The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-03-18
Japanesa Traits.
(FSoHr - Notes on Japan By Vqga5ond an The
AuSfTGidSiGH)

(FTon - Notes on Japan By HagaJOHd n The
AuSfTGidSiGH.)
Man has been defined animal who dresses,
and proper apparel has certainly always been
held 10 be a sign Of civilization. Now, from this
point Oi view the Jap ~ a Through savage. OF
course don't class all IN this category. The
eity merchant wears his long dark robe with
broad sleeves in sober manner, and he looks
something like DOuai or st. Omer student.
Around his waist he has broad sash, from
which is suspended his pipe, his pouch, and his
purse, M regular bushman style. The peasant 10
cold weather wears blue tights-OrthOdOx theatri-
eal properties But a nation the use Of pants
- "a unknown rs TO any Oi the races OF the South
Seas. and the manner IN which large number
walk about IN their one garment Is no more de-
cent than II one prOmenaded the streets IN an
open dressing-gUwn. Country coolies, when they
wear n blouse. tuck it up around their waists.
IL seems as If they must always have their limbs
free and exposed.
IT,, from a civilized point Of view the JaPs
don't know the use OF clothes, they also
savages IN their Ignorance OF the uses Of furni-
ture. Chairs, tables, wardrObes, sofas, and bed
steads are things unknown TO the natives As
IN the South Seas, mat does for n carpet, table,
seat and bed They cover themselves with a
wadded quilt. the FIjan does with n piece OF
fapDG. Absolutely the only furniture one will
find in japanese cDuntry-hOuse Is the box
containing the charcoal fire and teapot thereon
This u rs universal the samoan IN Russia.
In their eating and tea houses there Is nothing
but the bare naked hoOr. What difference to
the maguifcently furnished houses OF the Chinese
STAY | have omitted one article Of furniture OF
European and American manufacture which 10
to be found in the humbIest household possess
ing female members. In the old days, believe,
polished mirrors OF metal were used, but now the
ordinary lOOking-gla Is TO be found all over
japan. IL has had greater sale than any other
article Of foreign make, the only thing which has
not remained ''dead stock" IL is strange that,
destitute Of IDEAS of decency or civilization IN
their dress aud household arrangements the
japanese should IN one instance, show highly
refined taste. When they take the small portion
Of ten dust out Of the earthenware jar to deposit
in the miniature pot, It Is with a little quaint
spatuIa, sometimes bamboo. amongst the more
wealthy Of silver. which Is kept IN sIlken cover,
and rnly used tor this purpose. No spoon which
may have been used for vulgar Offices touches the
fragrant herb. didn't think there was any as
sJeiatiOn in this country to remind me OF my
grand mother, but this calls 10 my memory the
odd old tea eaddy, carved with many a pretty
cUuceit, with its double compartments for green
and black tea and the silver scOllOp lying there
in which measured the herb carefully, the key
Of winch was the especial Of the venerable
lady / dreaded much. How hOrrIhed she
would have been at the domestic arrangements OF
these people with whom she had one practice in
c0mm0n. This IL the only civilized or refined
custom which can discover. In all things else
tue japanese resemble South Sea sayages. The
country houses with matched roofs and bamboo
and mud walls are very much like E1ian. Inside
they are sheds. divided sometimes by the paper
screens which appear to have been the latest out
come Of native invention, but more often the
sleeping places Of men and women. IN the sum
mer time, are divided by muslin curtains sus-
pended from the ceiling by four corners, as the
faDDa screens are in n FIjian hut. In every re-
spect, except that Of material, the resemblance
il identical. In winter time, when the mOsquI-
toes have disappeared. do not know If even this
concession TO decency IS made.
Very like, too, are they to the natives Of the
Pacific Isles in their capacity for loahng around
doing nothing. y great many OF these people,
retainers Of the old lords, were never used to
work at all Like the dGmi0S, many OF the sam
uTai receive small pensions from the State. Or
their ancient chiefs may give them some allow
ance Very small 10 may be, but a Jap will live
on very little sooner than work. He is thorough
savage IN this respect, and be wants but the
banana and the cUcUanut here to maze him,
what he il in many Of his habits, the counter
mart OF the South Sea Islander, and IN some
things the inferior. As much as he can he loais
and be uiles the daytime with stories Of the good
old days when MS liege lord kept troops OF tat
wreStlers for the public amusement, and IN sport
~ well a. IN elan was pitied against clan,
and on festival days all got glorIously drunk ON
s4EI winding up with few hackIngs Oi cJmrndes
to death, and HAPPY despatch Of the muTderers
in remOrse and coutritiOn. Very bad I'D days We
should style them, but It j. certain that IN the
hearts Of the country people there Is an affection
for the old state Of things and their old local
rulers Tyrants they were, no doubt, but lat
least their countFymen.' To the outer world
J.pan tbrust- forward her irOncads, railways,
telegraph, army. police and civil services See
what a civilized and advanced nation / am she
cries 80 different those stupid Chinese
Bot behind this Is an impoverished, ruined cOun-
try. n population with the tastes and customs OF
sayaees and peasants who love to loaf all day. and
at night 20 about the country 10 professions
gorgeous with paper lanterns, and with drums
bea:ing to drive the evil spirits from the PADDY
fields.