Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-11-15
JAPANESE Etiquette.
Odd Rules Which Elegant Japanese
Must Observe.
The Ceremonieus Manner in Which Friends
Exchange Greetings How to
Conduct Yourself While Visit
ing and at the Table.
s.. James Gazette.

s.. James Gazette.
A book which has recently appeared,
written by the well known author, Ogssa-
wsra Kiyomoto, and Midzuao Tadawo OF
the Toxic normal school, may be taken to
supply as authentic information as such
publications commonly do as to the modi,
locations which modern Japan admits in the
rigid rules which have lasted since the
time of that arbiter elegsntiie, Ogasawara
Hiogonosuke Nagahide, who wrote in the
latter half of the fourteenth century, and
may have been al ancestor OF one OF these
recent writers upon etiquette. The treat
ise lays down that when Japanese meets
an Acquaintance be should step aside six or
seven PAGES to the right, place his hands
on bis knees, and bow respectfully, bend.
ing his body at an angle of forty.fye de.
grees, and giving short little grunts or
sighs-Switt used to joke Poke about some
thing OF the kind-expressive of being per-
fectly overcome and yoiceless from the
crushing honor of the meeting. The other
doing the same, they will be very safe
distance apart, and the whole manTlvre,
including the neutrality assumed by the
hauds-the Texas bandit nowadays calls
out Hands duplicates from the time
when every one wore variety Of swords
The stepping to the right is because the
sx ords were in the girdle to the left, and
the possibility Of sword-cattering was to
be avoided. This. too, has led to the Jap.
aness keeping 10 the left in the streets;
and the rule has been mechanically fol. |
lowed by the modern coolie cabs called
iinrikisha. A less applicable portion of
these rules is that if q comforter be worn
around the neck it is polite to remove it
before saluting; aud We suppose it is q
mere dancing school matter that when
moving off after these elaborate compli. |
ments
one MUsT STEP OFF WITH THE RIGHT FOOT |
/ FoI friend of his own age, Japanese OF
to dsy need only 60 Gside three PAGES, and
in the large towns the travelled Jap finds
even this Formally intolerable, and has re-
duced it to lifting the hat or even to mere
nod. Young people walking with their
parents or elders must follow meekly at a
distance Of two or three PAGES, in accord
ance with an oft heard saying that tie
Young turlle.doves perch two or three
branches below the old ones. A wife must
do the same By her husband, like Enin
and Geraint, and not talk much.
As to dress, black coat is recommend
ed, with the family crest on the back be-
tween the shoulders, and loose trousers Of
a striped pattern. The socks are to be
! white or deep blue, while tie undergar.
ment and girdle may be Of any fancy color.
The long overcoat varies with the season.
According to the rigid old rules, now
neglected, q doubleiped garment was
worn from the LIST TO the 9Th of September;
then came thickly padded wataire until
the end OF March, when the double lined
coat came in again up to the middle OF
May, and then thin linen coat became
the only wear until the end of August.
On paying a visit, the polished Japanese
mus, on entering the house, kneel on the
mating at the door Of. the guest room,
with the back not too high" place both
hands on the mating, with the thumbs and
index fingers together and bow-that is,
crouch lower-respectfully and repeatedly
asking after the health of the visited and
his family, If he is an intimate. If not, he
will make his bows in silence. When the
hoSt-who hos meanwhile, and also kneel
ing, drawn back the slides which form the
room door-asks the visitor 10 enter, he
should make several refusals, saying:
This is quite sufficient; please DO
not mind This decorus, humble,
deprecatiDg demesnor, Of which
THE SHORT signs OR "UGEs!'
form part, is known as kenson-s term
laken fom the chinese, whose ancient phi
! loaophers reckoned it among the most Valu.
able Of virtues. 1t is one Of the notes OF
toe true kuusbi, or superior man, accord
| ing 10 Confucian ethics. When at last
the visitor is prevailed upon to come in,
tue former obeissnce lie repeated inside the
room. These forms, OF course, hsYe their
origin in the immemorisl custom OF sit
ting, squsttipg and reclining on the floor
in the total abstinence of chairs or other
seats.
Conversation begins by the visitor beg
cling pardon for deferriug his visit so long;
be viii next say how glad he is at the con.
tinued health and happiness Of his friend;
then, taking out the presents be has
brought, he will say: Here is triGe
which l hope you will con7escend TO &C
cept," bowling continually all the while
Tea, cakes and smoking materials have in
the meantime been produced. The pres
ents generally consist Of small quantity
of tea, cakes, candies and 20 forth, always
wrapped in paper and tied With red and
white cord made OF paper. i mcrsel OF
dried awsbi or sea ear Haliotis tube.cu-
lsta), enclosed in another spear headed
piece OF paper, is fixed invariably to the
right hand corner OF the packet; and the
characters representing the word "uifes"
with the name Of he do1or, sre written
udeosit.
The usual dinner hours ale 4, 6 and 7.
As soon as the guests are seated on the
mats, two and sometimes three, small low,
lacquered tables are brought 20 each. On
that one Immediately 10 front OF him the
guest finds seven little covered bovis With
next his left hand rice, next bis right, fer
meuted bean soup the others containing
roast fish, roast fowl, boiled meat, raw fsb
in vinegar, and a sizes Of vegetables. Ga
the second table will De FIVE o'her bowls
Consisting Of two soups (Gne Of csrpl more
raw fish. fowl and kqrsgs-a kind Of Jelly
fish. The third very snail table
should hold three boz!l CT baked shell.
fish, lobster and fah soup. Except at
great set feasts commencement is made
| With rice; and here
TIE ETICvETTE IS VERY STRICT
and as complicated az the old forf+it game
Here's health 10 Cardinal Puifr' Take
up the chopSticks With toe right hand, re.
move the cover of the rice bowl with the
same hand, transfer il TO the left and place
it to the left Of the table. Then remove the
cover OF the haan snnn and nlaca IL on tie