The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-01-24

to the other. They are very skillful, and
rarely miss stroke.
The boys like q strong wind. that their
kites may soar high; but the girls sing q
song that it may be calm, 80 that their shut
tlecocks may 60 right.
The bows have wonderful kites, decorated
with dragons, warriors and storm hobgob-
Inns. Across the top Of the kites is stretched
q thin ribbon of whalebone, which vibrstes
in the wind, making a peculiar humming
sound.
When first walked the streets of Toxic
could not imagine what the strange noises
meant that seemed to proceed from the sky
above me; the sound, at times, was shrill
and sharp, and then low and musical. A.
last discovered several kites in the air
and when the breeze freshened the sounds
increased.
Sometimes the boys put glue on their
kite strings, near the top, and dip the
strings into pounded glass. Then they ngh'
with their kites, which they place in pro
per positions. and attempt to saw each 9th
er's strings with the pounded glass. Wher
string is severed, kite falls, and is claim
ed by the victor. The boys also have play
fights with their tops.
Sometimes / met boys running race or
long stills; at other times they would have
wrestling matches, in which little six-year
old youngsters would toss and tumble one
another to the ground. Their bodies were
stout and chubby, and their rosy cheeks
showed signs of health and happines. They
were always good-natured, and never sl
lowed themselves to get angry.
On the fifth day of the fifth month the
boys have their Fourth of July, which they
call the ''Feast of Flags" They celebrate
the day very pescesbly with games and
toys They have sets Of soldiers, heroes and
celebrated warriors, with flags, procession.
and tournaments.
Outside the house bamboo pole is erect
ed by the gate, from the top of which q
large paper fish is suspended. This fab il
sometimes six feet long, and is hollow.
When there is breeze it fills with wind
and its tail and fins flap in the air as thong
it were trying to swim away.
The fish is intended to show that there
are boys in the family. 1t is the carp
which is found in Japanese waters, and
swims against the stream and leaps over
waterfalls.
The boys must, therefore, learn from the
fish to persevere against difficulties, and
surmount every obstacle in life. When
hundreds of these huge fishes are seen
swimming in the breeze, they present a
very curious appearance.
The girls have their "Fsssts of Dolls" on
the third day of the month. During the
week preceding this holiday, the shops of
Toxic are filed with dolls and richly-drrsE-
ed figures.
This "Feast of Dolls" is great gala day
for the girls. They bring out all their
dolls and gorgeously dressed images, which
are quite numerous in respectable families,
having been kept from one generation to
another. The IMAGES range from few
inches to foot in height. and represent
court mobiles and ladies, with the Miksdo
and his household, in full costume. They
are all arranged on shelves, with many 9TH
er besutiful toys, and the girls present Of
ferings of rice, fruit and "saki" wine, and
mimic all the routine of court-life. The
shops display large numbers of these images
at this specisl season. After the holidays
they suddenly disappear.
l once bought large doll baby at one of
the shops to send home to my little sister,
The doll was dressed in the ordinary way,
having its head shaved in the style of most
Japanese babies. 1t was so hfe-like that
when propped up in chair person would
easily suppose it 10 be live baby.