Smyrna times., 1867-07-17

lips, and out went the light, and down went
the pipe on the table. Not being so fortunate
as to have any 6 Mandy for room mate, and
the household domestic being aged and dis
Greet, he did not leave the door unbolted, but
with growl at the bacheloric solitude of his
COUCH jerked down the kiver," plunged
within, pressed his innocent head on the pill
low, and after several moments of twitching,
turning and grumbing, settled on his back and
a fierce attack of snoring ensued, which closes
the scene
Imagine such a domestic existence as this
linked to the ETHEREAL, dainty and refined Miss
Preston. Enjoy your little madenly privi-
leges and arrangements while you can, " Miss
Charlie" for we fear that variety of circum-
stances in welded life would ruthlessly inter
tere with the systematic course ascribed to you
in preparing for night rest.-BGtt. Sun.
---
JAPANESE SOCIAL LIFE.-A family Of the
middle class generally live in low house, with
thatched roof The houses are built in this
way tor safety against earthquakes, which are
common. About a century ago about one hun
dred thousand people lost their lives in JeddO
by an earthquake. The husband generally has
but one wife pOygamy is allowed and the
weather. men sometimes marry several wives,
to show their independence of custom or their
ability to support large establishment. The
marriage bond is esteemed sacred, and is rare
ly broken. When his marriage rites are inva-
ded the husband may kill his wife and her
paramOur. Families generally take their meals
together, the husband sitting a little apart
from the rest, to show his superior dignity
At night the family always go through form of
worship, putting their heads down and extend
ing their hands in invocation Of their diety.-
La the morning the father goes to the door,
opens it, claps his hands and invokes the god
] Of HaV ha &c nd
eaten, and children are sent off to school, where
they all learn reading, writing and calculating,
and the girls sewing besides. The women are
well treated, not being compelled to do any out
door work, and being admitted to the lighter
avocations, such as that of clerk or bookkeeper
in store. The wife and older daughter share
also in the recreatlOns of the head of the faml
ly.
Matrimonial matches are generally made up
by the parents Of friends of the parties inter
ested. After the prelminaries have been dis
cussed the parties themselves are consulted
If they object strongly, the match is not con-
summated, but flial obedience is made so i'm
perative duty that this does not often hap
pen. When the prelimnarles are fully agreed
upon the parties are openly betrothcd, with
the exchange of presents, and their bethrotha
Is rarely broken Among the upper classes a
widow may not marry again, but in the lower
CldSSCS sic Hldy. one IOllOHS lcI uTSI nuSDduu
to his grave with an iron pot on her head, hel
second, if she outlives him, with two iron pots
and so on.
Death is to the oriental mind tho one inevi
table fate. Hence it is looked upon with com
parative Indifference and in the funeral cere
/ monies there is no sOlemnity, but often tht
greatest levity. In the country all are burieC
in cemeteries which are well cared for. In tn,
!, cities both burial and cremation are practiced
The people generally have a strong desire t.
be buried in the ancestral spot
Suicides are frequent, both on account o
g love affairs and of losses in business. Hang
t ing and drowning are the most common meth
: dds Hdri kari, or disembobeling ones self
/ is reserved for the higher classes. This is con
e sidercd highly honorable, and it removes a
+. disgrace, not only from the man himself bu
5 from his family, in whose presence the act
c commonly committed. An honorable way q
\ settling family feud is for one of the partie
e to kill his enemy, aud then terminate his Ow
e life by huri kari The last act removes tn
e disgrace of murder, and leaves the family witt
r out reproach in society.