The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-09-16
MANNERS oF rAE JAPANESE.
Treatment Of The Ealr ssI-Dsfsr,no.
shown 10 Parent, aud EidsrG

Treatment Of the HAlr stE-Dsfsrsne.
shown 10 Parent. aud Elders
Harpets BaA.I
The Japanese, asa nation, have few
computations on the sub cot Of white
lies. They find II difficult ever to tell
you an unpleasant truth about yourself,
but for the most part their rules and
ceremonies are founded In kindliness
and ehiyalry, and arc well suited 70 Tho
conditions unllsr which they live. Con.
tact with people Of western lands has
already made considerable difference in
the manners Of the people living in the
open ports. Many Of them, however.
seem 10 look upon western politeneSs as
Rnegatlye quantity merely, audit Is not
unusual 70 see young men who think
that simply setting aside their own no.
tive manners Is politenesS according 70
European ideas
Tho absense Of all the little atten.
tons 50 dear to feminine hearts in
western lands strikes one very strangely
Of first In Japan the lord and master
is always the chief consideration. His
wife does not walk or ride out with him,
but meckly follows on behind. Eelng
present one day at the commencement
exercises OF large government school
Tor girls, my attention was called TO
one Of the princeSSeS who sat among
the distinguished visitors on the plat.
form. AS she left the stage | noticei
o tine-looking japanese gentleman fol.
lowing her. He was dressed in fault.
less broadcloth made In European style,
and looked, thought, quite princcly,
30 inquired Of Japanese friend near
me II no were not the prince; but tho
answer was very emphatic: "0h, no; he
would mover walk behind"
In the Difference shown by young pco
pie to their parents and elders, young
America might well take q lesson. Gray
hairs arc especially houored in Japan.
A few years ago q missionary made q
trip to the north Of tile country to visit
q church which had been established
there. He was accompanied by A
bishop who was travelling in Japan at
the time, and the missionary was anx.
ious that the people should appreciate
the honor conferred upon them BY hay.
ing q visit from this diguitary. But the
missionary had white hair, while the
bi'hops was still dark and glossy, and
though the bishops position was care.
fully explained, the missionary received
all tho honorS, while his superior In
office was left in the background.
In Japan 1t Is considered extremely
indelicate for young men and young
women to mingle together in society as
they do In western lands. They arc
often brought together for the first time
on their wedding day, the parents Of
tho contracting parties making all the
arrangements for the wedding by means
OF the inevitable naSadachi, or go.be.
tween; but humanity Is much the same
the world over and those who have had
the care Of young people In Japan find
that they are easily foreignized in this
respect. American ladies in charge OF
boarding schools for girls have to keep
strict watch over their precious charges.
Gentlemen cousins in the toys'
schools are very numerous, and surrep.
tittous notes and letters have been
known to find their way to their fold
quite q 10 Americana.
We Europeans, with our active habits
and our freedom from conventional.
tics, are apt to be impatient with tho
restraints OF Japanese society aud the
ttIne.conSuming details OF Oriental
ceremonies, but the busiest, most criti.
cal, and most practical Of US can but
admit that the people OF the Sunrise
Land are exceedingly graceful in their
movements, and that their system Of
etiquette Is one Of the most interesting
features Of their unique civilization.