, 1881-10-20
"TATAMI." "
Jnpnlleae 1lnttlslNs
SfsAt- I1ktrfs fy..,fJxu


Tho Chinese aud jnpntiCSo, though appnrCnt-
ly nuch alike In our eyes. nrc, in rcullty, vastly
moro different than nre Gcrtnnus aud FtGnCh-
men. This dlNerenoo is 6cen not ouly III bluOd,
character, language, and dress, but In history,
SOCIAL customs, nnd household hablts. For
instance, though tho Chinese weave annually
millions Of yArls uf mating this fabric Ia not,
as rule, used to cover floors. These
iatter, In China, nre Of stono, brick, wood, or
carth, Matt1ug IL used rather for cloaks and
bedding, cxc1pt among the Alghpr classcs,
whero 1t may scrvo ns rugs ur carpets.
In JapNn, however. the floors nro universally
hltll0n w tho tWtani, or bedtlcd mats. Those
arc OF regulation size throughout the Empire.
ntid in building Il house tho roomA aro divided
ott 80 Ms to hUld II cortAln number Of those uutts
OF floor nleaaure, A tut4tni Ia exactly five foot
nlno Inches long, three feet Wide, mud two nild
uua-hnit tNchas thick, or, III ro1lnl numbers
and Japanese measure. ex:x@. Tho only Iltler-
euco between tho mats that cover tho impertAl
floor mud those ut tho cottaKcrs Is that the for
mer aro larger In siz0 and are coyeroa with
HayGr bordrE. In ordinary houses this boricr
Ia bluck or ndgo-G!uc. In tho pnlaco it is white,
Even tho thronu OF that now lutullct oilci4i,
the ryGoon, as well as tho place OF enneI,uo Ut
as MtsaS psS yS @ o nusas Tns Sxhxr sy &
i Japsnese ilosr bu!ns y substantial.
unplanod wood. laid without !nortIucs.
This 1uor Ia two. and a half inchos
rssSor 'as parous so Ill., Haas arS t0 use ouy
Oh gutes. lnto thlA huge pan, 50 TO- Rpenk.
which the tlo0r n,nkua tho nata ara laid aild tlt
Witt ,sa thS siiIs u I grooyas. Ths mats are tho
household property Of the tcnnnts as landlords
ii % i trS ttS ] poops pull Up those expensive orna.
.nenta nnd run. a collection OF tata1nl usually
requires the rs. outlay 2t Jnpanesa s9upo
| cIeai, and Buft Inuta Ara tho nhiUf II not the
only arstoles Of furniture IL certain roo!,,s
ohairs onH ana lo,,nses, but ibo 3aiaaaso ~ u:
ohcw thsao luxurios. using tho iluor and
~ covering for seremeny and da the oesa. 81.
| slnns Ut outing, drinking, and stoap!uE. Tho
tntAmi sorye Tor tuhles. hodsleads. uhalrs, and
lunnKlng pnrposos. In palace uua tn hut. alike
lnAt elaborate system Of ct!Qlot mud coren,ti-
| ntal, renowned ovor the world. Only by the
e ss e AbSo s p sests
oss 81 'na pavs tbo wor X
spo y 81 tas
ous anu Exaggerated poiftcness OF these Oriental
for. II tho % superior % is 10 hiFher than ts iioor
the !nfurior must bow low nieod, TO salute
properly, lndOUTs. one must turn Ills bead into u
temporary tuck'hamnes nnd pound vigorously
rhe various kinds, OF nuts woven by tue Jap
Tioo-straw mat usad BY turner's to dry Kraiu;
| kamo, with which wine uasks urG wrapped;
| EaMa. nude Of cAt-t tntl ruah. ind tho various
Kinds OF rattan mattIlE for corerlpx tUR. chests,
every proslnoa, and tho vuIue 10 ls77 Of mating
bup, sa:i.a7a. 81 course owiug u 20 oneapnoss
Of native lauor, these lEures Would stand much
hlEses 4. s' our o. 9wn Goan!fy; t ma,
inohcs teiok laid tsso.hsr IN wi.ps md CON:
ps!tsa aloSx thS ssss ii su,s uo spsaal vt I'll
but only cure, tnuaole. and pressure Ats re-