National Republican., 1877-02-25
AJiPINESE HOLIDAY.

No excuse is too trivial In the eyes of JAP
anese OF the old school for aholiday-Saints' days,
anniversaries of the births, deaths, and deeds Of
tho great OF old times the first and last days Of
the four seasons, festivals In honor of the great
tutelary deties, and, In addition, the particular
white days Of every private family, are all seized
upon as pretexts for temporary escape from the
counter, the desk, the field, and tho workshops.
Sundays, in our sense OF the word, they have
none, but "ichirotU," or one day
In every six, is always 4 strict holi.
day, the shops and public Offices being closed
and the pleasure resorts crowded.
The citizen Of modern Jeddo holds the hlstorI.
cal associations OF Uweno Of far less account than
the fair which is annually held there In the
month OF March, when the cherry blossoms are
10 all their glory, and when every one deems It
the first signs Of spring. From very early hour
the streets leading TO the park are crowded with
holiday makers Of all grades Of society and Of ali
ages. Livery man, woman, and child has donned
his or her clothes Of the brightest holiday hues,
and the usually sombre streets are ablaie with
The toilette Of q Japanese damscl is a matter
OF no light consideration, and to be In good time
oH ons S
mountain, Fuji. The long coarse tresses OF raven
black hair must be washed ,combed and creased
tlll the head shines like knob OF polished black
marble; the cheeks must be rouged to the proper
tint; the throat, neck and bosom powdered care
'isavlng, inr. hTSwevsr S On The nape Of the neck
owner, in accordance with the rules Of Japanese
cosmetic o a aart the eyebrows must bo carefully
hs mA Ssnsrc SasIry Sih Win patch Of sdE in
the ysIs Of clothes hass sasS gISSpSrfy or ma"E SS
colors, tied in the knot OF prevailing fashion ths
eleanest Of white socks and the newest OF black
lacquercd clogs put on the feet, the belle is
ready, and with the proper allowance Of pocket.
handkerehisf @ M paper, her tobacco pouch, pipe and
playing in we'll affected occurrences with her fan,
adorned but not yestige of eyebrow grsces her
cordiug, to the rules Of married women.
Her father Is clean shaved, his "queue," or top.
ment new stiff, and shining. with the family crest
embroidered on back and sleeves.
In the streets there are hundreds of neighbors,
paying Compliments, chattering, laughing, and
pattering along on their high wooden clogs
head.dresses and ''obls," coquetish eyes laugh
and convey tender messages from behind fans
tseIspS e5nEns down rSpr0ols from stern pa
Jest or well-turned compliment. Everything is
good humor, happiness and enjoyment, and the
Of birds-for Japan Is bat poorly off for feathered
warblefs-and tho glitter Of the sunshine, ali go
to make up holiday picture scarcely to be
Very striking Is the scene as one mounts the
steep ascent leading to the plauteau of Uweno.
enue OF cherry-trees, the pink and white blossoms
forming fairy arcade overhead, through which
Rlints Of the deep blue sky are here and there
visible. On each side, over the heads Of tho mot.
ley jostling, many oolored crowd OF holiday.
makers, Is broad sweep Of woodland, fresn and
bright In the tints Of early spring, and along the
booths.for the sale of every conceivable useful and
ornamental article Here Is a quack doctor, clad
In quaint garb, Wanting, de foutes ses forces the
virtues OF a pill that will cure any disease,
and prolong the most precarious Of lives; here Is
Juggler who, for very small handful Of cop.
swords and live chareoa near him Is the booth OF
| a famous kite.seller, always surrounded by ur.
chns tempted by aerial warriors, birds, fishes
reptiles. or huge portraits Of Haohiuian. the god
| Of war, or Of The great wurr'or-emperor, TaIco-
sama; Nor does tho nelghboring stall
Of the sweotstuf merchant lack pat.
rOnnge for at the will of his purchasers,
with a few dextrOus turns Of the nugers he will
| convert shnpalcss lump OF su8ared dough into
anything, from pilgrim in heavy marching or.
Ger 10 brace Of rahhts nibhling at bale OF rise
I-eL- 'Ls.S 49, s,A.-. ~ ..gI j, !.G.. saVPs,