New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-24
LIFE IN THE ORIENT,
The Habits, Ways and Institutions of
the japanese.

the Japanese.
From a recently published book, "Japa
in Our Day." compiled and arranged iron
various sources and authorities, by Bayar,
Taylor, we extract the following:
JAPANESE DOCTORS.
The Japanese doctors are easily recos
nized by the severe air, their measured gait
and several curious pecularities, whicl
they appear to adopt purposely, accordin!
to their fancy. l have seen them with thu
head shaved like a priest, with long lock
rounded at the neck, or even with a flown!
beard. In this manner they acquire ;
general consideration among the people
and are often, especially in the houses o
the aristocracy, paid rather by cXterna
forms Of respect than by dollars. Such
indeed, are the conditions of life in mos
families that, toward the end of the year
after having met all the indispensable ex
penses, including family festivals, thu
theatre, baths, priests and excursions OF
pleasure, there remains very little for the
doctor. Nevertheless, the latter philosO
phically accepts the situation. He often
exhibits IL genuine disinterestedness and 4
zeal in the exercise OF his profession which
presume a passion for science; and is not
too much to say that the japanese physi
clans will probably be among the first to
|
| their country
The Dutch physicians, within the past tif-
| teen Years, have successfully introduced
| vaccination at Nagasaki. and the use OF
anatomical models into the medical school
at Mako. In September, 1859, Dir. Van
Meerdervort, having obtained the necessary
authority from the tycoon, assembled forty
five japanese physicians on a promontory OF
| the harbOr of Nagasaki, and from eight in
| a m in of lice cd bnI DIV
of a culprit who had been executed. There
| was considerable excitement among the
| people, but the governor allayed it 10y issu-
| ing the following proclamation: Consider
ing that the body of the malctactor has
| been of service to medical science, and con-
! se4uently to the public good. the govern
| ment undertakes to provide, within twenty
four hours, honorable burial for the remains
of the criminal. with the cooperation of the
ministers Of religion
A STREET SCENE.
| Among the contrasts which japanese
society offers there is one which nanitests
itself with sort of perverse fatality in
| almost all the streets of Yeddo. On one
side there is the orderly aspect Of the city:
on the other, the barbaTity OF manners re-
vealed by Il certain clasyOf official arrange
ments. Thus. while admiring the excellent
condition of the squares, pronenades and
ways of communication, the orderly char
acter OF the markets, and the movement Of
the crowds, all at once we are disa greeably
surprised to find in advance or on turning
the angle of a street. a high and heavy bar
rier of wood, painted black, like IA hideous
Indication of some scene of trouble or vio-
lence behind it. These barriers. which are
guarded by the agents of the tycoon. have
great central gate and two side doors
open during tie day, at least 50 long as
order is preserved, but Regularly closed at
nine or ten o'clock at night. Those who
are out late are obliged to pull the cord
beside one Of these doors, and answer such
questions as the chief yakounn OF the post
may address to them through wicket.
The citizen is allowed to pass though the
side door. but the central portal is opened
wide for nobleman.
BY day, when the police wish to make
arrests, domicilary visits. 70 intervene in a
street tumult, or 10 give succor in ease of
some serious accident. they commence by
isolating the theatre OF their operations by
closing these barriers.
JAPANESE ART WORKS.
Yeddo is the city where metals are worked
to the greatest extent The bronze estab-
lishments of the city are among the most in
teresting. cuIiosities of native art. Some
present the appearance of great hazars. dis
playing all articles OF sa,idery and harness.
as we'll as complete suits OF arlnor. and
cooking utensils of iron. copper. or tin. be-
sides the bronze objects. The latter contains
many things belonging TO the Buddhist wor-
ship. such richly chased bells. drums.
gongs. vases for the affairs, crowns of lotus
flowers. or vessels to hold bouquets OF nat
usal flowers. There are also affairs for per
fumes. resting on tripods. statues and
statuetteS Of saints and such sacred ami
m Is q q nd
fantastic Corean dog.
Next to the masterpieces of bronze and OF
porcelain, the triumph OF Japanese industry
is in the fabrication of furniture AMI u,cn-
sis of lacquered wood Such is the talent
with which the native artisans utilize the
Incompatible Japan varnish. the produce OF
the shrub which bears that nanlr; such is
their skill in combining lis effects with the
results Of their decorative art. that articles
Of furniture constructed of a material which
is almost valueless finally rival in beauty
and almost in durability, those which we
make of marble and precious metals. The
ebony workers of Yeddo initiate works in
oil lacquer so closely that only an expert
enced eye can detect the difference. In the
interior decoration of cabinets. boxes or
baskets of modern taste they generally use
lacquer of a brown color sprlnkled with
flakes Of gold On the outside the lacquer
is uniform. either red brown or black. with
ornamental drawing in two or three tints.
JAPANESE CONCERTS.
Metrical romances abl Legendary songs
are left to the women, who gain their bread
as singers ana musicians. They form very
numerous class; but only the inferior artists
lead an entirely nomadic life. We generally
meet them. very respectfully dressed, under
the verandahs of the tea houses. or in /. |
sort of portable booth. In the more fire.
uucnted gardens there are paviions which
seem to be specially constructed for their
use, often actual bowers OF foliage and
flowers. formed by the magnificent trees
which abound in Japan-camelias and mag
nolias, patllOwmas aud wisterias.
The most distinguished singers only APP
pear in company with three or four must |
clans, and do not themselves perform on
any instrument. The orchestra which ac
the pieces they Offer whether
or songs, consists OF one or two
samsins. or guitars. a species OF violoncello,
played with or without bow, and dulcl-
mer with nine strings.
One evening when we had attended a
OF musicians, l said to our yakou
mains, on the way home, that 1 regretted
not being able to understand the words of
their national ballads. They assured Inc,
smiling and Struggling their shoulders, that
really lost nothing. One of them. never
politely added that collections of
the songs and legends chanted at the tea
houses could be obtained at the book stores
in the city. ! commissioned a courier to
buy me what he could find. and had rea-
son to believe that he faithfully executed
MY orders, for he brought me whole IL
brary of stories, anecdotes and ballads
Most of them being illustrated, it was not
difficult for me to recognize the most popu-
lar subjects.
They were principally heroic exploits, of