The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-12-22
Manners al and Customs Of the Japanese.

A correspondent narrates some of the pecu-
liarities of the Japanese people:
In purchasing articles great pains should be
taken in examining that no indelicate repre-
sentations are upon them. The natural sense
of modesty of. the japanese is in striking va
rance with our instructive ideas. On the walls
of their homes, on their ornaments, and even
common household utensils, there are often
drawings whose nature may not even be hinted
at, but which would not be tolerated in civil
lied country. A certain bishop of the Church
Of England recently purchased anumber ofcuri-
osities in Japan without scrutinizing them with
sufficient care, and septth home.' They were
stopped at. the custom-house authorities in Lon-
don on the score Of indecencyi to the amuse.
mert Of his friends and his own intense mortl-
Acation, and some wag pablished in the papers
a laughable account, of the. affair." under the
heading of Clerical Absence of Mind" The
worst part of the joke was that some of the
rarost and most costly of the articles were in
tended as expressions of regard to ladies III the
diocese. :a.,,.re., &.
When japanese Lady appears upon the
street in moderate weather, it is with an open
vest, which exposes part of the bosom. Her
feet and ankles are also bare, but are always
beautifully clean and white In winter leggins
are worn un to the knee, and a heavy cloak is
wrapped around the body. and is surmounted
by athood like an opera-cloak, which covers the
head and leaves only portion of the face Wis
ibIe. In this costume they look like the hooded
and corded monks of the middle ages.
The quick intelligence and bright yivacity OF
these people command our constant admiration.
They embrace an idea with the. rapidity OF
lightning; the blood bounds along their veins,
and their intentions are ike an electric Hash.
In examining any new thing their curiosity be-
comes eagerness; they cannot rest until It's
points are understood, and then their econcu-
sions are drawn instantly. There Is no trouble
in conversing with Japanese, even II you q. 40
not understand word of the language. bis
quick apprehension reads your gestures and
Sims at once, and scarcely hasa thought arisen
in your mind but he is master of it. He takes
your meaning before you think it possible, and
as soon as YOU are aware of your own intention,
Won find he has already compassed it Its the
same in their intercourse with each other-a
Glance o few words rapidly uttered, and O swift
Gesture, then burst of laughter or peal of
merrimcnt. When strangers meet, there are
elaborate sglutations, much dignity and grave
countenances for the time, but their mercurial
temperament will mot admit of protracted sto-
liditty, and distant politeness soon gives place
to happy familiarity.
Young girls:are so quick and sDr1ghtly IN
their movements chat they scarce SEEM to touch
the earth % they bound along. With them al
fectiou seems to become at once passion,
which is lavished upon it's object with the un-
checked fervor and fiery glow of the Orient;
There are number of Chinese in the town OF
Yolsohoma, who have located there within a
for t. ana there ampe xS GR
that of the japanese. u
The former are slow of apprehension, stoieal,
apsthetic, cold-blooded and selfish. The ia,
panese, on the contrary, are ACTIVE, genial and
lively. Their conversation, is animated, and
interspersed With sparkling sallics of wit and
repartee. They have an Intense appreciation
of humor. Their admiration finds vent in
their constant ejaculations of wonder and sur
prise, and their daily intercourse is marked BY
urnbodhded lherality and hospitality. They
are Of warm, passionate nature, which wcuit