Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1880-05-15


The sword has always been consid-
cred the badge of gentle condition in
Japan. The rules of observances con-
nected with the wearing of both the
long and short swords are most minute,
but have fallen into disuse of late. The
wearing of these weapons is by no
means common in the foreign settle
ments, and is even rare in the eastern
capital, Toxic. In former days the
most trivial breach of these minute OBJ
servances was often the cause of MUIR
derous brawls and dreadful reprisals.
To touch another's weapon, or to come
into collision with the sheath, was a
dire offense, and to enter friends
house without leaving the sword out
side was breach of friendship. Those
whose position justified the accompani-
ment of an attendant invariably left tine
sword in his charge at the entrance, or,
if alone, it was usually laid down at the
entrance. If removed inside it was in
variably done by the hosts servants,
and then not touched by the bare hand,
but with silk napkin kept for the pur-
pose, and the sword was placed upon q
sword-rack in the place of honor near
the guest, and treated with all the pO-
likeness due to an honored visitor who
would resent discourtesy. The long
sword-if two were worn-was with.
drawn, sheathed, from the girdle with
the right hand, and placed on the right
side-an indication of friendship, as it
could not be drawn and used thus-nev-
er on the left hand or placed on the left
side, except when in immediate danger.
To exhibit a naked weapon was gross
insult, unless when a gentleman wished
to show his friends his collection. To
express a wish TO see a sword was not
usual, unless when a blade of great val
ne was in question, when a request to
be shown it would be a compliment the
happy possessor appreciated. Thesword
would then be handed with the back
towards the guest, the edge turned
towards the owner and the hilt to the
left, the guest wrapping the hilt either
in the little silk napkin always carried
By gentlemen in their pOcketbOoks or in
a sheet of clean paper. The weapon
was drawn from the scabbard and
inch by inch, but not to the
full length unless the owner pressed his
guest to do so, when, with much
apology, the sword was entirely drawn
and held away from the other persons
present. After being admired, it would,
if apparently necessary, be carefully
wiped with a special cloth, sheathed
and returned to the owner as before.
The short sword was retained in the
girdle, but at a prolonged visit both
host and guest laid it aside. Women
did not wear swords by right of fashion,
although when travelling it was often
done. On the occasion of fires the
ladies of the Palace sometimes placed
side-arms in their girdles. The names
of makers are innumerable, and each
has his particular form of blade and
mode of welding the hard metal of the
edge to the softer and tougher body and
backing. Swords more than three
centuries old are common enough, and
all of later date are called new blades.
Blades made even as far back as the
time of the crusaders are to be met
with, and there are blades known to be
nearly ten centuries old, though these
are very rare now. The guard is often
a wonderful piece OF workmanship in
metal. Nanban (southern irony was
the best, but they were often
made of valuable metal and worked up
with gold and silver into detailed pic
ture of battles, hunting scenes, etc. All
swords made since 1870 are called
blades-and the old but
inferior blades are included with these.
The swords of previous make are called
koto-old swords. Horikawa-kuni-hiro,
A. ID. 1900, was the best of the new
All these old blades have