The Arizona sentinel., 1885-12-12
LOVE IN JAPAN.
How Japanese Lovers Propose to Their
 Dulcienas.

Dulcienas.
 Among very old-fashioned folks in Japan a curious custom still survives. MT. Kuchler omit its from his account of marital ceremonies, probably be- cause its rarity forbids its insertion ill any representative list of domestic ob- servances.. Still, just as with us there are people who build barriers of prick ly furze about their houses to keep the fairies of, so in Japan there are young men and women who believe that their conjugal bliss may be made to depend on the growth of a plant. It is plant called omOtO. Unfortunately, our botanical knowledge does not suf- flee to identify it in either Latin or En- glish. Its chief characteristic is that it is lusty and rapid grower, throwing out constantly new shoots from the root. It is. therefore, fitting emblem of the marriage state, and as such it is regarded. A lad or lass, on going to his or her married home, carries thither a carefully chosen onaoto, and this being planted or tended, is watched from year to year, because so long as it shows healthy development the permanence and prosperity of its masters or mistress marriage state are supposed to be assured. Very rarely, as we have said, is the custom observed, but like all the domestic superstitions of Japan, it is not without quaint pretti ness We allude to it here because it has just been ''magnifed by the purple mist' of an English traveller fancy into the following pretty tall tale: ''In houses wherein reside one or more daughters of marriageable age an empty flOwer-pot of an ornamental character is encircled by ring, and suspended from the win dow of veranda by three light chains. Now the Juliets of Japan are, of course, as attractive and their Romeos as anx- ious as those of other lands. But instead of serenades by moonlight and other del icate ways of making an impression, it is etiquette for the Japanese lover to ap- proach the dwelling of his lady bearing some choice plant in his hand, which he boldly, but let us hope reverently, pro- ceeds to plant in the empty vase. This takes place at a time when he is fully assured that both mother and daughter are at home, and I need scarcely say that neither of them is at all con- scious that the young many is taking such a liberty with the flower pot outside their window. It is believed that young lover so engaged has never been seen by his lady or her mamma in this act of sacrilege-at any rate, my friend tells me that during his long resi- dence in Japan he never heard of any one being detected in the act or inter- fered with in any way The fact is, this act of placing a pretty plant in the empty flower-pot is equivalent to a formal proposal to the young lady who dwells within, and this Eastern fashion is, as think, most delicate and harm less way of proposing to a lady. The youthful gardener having settled his plant to his mind, retires, and the lady is free to act as she pleases. If he is the right man, she takes every care of his gift, waters it, and tends it carefully with her own hands, that all the world may see, in word, the donor is accept able as a suitor. But if he is not favorite, or if stern parents object, the poor plant is torn from the vase, and the next morning lies limp and with cred on the veranda or on the path be- ow. In a word, if you are not the right man it is quite evident that this phase of window gardening must be difficult and disappointing one to carry on in Japan. .''-JGpGie Mail.