The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-03-08
TnELANp on THE RISING sUN.
Simple as the Garden Of Eden-The
Jupnnose nc Home.


A Yeddo (Japanese) correspondent
writes: "The Land ofthe Rising Sun" has
been visited by many foreigners during
the past fifteen years, and no one has
yet been disappointed in what he has
found either in the people or the
country
Many have an idea that the Japa-
nese and Chinese are much alike, but
they are totally different in their charac-
ter and habits of life. The Chinese are
filthy, cunning race, who look upon
the foreigner with suspicion as an infe-
rior beir g. The Japanese are the clean
liest and most polite in the world. The
poorest coolie has his hot bath every
day. and If they have not too much
godliness they thoroughly practice the
next virtue.
My first trip into the interior, after
being year in the country, was to the
hot springs of Ikav-the Saratoga Of
Japan. had previously engaged
rooms at the best hotel. The FIRST day
there formed some pleasant acquaint-
ances with a newly-married couple,
who occupied the adjoining room, the
wife of q former governor of Yeddo, or
Toxic (cne of the handsomest women /
ever saw in any country, and many
others; for they are very glad to know
aud converse with foreigners who speak
a little OF their language,
Japanese wives do not go into society,
but devote themselves entirely to the
happiness of their husbands at home
They receive very little education, for
to know more than enough to reckon on
Iad. IN
be able to read the novels and daily
news would be to make them proud and
ungovernable in the opinions of their
lords and masters. If husband be-
comes dissatisfied with his wife, to send
her back to her folks simply constitutes
legal divorce. Until their ideas are
!. changed and woman is restored to her
true place in society, these people can
never attain to such progress and posi-
tion as they desire.
They have no idea of profane or filthy
language. To call one "a fool simply,
or beast, is the greatest length to
which they can go. They have no re-
gard for the truth, often on account of
their extreme politeness, for the same
reason that large part of our most re-
fined society consists of delicate fiat
terry, and often the one who can dissem-
BILE the most adroitly is considered the
most genteel lady or gentleman. So it
rs to greater extent with the Japanese.
If you ask one whether be thinks it
will rain tomorrow, and he believes
that you are anxious for fine weather,
he is sure that it will be fine weather,
and he can point out half dozen infal- |
lible signs to prove the correctness of
his opinion. If you are in hurry, and
ask the time, he will tell you that it is
an hour or two earlier than it really is
rather than cause you any worry or un-
happiness, even if it may be the means
OF causing you great injury, for another
trait OF their character is never to an
ticipate the future. Instead of saying
as we do: "Never put off till to.mor-
row." etc.. they have maxim,
"There is always a tomorrow"
SO they are never in a fret and
hurry for the future. In this respect
Americans can learn of them some
profitable lessons, or if they and we
could strike the golden mean" both
would be benefited. They have another
happy faculty, too, of smoothing over
the sorrows and misfortunes of the past
They expel all such unhappiness by the
simple expression skataganai," which
literally translated means, this is past;
am sorry for it, but it cannot be
helped" and this banishes it entirely.
A young student came to me one morn
ing and told me that his father died
the day before. 1 began sympathizing
with him, but he stopped me with the
remark, "Skataganai; he was very old
They have the greatest regard for the
old and young. At a funeral / never
saw tear shed. They have no fear of
death. They believe in the transmi.
grafton of souls. They cannot conceive
how missionaries come to them from
their homes thousands of miles away
just on account of the love for their
souls; so they look upon missionary
work with suspicion. 1t is only the
lowest class who become converted, and
then only when they are poor and need
food and clothing. Almost no progress
has been made toward Christianizing
the japanese.
They pray to Buddha, whom thev
believe TO be the God-spirit. There
are images in their temples, which we
call idols, but they do not pray to the
idols nor believe them to be divine,
any more than we do the beautifully
painted windows in our churches.
Every day when they go to bed and
when they rise they bow THEN heads in
silent prayer to the Supreme Ruler of
Heaven.
Without doubt, before foreigners in
troduced Western ideas and customs,
they were the bappiest people on the
face of the earth. They had few wants,
which were easily supplied, their coun-
try being we'll cultivated and the eli
mate never rigorous, except in the far
north, where the Emos live, who are
quite different people.
The empire of Japan consists of five
large islands and many smaller ones.