Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-06-06

-fn Ansericnn PecuiiRrities. % a-
One of the Japanese Embassy has written
another letter to their esteemed "Hakddadi,"
the double translation Of which, first in to
Dutch and then into English, makes il inn
possible to preserve the peculiarites of the
Japanese language, but the sentiments, the
Philadelphia Inquirer assures us, are rendered
with perfect accuracy. The letter, as trans
lated, runs in this wise; uf'ra T
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF AMERICANS.
We have been devoting ourselves, since |
last wrote to you, to the study Of HE man
ners and customs of this new and sinoular
people, Their most marked peculiarity an
pears 70 be their strange restlessness. II is
one OF their holy maxims, delivered 10 them
Dy one of the fathers of The Republic. "that
eternal vigilance IL the price of iiberty.p and
from recent events il has also been discovered
tnat eternal vigilance is the price of Slavery
All portions of the country are, therefore, in
obedience to these wise saws kept In a con-
stant state OF activity. Their countenanees
bear evidence of fearful anxiety, T.IF -
They never for moment seem TO eniov
the luxury of repose so dear TO all Eastern
nations and although they appear to be ru-
mlnating animals, they never chew the cud
with the placidity of the sacred cow. They
eat last drink fast, smoke fast and talk fast.
10 call them TO their meals they have i'm
porteN 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 spoon, and they fill
themselves in an incredibly short space of
time. Their diet 10 mainly the flesh of an
lmals; that Of the filthy creature, the hog, is
one OF their fayorite dishes; the hind legs are
the most esteemed portions and the lard or
grease is used universally. !. It is odd, that
with such tastes, they should have pre-
l9dice against eating much cleaner animal,
the dog, so great fayorite with the Chinese.
The dogs are kept, as with us, for the chase,
OF as pets; They use the same precaution to
prevent their doing mischief, that they en-
pioy to restrain their women, only they
place the wire cap on the dogs head. aH :
DRINKING THE NATIONAL AMUSEMENT.
Drinking is the only national amusement,
ana Is lndulged in by all classes at all times.
~ Is generally performed in standing posi-
ton, and highly esteemed from its interfering
50 little with the pursuit of business. They
use mainly the fermented Juice of the Crane,
out OF which various liquors are made most
delectable to the palate and far exceeding in
flavor our own saki. They obtain LIQUOR
from the Dutch called "gin,n 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 inebriating 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; it is made by re-
ligious sect, settled In his native province
its use is also permitted to the Senators,
being part of the treaty-making power, al
ways employed in that connection with the
Aborigines. The stronger liquors are drunk
in morning and at night, and the milder ones
during the afternoon.
SLEEP AND FORGIVENESS OF ENEMIES.
The people here rarely sleep.--never in the
day time, 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 "Bouze," and the worshipers are not
obliged as with us TO turn u praying ma
chine themselves. They are taught as the
highest exercise of virtue, to forgive their
enemies. In this the present Sly Coon, is
saidto excel. When their wrath is unkindled
against him, he gives them what are called
Post Office Blanks; we have no term for this
in our language, but they quiet tho 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
five years Of his life. His successor, it is
said, will be either splitter of bamboos, OF
maker of teapoys. Some of the people are
anxious to place venerable statesman on
the throne, but he was unfortunately edu-
Gated in early life, by the exertions of his in
s.s.x
able to exhibit the necessary self-reliancc.
How solemn 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 voice in the election of their
ruler, and he who has the greatest number
of voices is chosen.