear in public The mechanical is said to be
the chief faculty of these people, and they
sketch every thing they see, making outline
sketches and drawings with wonderful rapidity
and correctness. All have their note books,
and are continually taking items. The
writing and drawing instrument is fine
brush. 1t is attached to small inkstand,
the whole forming an easily pocketed case,
The brush is held perpendicularly, and piled
swiftly.
No religious obseryances are performed by
them before strange eyes, though they profess
principles of Oriental faith. Of the appear
ance of the japanese Washington letter
says: ft1 rIl" l1
The mystery of the origin of the Japanese
people is not to be in any way elucidated by
their appearance. They bear no close physi-
cal resemblance to any other nation. From
the Chinese, with whom they have frequently
been supposed TO be affiliated, they are as
distinct in appearance as in intellect. The
Chinese are heavy in countenance and yellow
in complexion-usually unattractive, to say
the l1sEst5 70 -tIe-eyo.- The Japanese have
bright, clear faces, and are literally, in many
cases, as white as we. Exposure to the sun
(they seldom wear hats) gives their cheeks
and brow deep tawny hue, but the hands
of those unaccustomed to toll, are as white
and delicate ss those of American ladies'
Wherever their skin is protected, it is perfect
ly fair. As for the popularity of expression
which marks almost all their faces, it appears
to be caused by their singular method of
dressing the hair. One or two Of the Embas-
sadoF's attendants, who had neglected shaving
for some days, and suffered their hair to fall
about after the American fashion, could not
excepting by their dress, be distinguished from
the sailors on board the Roanoke.
In other respects, the differences between
the Chinese and Japanese are more striking.
They have, indeed, the same religion-altho'
the primitive religion of Japan is elsewhere
unknown, Buddhism, which is also the Chi
nese faith, having been introduced only in the
sixth century-and to a certain degree the
same habits and ways of life. But the forms
of government, the character of the people,
and the most important of their customs, are
wholly different. The dignity, sensitiveness,
intelligence, neatness and enterprise of the
Japanese are the exact antitheses of Chinese
degradation, stolidity, filth and sluggishness.
To hint at possible resemblance between the
nations is to give Japanese his seveTest
pride-Yound. ftlf.
The japanese are generally smaller than
the average Of our people, but often stronger
in proportion to their size.
Mr. Robert Dandy, an engineer of the U.
S. Navy, who first visited Japan with Com.
Perry, and laid the first railroad and intro
duced the steam engine to the natives, en-
joyed rare opportunity for gathering memo
rials of the skill and ingenuity of the people.
Of the japanese curiosities brought to this
country by Mr.. D. the following description
is given:
Most interesting of all was the lacquer
ware-b0xes cups, plates baskets, &c, COW
cred with that delicate but very durable pol
ish, the knowledge and application of which
belongs to Japan. This lacquer, when proper
" prepared, is so hard that it can only be
scratched by the sharpest instruments, and is
uninjured by the hottest fluids. The luster is
like that of mirror. Jhe Japanese tops, of
which Mr.. Dandy has 40 different varieties,
each showing some novel capacity, are admi-
rably made. They deyelope, after starting
upon their rotations, unexpected proportions;
or they multiply into a fraternity of tops !;
or hourishing top family, small and frisky,
springs suddenly from a sage and matronly
spinner. Some tops give out the queerest
noises, some dance along upon strings in the
air, and some expand into fanciful and sym
metricai forms, wholly at variance with the
popular idea Of tops, sIr4ut II
Another curious possession of Mr.. Dandy
is a collection Of dolls, representing the vari-
GUS ages from childhood to manhood. These
served to explain, in a new way, the Japan
ese custom of arranging the hair. With
bows the hair Is shaved of the top Of the
head, from infancy, leaving only the narrow
rim around the sides and back. Until the
age of fourteen it is permitted to grow loose
", and is then gathered up in the manner
described in a previous letter, which is ad-
hered to through life With the girls the
hair is suffered through childhood to grow in
five locks, one over the middle of the fore
head, one each side Of the head, just above
the ear, one larger than the rest upon the
crown, and one upon the back Of the head
At fourteen these locks are gathered up, and
thenceforward there is no more shaving on
any part Of the head. The hair consequently
grows very rapidly and thickly.
-sal-1-
ATTEMfTED Ese1PE or BoorH-S.M NJ. Booth,