Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-16
LIFE IN JAPAN.
Queer Costumes and Custosms-IEoyy the
Japanese Live. and Where
Correspondence Of the San Francisco Chronicle.


japanese Live. and Where.
Correspondence Of the San Francisco Chronicle.
YOKOHAMA, July 2S.-The umbrella is an in
stitution in Japan. Whether 1t owes its inven-
ton to this people or not, they avail themselves
largely of its uses. The Japanese umbrella Is
sensible article In its amplitude and lightness,
being made of paper and bamboo. When under
one OF them, man is nearly as safe as If he
was under shed, SO far as the falling rain Is in
question, and the shade 1t affords from the sun
Is like unto that Of great rock in weary
land" When folded, however, it possesses
volume that Is rather unwieldy and inartistic in
appearance The average Japanese is seldom
seen without his umbrella 1t Is an in
dlspensable article of comfort, and
rain or shine he places himself under its protec-
ton. The garment most commonly worn Is
suited for all the needs of warmth or GOODNESS.
1t Is made with wide, flowing, square sleeves,
ana Is Impoverished, open in front from top
TO bottom. and confined at the waist by a long
band wound around the body number of times.
lt Is very simple outfit. Comfort cannot eX-
act anything more simple. In the cold season
these garments are duplicated by the addition
of wadded articles of the same character. The
great multitude wear for headgear simply
piece of blue cloth tied about the temples, though
the straw hat is fast coming into use with many.
OF course. there are many who have adopted
the European styles Of costume throughout from
head to foot. The native dress of the Japanese
is not costly one. One of the garments in use
in summer will cost about $50, if made OF cot
ton; more, of course, if of silk.
METHODS OF LOCOMOTION.
Japanese horse is so cheaply obtained, and
the cost OF keeping Is so insignificant, that it is
fashion here to keep pony and trap for indi-
yidual family use. One of the indispensable
auxiliaries Of an outfit of the pony and trap is
''betto." A ''betto' is hostler and outrder,
or, rather he is an outrunner, as his place has
been determined by usage to be near the head
OF the team. These fellows run like racers, and
do away with the necessity of htching posts
and fastening gear your ''betto" is sure to be
even with his team when the lines are slack
ened and the occupant ready to alight. 1t
is seldom that gentleman takes the lines
when there are ladies in the vehicle. Gen.
orally the ladies drive without male compan-
ions, and many of them have developed cOnsid-
cradle ability in handling the lines The most
inexpensive mode of loconOtiOn for any one re-
siding here is to join the jin-rkisha brigade. One
of these comfortable establishments with gig
top attachment for protection against rain can
be purchased for about S25. A man can be hired
for about 50 a month to be constantly on hand
for propeing purposes. and he will travel about
as Tar in day as the average equine stock Of
the country. He requires no ''bettO" or groom:
in the morning and is at your command as long
as needed. The jin-rikisha is an Indispensable
affair wherever he is introduced and there are
many thousands of them in Japan.
HOW THE JAPANESE LIVE.
There are no more cleanly people in the world
than the most INDECENT Japanese. If it is not a
cardinal requirement OF their religion to battle
often, it is q custom established as firmly as if
ordained by holy canon. and their apartments
are kept scrupulOusly clean. The staple articles
OF food are to be had at very small cost. The
man or woman who earns Is or 20 cents day
can procure all the food necessary for a family
OF three for not more than 10 cents. The prob
lem of cheap living is solved here and there are
none to be seen who wear the pinched look Of
hunger Comparatively speaking. the man who
earns his 20 cents is as well off here as the man
who earns 81 80 day In California, and he can
put aside larger proportion of it for the future
than the Californian can. AS everything is COM
parative. so long as the Japanese labOrer is sat
listed with his TODD and clothing. he is the hap
pier OF the two. The japanese will not endure
the filthy way Of Chinese living. but he can and
does live as cheaply as the Chinaman. The Jap
anese however, is not conservative, and he
soon contracts the ways and customs of the
western world, with all their expenses.
PECULIAR HOUSES
The mode of constructing the houses here,
Wnlle causing the least outlay. Is admirably
adapted to the conditions of the climate.
Japanese house is really double affair.
The most expense is put into the root,
which is of splendid heavy tile in all the
towns and villages. On the isolated farm
houses straw thatch is used more ex-
tensively: The roof is sustained by up
rights framed into it, which have their
foundations on the ground. The floor is
generally about two feet above the ground,
and is divided into rooms by paper parti-
tons. which are in sections and slide in
grooves. They can, at pleasure, be entirely
removed, leaving, If necessary, the entire
area in one room. The sides of the building or
at least one or more. are also in sections. which
lide in grooves, and are removed during the
day, if required. Generally there is space left
for passageway between the outside and the
inn er partitions forming the rooms, so that in
whit er the rooms inclOsed only by paper screens
are made warm and comfortable by the protec-
ton of the outer shell when slid into position,
VIII lie in summer the facility with which all par
tit ions are removed insures good ventilation.
" cry many of the houses are built with an
inte riOr court, devoted to ornamental shrubs
q nd flowers showing an admirable degree of
esthetic taste in the people.