The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-23
les. The third in com.

laws regulating domestic relationship Fhe
married state is the great relation OF mankind.
One should not live alone after sixteen years
of ace. but should procure mediator and
perform the ceremony OF matrimonial alliance.
The came kindred, however, may not inter
marry" AS an induoement to early marriages
we are told that "when line OF descendants
| Is prolonged, the foreheads OF ancestors ex
pand. X X childiess man should make
provision by the adoption of child to ensure
the succession of the family estate.
| The family estate of person dying without
male issue and without having adopted son
| is forfeited, without any regard to his rela
tions or connections" Coujugal infdelity on
the part of women of the lower classes ia a
crime on which the writer, as far as the State
is concerned, would be inclined to look merci-
fully; although he gives full power to the
injured husband to slay his wife and her se
duoer. But in order, we presume, TO avoid
oollusion on the husbands part, It is declared
that II he slay one OF them and spare the
other, his guilt sis the same as that of the
unrighteous PERSONS" But, adds the Law
giver, "men and women OF the mill
tary class are expected to know better
than to occasion disturbance by violating
existing regulations, and such one breaking
them by lewd triAing or illicit intercourse
shall 5e punished s. once and without de-
liberation" Concubinage is sanctioned within
certain limits but the wife is always supreme.
COnQnDinA
OF lord towards his vassal. The Emperor
has twelve concubines. Princes may have
eight. Officers of the higher class may have
hve mlstresses. samurai may have two
landmarks. But below this rank of life such
indulgences must cease. As in China, SO in
Japan, the persons of masters and fathers are
considered sacred, and any wrong inflicted on
them may be amply revenged without incur
ring the penalty of the law. This right is
granted in these words:-"A person hsrboring
such vengeance" q. e., for injury done to
master or father) "shall notify the same in
writing to the criminal court; and X no
check or hindrance may be offered to his carry
ing out his desire within the period allowed
for that purpose"
The harmony that should exist between
lord and vassal is much insisted on. The
writer says that this harmony ''has been
hkened to that existing between water and
fish," and he asks, Ought it not to be so ?
If the golden rule, 'Do not unto others that
which you would not have others do to you,'
be 80 firmly grated in the heart as not to be
lost sight of for q moment, the force Of exam
pie will induce interiors to conform to this
virtuous teaching" He fears, however, that
other means than example may be necessary
to induce interiors to walk in the way they
should go, and so enjoins fearful penalties for
characterization. 1.-THE guilt of vassal mur-
dering his suzerain is the same in principle as
immediate companions, his relations, all even
to his most distant connections, shall be
cut off and moved down, root and fibre. The
guilt of vassal only lifting his hand against
his master, even though he does not assassi-
nate him, is the same"
AS warning against wives meddling in
| their husbands business the writer says,
"When a wife occupies herself with outside
affairs y y it is pre-evidence of ruin to the
house; it is as when q hen is afflicted with
propensity to crow at morn, and an aifliction
Of which every samurai should beware.'
From such matters the writer turns to pro-
vincal regulations. He says, "ln the revo-
lutiOns of nature, countries, houses, noun
tains,> rivers, and ferries become damaged and
ruined, and considerable outlay is requisite to
put them in repair. A part of such expenses
is to be borne by the neighboring province,
in proportion to the number of kokus ii
produces. This tax is called provincial
thank-tribute. Next the roads and fields
have his care, and he ordains that, "includ-
| ing the trees on either side," the great sea
road 'should have a uniform width of 120
| feet" CROSSROADS and horse roads are TO be
| 80 feet wide footpaths feet, and by-paths 3
feet. "DwelliDgs shall not be erected on
ground under cultivation by husbandmen, as
the growth of bambOos aud trees round the
walls is prejudicial to the crops. = If
the boughs of large trees in the immediate
nelgh00rh00d OF villages In which the houses
are built oonsecutively become so large as to
interfere with the drying of grain, or to in
terrupt the payment of annual tribute, in the
first place the branches shall be cut of, and
If that is not sufficient the whole tree shall be
cut down."
The regulations for the preservation of
order on the roads are strict and emphatic.
"There are sixteen guard houses established
on the main roads and by roads of the districts
and provinces = in order to prevent
man or woman disturbing the public peace
The superintendent of these should
be entrusted to a samurai of the Fadai class
OF ancient lineage, without regard, however,
to his wealth. He shall see that the rules
written for their regulation are properly car
ried out Under certain circumstances, not
even needle should be permitted to pass;
but on ordinary occasions horses and vehicles
may go through"
AS may be imagined from the tenor of these
laws, the persons of members of the Imperial
family are considered sacred, and a death
amongst them ranks as a public misfortune.
The departure from life of the Emperor, the
Imperial sire, the Imperial spouse, or any OF
the Imperial blood relations, are occasions of
profound darkness, and great and ominous
calamity for the whole empire. In high an
tiquity on such occasions the eight sounds
were suppressed within the four seas X x <
and all kinds of festivals were observed in
silence. When an occasion of public mourn
ing arises, fixed term of mourning should
pe appointed during which every
instrument that emits a sound of what kind
soeVer shall cease"
Further on we are informed that evilly dis