The Hazlehurst signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1883-1885, 1885-10-22
JAPANESE cuRIoS.
A Conservative Merchant Who Declines 70
Enlarge Ills Trade.


A curio store that most delights my
heart Is kept by one Hari Shin, Jap
ancse gentleman Of the old school, who
still shaycs his hair in strip across the
top Of his head and turns ii forward IN
the gun.hammcr cue Of tho ancient sd.
mrdi. Har; Shin, despising modern
ways and business signs, simply hangs
hugo sword over his gateway. and
leaves one to stumble in accidentally
upon rubbish and lumberroom, aud
take it into his head to pursue his way
across the garden unguidcd. Hidden
away back there is room full OF OLE
ddles and state kagos. palanquins; 8
niche full of old banners and spears; an
apartment piled high and hung with
old dresses. brocadc drapcries and UNI.
forms; rooms filled with carved and
gildcd Buddhas; divine Kwannons
moro or less battered and worn, and
rooms of old china. old lacquer. and old
wood.carvings. The last room looks
upon little garden. which holds. oil
course. it. miniature pond crossed by n
stone bridge; ITS stone lantern under
the shadow of u tree at the waters
edge, and bronze storks and stuntcd
pines along tho slope OF the small
mountain, cunningly represented nj
one end. Across the garden are three
more rooms of armor, coins, aud al
kinds of ancient things, and second
story repeats all this labyrinth of rooms
filed with more and more curios. Hair
Sims was tho kind of place that ]
had been dreaming of, and since thank
ing the accident that took me there ]
have found that few knew of him and
his treasures outside OF the men In the
curio business. My enthusiasm for the
place was followed by that Of the
Others. aud lIari Sims queer, pictur
csqucly crowded and hiddcn-away
place has become our distraction; so
much so that we insisted on dragging
an artist friend there ono night the
minute he landed from the steamer.
Hari Shin having taken in his sword
sign when he closed his outer gate, VIC
had serious time wandering back and
forth before ncighbor took pity and
pounded on his gate for Us. by the
light Of their common house lanterns,
held aloft on their sticks, we wound al
through the labyrinth Of lower rooms,
the lights now bringing TO view gilt
tcring piece of old embroidery, sheai
of spears, M old helmet, or the solemn
face. and touching thumbs of some
grand Buddha. II was melting July
night, and although attendants followed
us tanning, we wiped the pcrspiration
from our face and eyes and continued
rowing, fully repaid by the fine effect OF
the lantsrn-lighted scene for any dis.
comfort we suffered. When We had
gone the first round and paused ut the
gardens edge to catch breath Of mir,
one member of the party, japanese
gentleman who had resided for some
years in the United States, and acquired
the right idea that il was the greatest
and only country of the world after
Japan, proceeded to take IIari Shin te
task for hiding himself and his treasures
30 completely away from the general
eyes. To all suggestions llari Shin was
deaf and obstinate, insisting that he
preferred rot TO be advertised anG
known TO curious tourists and the mob.
He said that he sold enough to the
dealers of his own country. and then a.
pardonablc boast said that he had
lately been exporting great deal to q
foreign country, "to AUSTRIA" in fact
so Austria" cried our japanese
friend. with affected horror. THAT ],
Of no good. The Austrians are n queer
kind of people, not quite civilized. YOU
should export to America and get Amer
leans to come here. Theirs is the rich
est and largest country. and they can
appreciate your fine things"
Though IIari Sims face showed some
interest at hearing that his best custom.
crs were barbarians, he betrayed but
little interest in the suggestion made &c
him to enlarge his trade, and We left
him standing in his blue gauze garment
an gun-hammer couture, y fine type OF
II conservative Japanese of the original
old school in which were trained The
soldiers, mobiles and rulers, who so long
IL.