Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06
OUR NATIONAL GUESTS.

We present an interesting compilation OF
incidents upon the movements Of the Japan
ese Embassy at Washington, and of their pc
culiarit es, habits, &c. 2.
Habit Is second nature 1t is the habit OF
a japanese when he wants to seat himself.
to drop on his knees, cross his feet and turn
up bis heels, which latter he converts iat0
chair, the toes, instep and calves of the legs
being Thus brought into close contact
The Japan<s are decidedly the most gall
lant Of Oriental nations. Their women a. -e
treated a. companions, not rs slaves Poly
gamy is discarded BY them, aud their mat
rimoniai = item would be regarded, even in
this ooGtsE 1, as orthodox. Upon marrying
they inysflably shave the eyebrows of and
blacA s. ere toeth with liquid which also
AsEro s,s tit Jtamss Thisiast cssstorsIis some
times practised as soonsas an en- gageineat Is
formed They also, and in most cases befare
marriage, dye the lips with a sort Of rouge
called bing, which is manufactured from the
carthamus tinctorius, and prepared in small
porcelain cups. When a slight coat of this
is applied, it produces a bright red color -
but deep violet hue, the tint most prized,
can only be impaired by laying il on thick.
What is one mans food is another's poi
son." says the proverb, and doubt we
should find good deal of ruth in it If one
of the japanese and myself were to exchange
er eat any other flesh than pork, fish and
poultry, and but seldom of either. Rice,
bread and tea are their three great staples
but they also like an assortment of fresh and
picked vegetables.
Tee present Embassy no doubt owes its
origin to the diplomatic skill Of Mr. Town
send Harris who impressed upon the Jap
anese the importance of their becoming
more Intimately acquainted with foreign
L II
their last treaty that an embassy should be
sent within a short period The japanese
subsequently attempted 10 annul this obliga-
tion bat he would not consent to it, and
maintained that it would he of eventful ad-
vantage for Japan to send an embassy to
| the Uaited States. The new Tycoon, who is
now only in his sixteenth year, finding that
! our Consul General was resolute on the sub
/ iect consented to the first embassy visiting
the United States accordingly, and the result
/ is their presence among us.
/ 1t very much amuses the Japanese medica,
/ men TO hear themselves called doctors. -
When Commander Lee opened the door of
their room few days ago, and pointed TO
those entirely shaved headed gentlemen who
were looking over their effects, which were
scattered all over the floor, beds and boxes,
and said, These are the doctors" they
| laughed and repeated doctors" as if it struck
them being somewhat very funny.
The artist of the Embassy has already
large collection of sketches, and the number
goes on increasing every day. Most of tho
interesting scenes and incidents on the voy
age from Japan to Washington have been
depicted by him. In one of his sketch
bbeQks hs has RsRsIIs9 aoa1a Win a fzssttgds
also printing press, types, books, and COM
posters at work street scenes, embracing
Lii nd aTa1
drawings of each.
J One sketch in particular is likely to ar
) rest the attention-the subject is serving
) grog on board the Powhatan. 1t exhibits
: group of fifteen or twenty tars, each
( with acup, some drinking, some dipping into
J the container some smacking their lips, and
2 the expression, and tout ensemble of all per-
fectly life-like. lie has tw or three Gimp
: ses of the Panama railroad, which to them
: was the most wonderful object they met with.
: 1t is pity that their first experience of
r the iron roads of America should have been
: acquired on the Isthmus.
a On the occasion of the evisit of the Ambassa-
e doris and suite to the Presidents grounds on
S Saturday, Miss Lane, the Presidents niece, was
evidently curious to ex anime the blade Of 0gure
e Bungo Nokami's sword. For the information
l. of those who may not recognize this gentleman
IS by name, | will state his Office to be that oi
i censor or special supervisor to the Embassy
lie and the third highest in rank. Ogure Bun
S, 90 Nokami no sooner comprehended the de
at sire Of the lady to unsheath his catana-suct
r. is the name of the larger weapon of the tive
m than he smiled most graciously, and sai'
n in Japanese "Take it my lady" at the sam
i'll time handing it to her most gracefully. She
a upon this, drew the glttering blade from it
ne scabbard (half wood, half leather, with an in
ed Law of silver) and eyed it womanlike an
ce closely, and then returning it to its sheath
ut handed il back to its owner, who took it wit
evident pleasure that the thing OF his homo
ell ana defence should have excited interest 0
- the part of one so fair.
IT. PRESIDENT BUcHANAN's OPINION OF THEN.
Us A correspondent of the Herald gives Il
ler following account Of a conversation had Wit
re- President Buchanan:
on Abiding to the japanese, he said, "ThC
ou never speak to me without calling me Emp
ror and his Majesty, and are the most part
,ht lar people about what they should do"
ler erything was written down for them, statir
ne the course they were to take the number
ing bows they mnst make, and all that, before th
Sc left Japan. They can't understand me at q
nee You know they were in front to hear ths ba
r on Saturday. Well, / vent down the ste
ltn TO speak to some of my friends that | sa
lng and they couldn't understand that at all
'he To think that emperor Of the Uni
lest States-should 60 down among and shs
m lair hands with the people, astonished them "
tne derfully. Oh no, they couldn't understs
I'M that at all, 50 unlike anything in their coz
lere try. "How long sir, do you think the
tne remain in this country :" | asked. ''W
fci- / couldn't tell you; they are the queer
m people to deal with possible; there's no
the ting anything out of them, they're so c
eek, about everything May be they'll rem
her the hundred days, or perhaps only the si
MAJ, At any rate, they'll have to wait till
saa Niagara reaches Panama, and she has to
tiil round the Cape the worst season of the y
so that it will take them three months
'any sAh, these Japanese he continued, 'th
they the most curious people | ever saw. ]
ne" take notes Of everything. They've got
'ner long description of how l looked '
tne they had the reception, and eyeryt
mo they've seen nothing escapes them. Tn
the always sketching and taking notes of tn
nnot They're very proud. too, lean see !;
the bow very low, but they won't do more
WITH is prescribed for them in their instruct
by -..
come PREcocIoUs WIT.-A few days since
light tie ragged urchin was sent by tradesm
10 ia collect small BILL He began in the
way, but becoming more and more imp
1ners nate, at length the gentlemaa's patient
in0 axhaucted he caid IN him You