Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-05-10
Japanese Social Life.

A family in the middle class generally
live in low house, with thatched roof.
The houses are built in this way for safe
ty against earthquakes, which are common.
about century ago, 100000 people lost
their lives in Jeddo, by an earthquake.
The husband generally has but one wife !;
polygamy is allowed and the wealthier
men sometimes marry several wives, to
show their independence of custom, or
their ability to support large establish
ment. The marriage bond is esteemed sa-
cred and is rarely broken Where his ma
rital rights are invaded, the husband may
kill his wife and her Iaramour together,
without fear of punishment. Families gem
orally take their meals together, the hus-
band sitting little apart from the rest, to
show his superior dignity. At night the
family always go through form of wor-
ship, putting their heads down and extend
ing their hands in invocation Of their deity.
In the morning the father goes TO the door,
opens it, claps his hands and inyokes the
god of day. The morning meal is soon
ready and eaten, and the children are sent
off TO shool, where they all learn reading,
writing and calculating, and the girls sew
ing, besides. The women are well treated,
not being compelled to do heavy outdoor
work, and being admitted to many Of the
| lighter avocations, sach as that of clerk or
book-keeper in store. The wife and
older daughter share also in the recreations
of the head of the family.
Matrimonial matches are generally made
up by the parents or friends Of the parties
interested. After the preliminaries have
been discussed the parties themselves are
consulted. If they object strongly, the
match is not consummated, but filial obedi-
ence is made SO imperative duty that
this does not often happen. When the
preliminaries are fully agreed upon, the
parties are openly betrothed, with the ex-
change Of presents, and this betrothal is
rarely broken. Among the aristocracy,
if lover dies. his betrothed must remain
single through her life. Among the upper
classes widow may not marry again, but
in the lower class she may. She follows
her husband to the gave with an iron pot
on her head, her second,if she ontlives him,
with two iron pots, and so on.
Death is to the oriental mind the one
inevitable fate. Hence it is looked upon
with comparative indifference. and in the
funeral ceremonies there is no solemnity,
but often the greatest levity. In the
country all are buried in cemeteries, which
are well cared for. In the cities both bu-
rial and cremation are practiced. The
people generally have strong desire to be
buried in the ancestral burial lot. Zee
Suicides are frequent, both on account
of love affairs and losses in business
Hanging and drowning are the most COM
mon methods. Hari kari, or disembowel-
ing ones SELF is reserved for the higher
classes. This is considered highly honor
able, and it removes all disgrace. not only
from the man himself, but from his family,
in whose presence the act is commonly
committed. An honorable way of settling
family feud is for one of the parties to
kill his enemy, and then terminate his own
life by hari kari. The last act removes
the disgrace of the murder, aud leaves the
family without reproach in society.