Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-08-03
A IAPANEsE EpIsTLE.

HIat itV butch ana then INTO bnglsh, makes
it impossible to preserve the pccuiarities Of
the japanese language, but the sentiments,
we arc assured. are rendered with perfect ac-
curacy .- Philadelphia Inquirer.
/ The CENTRAL CRY or WAsutveroN.
ESTEEMED HAKonADt.-You will per-
ceive by the date of my letter that we are at
the Central City, the sacred residence of his
Majesty the Sly-Coon. We have been de-
voting ourselves, since last wrote to you TO
the study Of the manners and customs Of this
new and singular people. Their most marked
peculiarty appears 10 be their strange rest
lessncss. 1t is one Of their holy maxims, de-
livored to them by one Of the fathers Of the
Republic, "that eternal vigilance is the price
of liberty" and from recent events it has also
been discovered "that eternal vigilance is
the price Of slavery All portions Of the
country are, therefore, in obedience to these
wise laws kept in constant state Of activity.
Their countenanccs bear evidence Of fearful
anxiety. They never for moment seem to
enivy the luxury Of repose so dear to all east
ern nations, and although they appear to be
ruminating animals, they never chew the cud
with the placdity Of the sacred COW They
eat fast drink fast, smoke fast, and talk fast
To call them to their meals, they have i'm
ported the great Chinese war gong. When
this is sounded, every association is forsaken,
and they rush with violence TO be fed. They
arm themselves with broad fork. with four
prongs, knife and a spoon, and they fll
themselves in an incredibly short space Of
time. Their diet is mainly the flesh &C ami
mails that Of the filthy creature the hog, is
one of their favorite dishes the hind legs
are the most esteemed portions and the lard
or grease is used universally IL is odd, that
with such tastes, they should have preju-
dice against eating a much cleaner animal, the
dog, SO great iavorite with the Chinese.
The dogs are kept, as with us, for the chase
or as pets.
Drinking is the only national amusement.
and is INDUCED in by all classes at all times.
1t is generally performed in a standing posi-
tion, and is highly esteemed from its inter-
ferng so little with the pursuit of business.
They use mainly the fcrmcnted juice Of the
grape, ont Of which various liquors are made,
most delectablo to the palate, and far exceed
ing in flavor our own saki. They obtain
liquor from the Dutch called Gin" out Of
which they make a mixture bearing the name
Of the tail Of the male fowl imported from
Shanghai They also manufacture out OF a
liquor called Brandy" drink intended to
commemorate the Introduction Of railroads.
"smashes,' our interpreter calls them. But
an inebriatng wine called champagne,
which explodes, is more to our taste than
either gin cocktails or brandy smashes, and
it is not so powerful. The drink of the sly
Coon is called whisky il is made by re-
ligious sect, settled in his native province.
Its use is also permitted to the Senators, be-
ing part of the treaty making power, always
employed in that connection with the Abo-
rignes. The stronger liquors are drunk in
the morning and at night, and the milder
ones during the afternoon
The people here rarely sleep-nevcr in the
daytime. except upon the first day Of the
{ week. when they perform their religious ex-
ercise during these they are said to sleep
quite soundly The active part is taken by
the "Bouzc," and the wofshippers are not
Obliged, as with us to turn a praying ma
chine themselves They are taught as the
highest exercise of virtue to forgive their
enemies. In this the present Sly Coon, is
said to excel when their wrath is enkindled
against him, he gives them what are called
Post-Oh Blanks we have no term for this
in our language, but they quiet the most vio-
lent until they are printed BY this means
he has conciliated all his enemies and lost all
his friends He will soon, however, retire
from his high station. which it seems he
never sought, except during the last sixty
6vo years of his life. His successor, it is
said, will be either a splitter of bamboes, or
a maker Of teapoys. Some of the people are
anxious to place venerable statesman on the
throne but he was unfortunately educated in
early life, by tho oxertions of his iniudicious
PARENTS and has not, therefore, been able to
exhibit the necessary seii-relance. How
solemn a warning this, oh Hakodadi against
parental indulgence, which often, with the
best intention, plants thorn which no after
exertions can eradicate All the people have
a voice in the election of their ruler, and he
who has the greatest number Of voices is
chosen The head men here talk Of nothing
but the chances of their iayorites. It is
essential that he should be in favor Of free
trade, high tariff, Of peace and the annexa-
ton of Cuba, together with strict economy in
the finances, and the construction Of a rail-
road to the Pacific Ocean. But the great
difficulty seems to be about set Of people
with back faces and wooIly heads. They
cannot go, it appears, into certain parts Of the
country where it is very cold, and their mas
ters think the Tycoon ought to heat it for
them, as the Constitution gives them right
to go there.
Tur ANnrr or Sonpo,v - Oftap 10 docn