The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-06-19
The Japanese.

THE Japanese are a perfect mystery.
A perfect mystery.
Nearly ten years have elapsed since the
doors were opened through which for
eigners entered to hold converse with the
inhabitants, and still we are only on the
threshold; and as to understanding the
people, we have never met the foreigner
who did SO. There are several who have
very excellent knowledge of the Ian
guSge, and pretty good notion Of the
manner Of life Of certain classes; but no
one has fathomed the depths of Japanese
inner life-by which we mean their modes
of reasoning, bent Of mind, and motives
of action.
At a glance, we should be apt to pro-
claim 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 Charac-
ter, which is only observed after long &C.
quaintauce. The suspicious that are
are always prevalent where espionage
prevails have quite stamped them; and
while their houses are wide open, and
they chatter at the top of their voices,
apparently regardless Of who may hear
or see them, they are, at the same time,
often giving good words with their lips,
only to mask their real thoughts and
intentions They seem to be all can
dor and sincerity; but In these very
virtues are they almost always found
to be wanting, when reliance ID
placed on them. Indeed, there is no
remark more frequently heard than
that there is no depending upon them, for
the truth is not in them; and yet we
know many Japanese who have been con.
nected with foreigners for years, of whom
should any speak slightingly, We
should be inclined TO resent it.
But the Japanese are mystery What
should be called the upper classes, are, al
yet, all but totally unknown to US. The
middle classes are only few degrees mor'
familiar to us; and Of the lower ranks
we only come into direct contact will
those who are our servants; men ant
women, generally speaking, well able t.
impress q foreigner favorablY at first, but
as 1t should seem incapable of appreciatint
favors shown to them, as proofs of regard
or returning anything like gratitude 70
them, or indeed reciprocating In anyway
They will work, and that well, for time
and the master or mistress is Just boastin
to q neighbor Of the treasure they posses
in their servants, when, without aword @
warning, or any cause for separation, o.
the day after their wages have been pai
up never beiore--they will just walk of
and their place knows them no more
There is no opportunity for remonstranc
or persuasion; they are of without wit
your leaVen or "by your leaye;" and 20
sit down and cry" these Japanese are
perfect mystery"
And Of the merchant class-Who know
anything? Society, we suppose, does nc
exist In Japan, In our acceptation OF u
word. Among the great, visiting must
rare because II Is said to be an acknow
edgment on the part Of the visitor Of b
/ inieriority to the visited. But after q
the years Yokohama has been opene'
I hardly foreigner knows whether II
men be meets daily In business are ma
ters or servants. Not q dozen among
/. have ever visited . Japanese merchant
: family hardly any have entertained
been entertained BY natives with who
) they are Ii constant intercourse as buye
or sellers. II Is but the natural course
. things that education should be unwillii
q to mingle with Ignorance, or rehneme
a with coarsenega and the grossness Of 3
L native will occasionally show Itself, ho'
!, ever guarded they may ps the only pl
= llatiol . mOdAHt man nal HHd l0I the