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

\ correspondent narrates some OF the pccu-
liarities of the japanese people:
In purchasing articles great pains should be
taken in examining that no indeicate repre-
scntatons are upon them. The natural scnse
of modcsty of the japanese is i'll striking va
rance with our instructive ideas. On the walls
of their homes. on thcir ornaments, and even
common household utensils, there are often
drawings whose nature may not even be limited
at. but which would not bc tolerated III civil
lied country. 4 certain bishop of the Church
Of England recently purchased number ofcurl-
ositics in japan without scrutlnlzlng them with
sufficient care, and sent them home. They were
stopped at the clistOn-housc authorities In LON
don on the score of indcrency, to the amllse-
mcnt of his friends and his own intense morti-
ncation, and some wag published i'll the papers
laughable account of the affair. under the
heading of Clerical Absence of Mind The
worst part of the joke was that some OF the
rarcst and most costly of the articles were in-
tended as expressions of regard to ladies III the
diocese.
When a 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 eggins
arc w0rT uD 10 lIlc huCc, s'iiN ct HNN's SA''sN
wrappcd around the body, and is Surmountcd
by q hood like All opcra-cloak. which covers the
head and leaves only portion of the face Wis
iblc. In this costume they look like the hooded
and corded monks of the middle ages.
The quick intelligence and bright vivacty OF
These proplc command our constant admiration.
They embrace M idea with the rapidity OF
lightning; the blood bounds along their veins.
and their intentions are like IN electric flash.
In examining any new thing their curiosity be-
comes cagerness; they cannot rest until Its
points are understood, and then their conclu-
sions are drawn Instantly There is no trouble
in convcrsing with u japanese, even ii YOU 90
r.t understand :, word of the language. HIS
on;rk apprehension reads your gestures and
s,.us at once, and scarcely has Il thought arisen
in your mind but he is master of it. He takes
yoiIr meaning before YOU think it possible and
=. soon as YOU arc aware of your own intention,
Won find he hats already compaSscdi it. 1t is the
same in their intercourse with each Others
glance, Il few words rapidly uttered, and swift
gesture. then n burst of laughter or peal of
mcrrimrnt When strangers meet, there are
elaborate salutations, much dignity and grave
countrnanccs lnr the time, but their mcrcurlal
temperament will not admit of protractcd >to-
liditv. and distant loitcncss soon gives place
to happy familiarity.
Young girls are 40 quick and Spr'ghtly IN
their movements that they scarce seem TO t"ucn
the earth as they bnsnd along. With them at
lection seems To become al once passion,
which is ayishcd upon its object with the nn-
checked lcrvur and fiery glow of the Orient.
There nre number of Chinese in the town of
Yokohon., who have located there within a
few wears for business and there Is ample OPP
,,,,,;,, 4, run,r,,r,, tIrir trnlurramrut with
that Of the Japanese.
The former are slow of apprehension. stoical
apathe,ic cod-hlo~icd and ,'.i!ish. The la;
pancsc. ON the contrary, are :r'Ac, genial and
! lively. Their conversation = animated and
intcrspcrsell with sparkling sai'ic> of wit and
rcpartec. They have an inisn~r appreciation ~
of hnm"r. Their admiration finds vent IL
their constant CALCULATIONS of wonder aud sur
prise, and their daily intercourse is marked by
rnboundd liherality and hospitality: The,
are of warm, passionate nature, which woult