The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1860-06-02
A J.p.nese Desu.teh Home.

Although. says the Philadelphia Inquirer, our
Washington correspondent has been unable thus
far to obtain any copies of the Japanese des-
patches to their government, gentleman of this
city has been fortunate enough to obtain the
sight of friendly letter of one Of the commits
sioners to an acquaintance in NiphOn. Under
promise to conceal the name of the writer, he
has been authorized to publish it, and has kindly
placed it in our hands. We insert It below:
PROM THE SACRED CITY OF WASHINGTON.
l3Yosf Esteemed Hakoel1G We have been In
vi,ed to visit next in order, the great city Of
Philadelphia, or, "the place consecrated to fra
ternal affection" the capital of the province
which is the birth place Of the American tycoon.
Our reception, we are informed, will he attended
with the most august ceremonies that the city
ever offers to its most distinguished guests. The
Counclmcn, after examining our credentials
hi We decided to place us on footing with "the
most favored foreign Fire Companies.
The details of cur reception by the American
Tycoon, you have in my former letter. He Ia
called, not Tycoon, but "President," sometimes,
however, by strange analogy of language, '''old
COON" / at first tho't this an attempt to pro
nounce our Japanese phrase, but am assured that
it is strictly idiomatie, and implies astuteness and
age. 1t certainly seemed applicable to the head
OF the nation who received us.
We find il very difficult to comply with the
demands of our sovereign, forbidding us TO touch
the women of this country. Not from any dis
position on our part to disobey, but from their
desire to seize us by our hands. They are APP
parently allowed here the greatest freedom, but
it is only in appearance.
Every woman, married or single, is fastened
in cage of bamboo or flexible steel, extending
from the waist to the feet. This seems to be so
arranged as to give them no uneasincss, but they
are very much ashamed of it, and conceal it un-
der so many coverings, that it renders their APP
pearance quite ludicrous. They are unrestricted
as to the upper part Of their persons, WHICH they
are permitted to expose as much as they wish.---
This they seem to avail themselves Of, and ON
all occasions Of high ceremony wear very low
dresses As in all barbarous nations, they slit
their ears and suspend from them ornaments Of
gold and silver. They also paint and pow;ier
themselves and after greasing their uair, twist IL
into fantastic shapes, and fasten 1t up with long
| pins and combs. Some of them would be fine
looking, if they did not disfgure themselves BY
| the hdeous and vulgar custom Of weafin. eye
brows and keeping their teeth white. BE as
surcd, therefore, that we are in no danger Of
| being cap,iyatcd by their appearance; we feel
| nothing but regre. that the barbarous and abb
| surd custom of man should thus destroy the
charms which cultivation and refinement would
SO much improve.
| Nothing strikes us 80 much as the want Of
respect these barbarians show even to their
| highest digniiaries; they never hesitate to spit
before them, and it requires considerable activi
ty to prevent being spat upon at all times, The
custom of wearing one sword, il seeips, origin,
| ated from this cause o. /, eEahias you to avoid
with greater facility the saliva Of your neighbor.
Chewing tobacco Is much priced, II seems, from
the saliva 1t produces, which is preserved when
possible, in handsome vases Of porcelain, and
placed in prominent positions. None Of tpe
inhabitants do reverence VI crawling on their
bellies, except after the election of the new Ty-
| coon. when those in search Of Office come to the
centralcity aud perform that ceremony. Those
/ who are fortunate enough 10 meet with honor
from tie Tycoon seldom walk uprightly during
I their whole term Of Office. The unfortunate ap
/ nlicants become ct once ccnsars or spies upon
| the others, and their silence has to be bought
Al Z high price. All public servants have their
nr;ce- which rises or falls according To the neces
| sites OF the Tycoon But shall reserve my re-
elections on political tOpics till have another
4 opportunity 70 address you Cndl then, rest IL
peace.
The New York Sun recognizes the quality and
Gt,,ess Of Lincoln, whose domination i admits y
| : stroux one. he sayG--
ayr. Lincoln Il peculiarly sclf.made. self
/ educated man. and Il, 10 al respectA sterling
renresentstiye Of the s.go-ahead' American cha
K racter. That he would, " elected, make goOt
i President NC do not entertain doubt. Hi
changes OF an election are certainly good. unles
the Democratic show more wisdom ~ bAltimor'
than they did ct Charleston. The people A.
tired Of being ruled by.professcd politicians, aIs