, 1885-10-14
MANNERS In JAPAN.
PoLTsNEss AS PRAcTlcED IN THE
SUNRISE LAND.
Description of the Japanese Bow-A Tea
Party Queer Practice at Meai-Tine-
PARADISE OF Chudrenr-schools
for the Girls

- y 1880
Visitors 10 the Sunrise Land are al
ways impressed with the graceful bows
and courtly ceremonies of its people. To
see poetry OF motion you must go iuto
a Japanese house and be welcomed in
Japunesn ia ihion
One writer describes the japanese bow
thus Seated on the mat In the ordinary
way. the hands are brought forward to "a
natural distance in front of the knee. aud
placed with the palms ON the floor, and
with a space between the hands of about
one foot. Then with an easy rocking
motion the bod is carried forward until
the face almost touches the floor, when.
after a slight pause. the head is again
lifted TO its natural position. " Great care
should be taken not 10 raise the hips when
carrying the body forward.
Cake and tea are invariably offered. no
matter how short or informal the call mas
be. Tea is served in tiny cups without
saucers. When no more Is wanted, the
cup may be turned over on the little stand
or chadai on which 1t is passed. japanese
guests usually take home some Of the
sweetmeats. They carry them in their
sleeves. for the sleeves of their garments
invariably end in a capacious pocket
A real Japan tea party Is a very
ccremonious affair. The apartment in
which the company assemblies must
be arranged expressly for the pur
pose The cups, the s%trainer, the tea
everything must be Of a prescribed pat
tern and in a prescribed place. Even the
sAape Of the bits of charcoal with which
the water is boiled is regulated by rule,
and the arrangement OF the charcoal is
supposed to require great skill. The
utensils used at these sha-no.yu parties.
as they are called. have usually a historic
interest. and at certain stages of the tea
making the guests are expected to show
their appreciation by a careful examine
tion Of them, and by graceful. well
worded eulogies.
Ordinarily the japanese take their
meals in silence. According to the old
codes. conversation is almost prohibited.
1t is considered a mark of good breeding.
however. when eating and drinking. to
draw il the breath with considerable
noise. This is supposed to indicate that
the guest is en- Dying his food. On taking
up n residence ina new place, the stranger
makes the first calls. Going round to the
houses Of tue oldest residents. the new
conner formally that she has
recently moved into their honorable
neighborhood. that she will probably be
a very Troublesome ~neighbor. but hopes
they viii b. gracious
uring the first week after a death in a
family presents of cake. eggs. etc are
sent 10 the bereaved to prevent the neccs-
sity Of preparing food for the numerous
friends who call on visits of coincidence.
Gifts of money 10 help defray the funeral
expenses are also sent
When a child enters a school, a present
is uauAlly given to the teacher. This is
sometimes a basket Of fruit. or a box of
eggs. or sponge-cakc. ! have even known
a paper bag Of sugar TO be presented under
such circumstances and on placing a
child nj boarding school it is not unusual
for the parents to bring presents of con
fectionery for all the pupils.
Japan has often been called the para
disc Of children. " but il is only the fa
vorod few who have been gathered
together in Christian schools that know
anything of Christmas trees or Christmas
presents Considerable attention is given
b. adults. however. TO the subject of New
Year 5 presents. 1t is customary TO give
a present at New Years TO any one out.
side the circle Of intimate friends who
may have done you a special favor during
the year, and a present Is sometimes given
al the beginning Of the new year to indi.
cate the desire TO receive favors during
the year to come, New Years calls are
far more generalin Japan than in America
The old year closes with a general house
cleaning Quantities of rice cakes and
ether good things are prepared. and the
first week OF the new year is given up. tc
festiyity- Everybody seems to visit every
body else. and the streets arc SO thronged
with gayly dressed people that one won
ders who can be at home TO receive the
guests. Congratulatory letters. are sent 10
friends Mt n distance. No one is over
looked at this season.
In schools for girls, teschers are EN-
ployed who give systematic instruction In
etiquette every week, If not every day. In
these classes girls are taught how to walk,
how to enter a room, how TO sit. how to
stand. how TO eai, how TO receive a guest,
how to carry a candlestick. how to pre-
senta bunch Of towers. and many similar
things, and no matter what a young lady's
attainments may be. II she eau not pass a
cup Of tea in the conventional manner she
is looked upon as a rustic.
The Japanese language abounds In
honoriic particles and expressions which
seem wholly unnecessary to us. and which
are most absurd when translated literally
into English. and yet the omission or the
wrong use OF Que OF the most insignificant
OF these particles often changes politeness
to rudeness. and were it not tina the peo.
Pile are usually too courteous to laugh at
our blunders, they would have miny
jokes At our expense
politeness in this respect. however, is
often carried TO such an extent that II
ceases TO be a virtue, for men and women
regularly employed to instruct foreigners
in the vernacular are sometimes too polite
to correct their errors. and allow the same
mistakes TO be made day after day with
out once calling attention TO them.