The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-05-19
A PerfecI Mystery.

The japanese are = perfect mystery.
4 perfect mystery,
Nearly ten yearS have elapsed since the
doors were opened. Though which foreign
( ers entered 70 hold intercourse with the
inhabitants. and still We are only on the
Z threshold; and Is 70 understanding the
( people. We have never yet met the foreign
eC who did 80. There are several who
have very excellent knowledge Of the
language. snd a pretty good notion Of the
manner Of life Of certain classes; but no
one has f2thomed the depths Of japanese
inner liis-by which we mean their modes
( Of reasoning. bent Of mind. and motives Of
action. AT r.anoe, We should be apt 10
proclaim them a good humored, happy.
easy going, but withal proud and shrewd
race And the longer they are known.
these characteristics appear more clearly
But there Is besides kind Of hidden
character. which Is only observed after
long acquaintance The suspicious that
sre slways prevalent where espionage pre-
walls. have quite stamped them: and
whilst their houses are vide open. and
they chatter - the top Of their voices. ap-
parently regardless Of who may hear or see
them. they are 81 the sane time. often CIV
ing good words with their lips, only TO
mask their real thoughts and intentions
They seem 10 be zli candour and SINGER
ity; but in these very virtues are they al
most always fonn6 70 be wanting. when re-
lance Is plzced OF them. Indeed. there Is
no remark more frequently heard than
that there Is no depending upon them;
and yet We know many japanese who
have been connected with foreigners for
years, Of whom. should any speak slight
inEly, We should be inclined to resent It
Bet the japanese are . mystery
What should be called the upper classes.
are as yet. 81 but totally unknown to Us.
The middle classes are only few degrees
more familiar 10 Us; and OF the lower
ranks. We only cone into direct contact
With those who are our servants: men
and women. generally speaking. well able
TO impress 8 foreigner fsvOrably at first.
but, Is II should seem. Incapable OF sppre-
eating favors sheEu 10 them. as proof Of
regard returning anything Ike gratitude
for them or indeed, reciprocating in any
way. They viii work. and that we'll for a
time; and the master OF mistress IL Just
Boosting 10 a neighbor. OF the treasure
they possess IN their servants. when with
out q word Of warning. or any cause for
separation, on the day after their wages
have been paid up-never before-they
vii Just walk Of. and their place knows
them no more. There Is no opportunity
Of without with your leave" or by
your ieave.;7 and you sit down and CRY
!" these japanese are perfect mystery
And OF the merchant elass-Eho knows
auythings Society. We suppose. does not
exist in japan, in our aeceptation Of the
word Amongst the great. visiting must
De rare; because II Is said 70 be an &C
acknowledgement on the part Of the visitor
Of his infen0rity 70 the visited But after
al the years Yokohama has been opened, (
hardly foreigner knows whether the men
be meets daily IN business are masters or
servants Not = dozen among Us have
ever visited japanese merchants family:
hardly any have entertained or been en-
tertaiaed By natives with whom they are
IN constant intercourse q buyers or sellers. I
Il Is. bit the natural course Of things that
education should be unwilling to mingle I
With ignorance. or refinement with coarse
ness: and the grossuess Of the native viii [
occasionally sheE itself however guarded I
they nay BE-; the only palliation modest /
man can find for them being the of repez- I
ted error, that they see no harm in it,
We hsye known foreigners invited By 4
japanese 70 feast. who instead Of being I
received. as they expected. at the house Of |
the host. were taken to very different 4
kinc Of place; where fe2stirg and other 1
pleasures were as vel obtsinable without /
a friend Introduction as with It. BY those 1
who possessed silver key. And the re-
narkable thing Is. thai they thought the |
foreigners liked IL When assured 70 the /
contrary, there was no invitation TO their
Own houses No-the native and the 4
foreigner l. hardly any nearer TO social IA
nillanty. than before the treaties we're
made. Of the soldier class. officers or pr |
yates. as little Z known They are often /
times very curious 10 their examination Of /
every house TO which they can obtain an
entrance; and not OILY Of the house itself. /
bat everything in IL Among themselves,
it would be the height Of bad breeding to