Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-10
Japanese Hnbits.

The following is from an article in tie
current number Of Lippincotts Msga-
zine, entitled with the Count de Beau
voir in Japan and California: :"
The great luxury of the Japanese con-
sists in their mats made of plated straw.
They are perfectly rectangular in shape,
about three inches thick and soft to the
touch They are never stepped on with
shoes, since the Japanese 60 about their
houses always barefooted. Of furniture
they have next to nothing; a small fur
mace in one corner, closet made Of
side scenes like the sides Of house, and
intended to contain the mattresses a
small set OF shelves, on which are ar
ranged the lacquered plates for rice and
fsh-this is all the furnishing for these
houses in which they live, as it were, in
the open air. In the middle of each
house are two articles of general use
among all classes-the chitat" and
the tobacco bon" that is brazier and
the box for tobacco. Being great tea
drinkers, great smokers and great talk
ers, the Japanese pass their days around
the brazier; there they can be seen in
groups of seven or eight seated on their
heels around the tea-kettle.
In every. shop our travellers visited
they were received with q distinction
and polteness which surpassed even the
proverbial manners of their native
country. In walking through the city
they passed through the street Of baths
In Japan, where every one lives as it
were, in public, the costume Of our first
parents in no way shocks the sentiments
of the people, who, in this matter, may
be considered as still in the Golden Age
This street is filled with bath. houses to
which the populace resort, many Of
them twice or thrice day. Here all
sexes, ages and conditions mingle, fifty
to sixty at time in each bath-house
The passer-by sees them crouched down,
or dancing on an inclined plane, sur
rounded by pyramids of small tubs made
of copper and filled with hot water.
Here they sprinkle and soap each other.
Attracted by the sight OF the travellers,
they come to ask 'the noble stranger"
politely for cigarette.
A woman seller of dry goods invited
the party to enter her shop and seat
themselves upon the mats. This was
for her great honor, and as the party
entered she saiuted them by bowling
until her forehead touched the floor,
then offering them tea in small cups,
she brought out tobacco for their pipes,
and presented lighted Goals held between
two chop sticks. II cannot hope"
writes the Count, :" to express to you all
the elegance of this woman of the people
in her slightest movements; her features
expressed the most simple womanly
afability as her habitual condition.
Well, in whatever house you may enter,
you will be treated with the same dis
tinction; we were almost stupehed to
find it, and confessed that this people
cen rightly call us barbaiians. | have
not seen single fight or dispute in the
streets; all the men, in saluting each
other with profound bows, wear a smile
upon their lips; and when we desire to
appear amiable. we are awkward and ill
bred, in comparison with these Japa-
nese, who are gracious without thinking
of being so. Among them a man who
gives way to his anger, or shows it in
his tone or words, is avoided by his kind
as unfit for society. Thus, when at first
our plenipotentiaries in the diplomatic
conference became animated, the Japa.
ness said: Let us put off this matter
for another day; we cannot treat with
those who are not masters of them
selves"