Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-04-24
Japanese Etiquette--.Social FOrmalities
Thirteen Centuries Old.

Some of the precepts in the shorter
code are based on instincts of good breed
ing and, apart from local coloring, are
such as characterize civilized society ev-
erywhere. Of this universal nature are
such as these: Do not talk with tooth
pick in your mouth; complete the toilet
before meeting people in the morning;
receive visitor without unnecessarily
delay; do not talk rudely or coarsely in
company, and don't talk with the hands
linden in the dress (Anglice pockets);
when guest is visiting you, offer him
the use of the bath on arising before using
it yourself; in company don't monopo-
lie the fire; if another is using the ink
stone, wait until he has finished writing
before using it yourself; don't look at
other people, wives; don't enter private
another is sleeping be careful not to dis
turb him; do not interrupt person who
is speaking; and don't ride too near
picnic party or before windows. The del
icacy which prompts such regulations as
these will be appreciated by every one.
Others of the hundred rules show the
shrewd common sense, not to say the
carnal policy, of Mr.. Worldly Wise
man, such as, for instance: Walk gently
on piazzas and indoors; in company, if
another makes jest Or tells story, don't
correct him in errors of fact-don't for
example, spoil the whole point of good
story by exclaiming, ''Why, no dear,
that happened on Wednesday, not Thurs
day." or words to that effect; when
offered hospitality accept politely, and
while drinking do not have an alb
stracted or pre-occupied look and thus
seem to slight the attention of the host;
if looking on at game of draughts,
never advise the players (this is
quite properly considered a great
impertinence, and hole is scalloped out
of the under side of the go or checker
board for the head of the person commit
ting such. capital breech of decorum;)
do not give improperly expensive pres
ents; do not assume to advise a superior
in knowledge OF rank. A number of
such directions are given of which we
shall notice but one more, precept
which savors strongly of an enlightened
selfishness-don't ride too near the rear
of a target range. There are, however,
several regulations which were to gov
ern the polite letter-writer that may be
mentioned in this connection, such as
1t is better to ask another to write for
you if your chirography is bad; use
suitable paper; write superscriptions as
far as possible in learned character
and sign your name in the more vulgar
hand and rather carelessly-otherw
you may be considered too polite to your
self; avoid too many rhetorical express
sions; and be careful to seal letters be-
fore sending.
A third description of the maxims re-
fiected the peculiar construction of Japan
ese society. Curious specimens in this
class are: Do not use a large tooth-pick
if of humble rank; do not use another's s
fan, as this might soil it; step over in
stead of upon the threshold on entering
a room, so as not to injure the door-sill,
which is commonly of choice wood; do
not use another's shoes or even touch
them with the foot if lying in the way or
awkwardly; if you notice a person pre-
pairing to offer refreshments, sit down
upon the mat in readiness to accept
them; in company you should not keep
the circulating cup too long; do not wear
the wooden clog when visiting garden
distinguished for its fine stone paths;
avoid the use of high clogs unless the
walking is bad-leave such an affecta-
ton to fops and dwarfs; when calling do
not sit down in the seat of honor unless
nrged to do SO. Such are some of the
more striking of these directions. Still
| others we omit, though equally singular,
as requiring too much explanation.
TOXIC Times.