Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-11-03

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send through any of the pulp. Add
little sugar, boil as long as scum rises,
skim carefully and pour hot into glass
cans. 1t will keep perfectly we'll, is
very desirable addition to the house.
keepers store, and is especially service.
able as drink for the sick.
How the Japanese Cover Their Floors.
In japan, however, the floors arc uni
versalIy hidden by the tatami or bedded
mats. These are OF regulation size
throughout the empire, and in building
a house the rooms are divided of so rs
to hold q certain number OF these units
OF tloor measure. A tatami is exactly
five feet nine inches long, three feet
wide, and two and one-hslf inches
thick, or in round numbers and Japan-
ese measure, Gx312. The only differ
once between the mats that cover the
imperial floor and those OF the cottagers
IS that the former are larger in size and
covered with a gayer border. In ordi-
nary houses this border is black or in
digo blue. In the palace it is white.
Even the throne Of thai defunct official,
the tycoon, as we'll as the place OF emf
nence of the mikalo, whom he imi-
tated, was only square, padded mat,
few inches higher than common, and
edged with variegated colors.
A Japanese floor being so substan.
tally covered, need be only of cheap.
unplaned wood, laid without morticos.
This floor is two and n half inches below
the grooyed sills in which the doors, or
rather partitions, slide. Hinges are
used only on ga.es. Into this huge pan,
so to speak, which tho floor makes tho
mats are laid and fit snugly together,
lying with their surface level with tho
sills or grooves. The mats are the
household property Of the tenants, az
landlords rent the houacs unexpected,
as We do. In case Of fire, people pull
up these expensive ornaments and run
A collection OF tatami usually requires
the first outlay Of japanese couple to-
ward housekeeping. Often these ex.
quisitely clean and soft mats are the
chief, If not the only article Of furniture
IN certain rooms. The Chinese for
centuries havo used chairs aud lounges,
but the japanese eschew these Injuries,
using the floor and its covering FOR
ceremony and the occasions OF eating.
drinking and sleeping.
The tatami serve for tables, bedsteads
chairs and lounging purposes. In
palace and in hut, alike guiltless of
sitting machinery, has grown up that
elaborate system of etiquette and cere-
monial. renowned over the world. Only
By the generals in the field we're fold
ing camp-chairs used. In tho monas-
terry the abbot sat in state or for reflso
ton, in the armchair. The Japanese
have the word "koshi- kake" (back.
rester), but there is no general word nor
equivalent for our simple word "chair''
Most Of the obsequious and exaggerated
politeness of these Oriental islanders
may be thus mechanically accounted
for. II the superior is no higher than
the floor the inferior must bow Low in.
deed. To salute properly, indoors, one
must turn his head into a temporary
tack.hammer and pound vigorously on
the floor.
These tasami last nearly q lifetime,
rs they are trodden on not with boots.
but only with socks. Every traveller in
Japan is charmed with these soft, clean,
durable mats. Every gentleman, native
or foreign, removes his shoes, clogs or
sandals before he imprints them. Stock
ing feet is the rule indoors, and the na.
tive socks are more lhickly soled than
ours. The custom of wearing boots is
rapidly driving the " "civilized" +" natives
70 banish tatami aud lay down carpets.
An English lady traveller recently
speaks OF these mats as being {" sofs a.
Administer carpets !" though her state
ment that they ale "as expensive a.
Brussels carpet" l. an exaggeration.
There being By the Last census over
7,00O.000 houses in japan, and each
house averaging At low computation
thirty tatamis, thare are over 40.
100000 Of these mats, Or IN area lQ0.-
100000 square yards. They are the
very emblems Of silence and cleanli-
ness, and fashion mag some day do
mand that tho tatami find place IN our
houses. churches aud hospltala.