Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-16
MANNERS IN JAPAN.
PeIiteness IS Prsotised In the Sunrise
LAnd-Deseription OF the Japanese
Bow.

LAnd-Descriptloh OF tA9 S@RAAese
Bow.
Prom Hqrpsr's Baz5T.
Visitors 70 the Sunrise Land are always
IMPRESSED with the graceful bows and
.courtly ceremonies OF its people. To see
..poetry OF notion" you must 20 into a
japanese house and be welcomed in
japanese fashion.
one writer describes the japanese bow
thus: seated on the mat in the ordinary
way. the hands are brought forward TO a
natural distance DO front Of the knee, and
placed vita the palms on the floor and
with 8 space between the bands ot about
one foot. Then with an easy rocking mo-
tion the body is carried forward until the
face almost touches The floor, Wnen- alter
q slight pause. tle bead ls AGAIN iiIled y
its natural position" Great care should
DE- taken not Oh raise the hips when carry
ing the body forward.
Cake and tea are invariably offered, 10
matter how short W Informal the call may
be. Tea is served III tlng cups without
eauccrs. When DO more IS wanted the
cup may De turned over on the little stand
or chadai on which IL j. passed. japanese
guests usually take home some Of the
eweetmeats. They carry them IN their
invariably end 10 capaciOus pocket.
A real Japan tea party is very cere-
moui0us affair. The apartment IN which
the company assemblies must be arranged
expressly for the purpose. The cups, the
straiuer, the tea ladle, the kama, or hot
water kettie-eyerything must be Of a
prescribed pattern and in a prescribed
place. Even the shape Of the bits Of char
coal with which the water is boiled Is
regulated by rule, and the arrangement
Of the charcoal Is supposed 70 require
great skill. The utensils used at these
Cha-nO-yu parties, as they are called, have
usually a historic interest, and At certain
STAGES Of the tea-making the guests are
expected 70 show their appreciation by a
careful examination Of them and by
graceful well-wOrded eul0gies.
Ordinarily the japanese take their
meals in silence. According 20 the Old
codes. conversation Is almost prohibited.
it is considered q mark Of good breeding,
however, when eating and drinking 10
draw in the breath with considerable
noise. This is supposed 20 indicate that
the guest is enjoying his food. On taking
up a residence in anew place, the stranger
makes the first calls. Going round to the
houses Of the Oldest residents, the new
conner formally announces that she has
recently moved into their honorable
neighbOrho0d; that she will probably be a
very troublesome neighDOr, but hopes they
will be gracious.
During the first week after death in a
family presents Of cake. eggs, etc, are
sent 70 the bereayed 10 prevent the nece5-
Eity OF preparing food for the numerous
friends who call on visits Of coincidence.
Gifts Of money 70 help deiray the funeral
expenses are also sent.
When a child enters a school present
IS usually given 20 the teacher. This IS
sometimes a basket OF fruit, or a box Of
eggs, or spOnge-cake. j have even known
paper bag Of sugar % be presented IN
der sucn circumstances, and on placing
a child al 0Oarding-schoOl 1t is not I'M
usual for the parents 70 bring presents OF
confectionery for all the pupils. Hu
Japan has often been called the para
disc Of children" but IL is only the IA
vored few Who have been gathered to-
getner in Christian schools that know
anything Of Christmas trees or Christmas
presents. Considerable attention Is given
by adults. however, 70 the subject Of New
Years presents. Il Is customary TO give
a present at New Years 70 any outside
the circle Of intimate friends who may
have done you a special favor during the
year. and a present is sometimes given at
The beginning Of the new year to indicate
TIE desire 10 receive faYOrs during the
year 10 come. New Years calls are far
more general in Japan than IN America.
Tue old ear closes with general house
cleaning. Quantities Of rice cakes and
Dtaer good things are prepared, and the
first week Of the new year is given up 10
festivity. Everybody seems to visit every
body else, and the streets are so thrOnged
with gayly-dressed people that one Won
ders wDO can be at home TO receive the
guests. CongratulatOry letters are sent 10
friends at a distance. No one 10 over
looked at this season.
In schools for girls, teachers are en-
ployed who give systematic instruction In
etiquette every week. II not every day. In
these classes girls are taught how TO
walk, how 70 enter room, how TO sit, how
70 stand, how 10 eat, how to receive a guest,
how TO carry a candlestick, how to pre-
sent bunch OF flowers, and many SINH
lar things, and no matter what young
lHdy's attachments may be, II she cannot
pass cup Of tea in the conventional man
DER she Is looked upon as rustic.
The japanese language abounds In hon.
oribc particles OF expressions which seem
wholly unnecessary 20 US. and which are
most absurd when translated literally into
English. and vet the omission or the wrong
use Of one OF the most Insignificant OF these
PARTICLES often changes pOliteness TO rude
ness, and were 1t not that the people are
usually too courteous 10 laugh at our
blunders they would have many Jokes at
pur expense.
POliteness In this respect, however, IL
often carried % such an extent that IL
ceases 90 be virtue, for men and women
regularly employed 10 instruct foreigners
Ia the yernacular are sometimes too POI
lite to correct their errors, and allow
the same mistakes 20 be made day
after day without once calling attention
10 them.
The Age OF Forest Trees.
Prom the 4 lasrican Natura1iss Tor SsBteasbsr.