The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-03-16
Japanese Wise Sayings.

Japanese Wise Sayings.
An American gentleman, lately re-
turned after prolonged residence IN
Japan, was recently discovered in the
stock exchange by a reporter for the
New York Sun. He was standing ont.
SIDE the rail, erect, uncovered. and
solemn as though assisting at the oere-
monial OF some mystic and awful religi-
GUS rite. His oriental gravity, as Re
watched unmoved the furious ac-
tions and frantic gestures of
the apparently insane brokers, sug-
gesied the fateful calm of the
typical New Zealander contemplating
London bridge after a dynamite scare.
lie recognized the reporter, whom he
greeted cordially but mutely, as he re-
fused TO utter or listen to word until
both had escaped from the din and
found themselves in the comparative
quiet of n neighboring restaurant
There, alter seating himself at "A table
and passing his hand across his fore
head in daaed fashion, he found his
voice-a voice faint and low at first.
like that of one who had lust suffered
rom severe shock or surgical opera.
ton.
"Iou can hardly imagine how a ma
tive OF Japan would be affected by such
iiends' carnival as we have Just wit
nessed," he said. "The Japanese are
such great slaves to etiquette that /
doubt If they could forget, even In sleep,
the iron rule of conventional propriety,
They are never voluble or noisy, and
are In expressing in few words, by
proverbs and epigrams, ideas that less
conservative nations, like our own,
elaborate. What, for example, could be-
more appropriate to the financial ex-
haustton of some OF those shouting, and
perhaps sinking, brokers, than the Ja-
panese proverb, Man may shout when
he can no longer swim?.'
"While The tongue works the brain
sleeps" is another saying of theirs ex-
pressing contempt Tor many-worded
men. Even oratory, as our stump
speakers understand the torn, Is dis
courAgod or barely tolerated. Indeed,
they are as fond of condensing and
| boiling down ideas, as the Sun itself is.
and, l fear, If a Japanese statesman was
introduced to one OF Mr.. Evarts' com
plete sentences, he would call for "a fan
to scatter q fog or would gravely no,
gard IL as the first draft of new com
mercial TO be read backward.
"'Hs Is wise man who can preach s
short Sermon and the silent man I,
often worth listening to- are Jap saw
ings TO the Same effect. They are, also
as q people, quick at repartee; their vii
Is Keen and tempered, and they car
often administer a perfect snub In brief
terse form. ! remember an instance of
this, that struck me forcibly at The
time, though | had by no means vol
mastered the niceties OF the languare.
was lettering in Yeddo, waiting orders,
and | stepped into court or examina,
ton room, whore n trial was going on,
The. case was one involving tho pos.
session and ownership of certain
piece Of property, about which
two brothers had VIOLENTLY
quarrelled. The holder, who wa.
clearly not the rightful .ownor, had as.
saulted and elected his brother, and was
protesting his right to defend his claim,
Tho examiners listened very patiently
to him until he closed with the words,
Even cur may bark at his own gate,
when judge quantity voiced the uni.
versal Judgment as If stating an All
stract point of law: "A dog that has no
gate bliss at his own risk. 'sThis was the
only judgment rendered, but il was
hnal."
"Are not tho Japanese exceedingly
polite, like the French9" inquired I'D
reporter.
"Scrupulously 80, and, think, I'M
like the French, naturally 80. Tho OK.
quisite delight of staring stranger who
dimes In public away from his dinner, SO
often practiced in France, and, | ob.
serve, sometimes copied"-glanclng nj A
persistent starer at the next tablo30in
our country, would not be understood
or appreciated in Niphon, and practical
Jokes are never imported into that no.
lite empire. Another of their proverbs
10 be over'polite is TO DO rude, tells the
whole story of their conception OF true
courtesy. Why, even their familiar
form OF farewell salutation, NAV 10.
morrow be all you wish, If n IittIr
heathenish in its nattering nomination
OF you as tho future clerk of ths
weather, is, after all, the essential oil OF
politeness, and very soothing, when Won
know that II the weather Tomorrow be
bad you Will not DO held responsible for
It," ~
Have woman's rights gained any
foothold in Japan~
verbal phrases would seem to indicate
that Japan Is cold, raw soil for that
doctrine TO DO planted In: "a prudent
vile rarely crosses her husbands
Threshold ALTER death a woman can
plan no Deceit Trust your wife whilo
your. mothers eyes are on her. and
death alone makes q woman contepted,
are not encouraging texts for preaching
the doctrine Of equal rights. There h.
too, certain bitter flavor of experienco
in the phrase, ut Is safer 10 dwell near
Fooslyama than with a wife's mother. ~
80 tho state raillory against mothers.
ln-law has even found symnatbizor, Ia
Japan" observed the reporter, who had
once tried TO obtain a motber.in Ia 60
but had failed. =" ="
"ExacIly. But you cannot call many
OF their proverbs stale or unnrofilnhlo.
Forinstance, dig two graves before cnrs'
ing a neighbor,' and tell no secrets IN
thy servant are not bad rules To follow.
have sometimes wondered, too.
whether The bard OF Avon stole the Ian.
anese proverb, "a man who lends money
to frierd shall never SOC either ~.
friend or his money again. whlr,, 10
calls the sage advice Of Polonlus ~ r1
sou, Tor loan oft losoth bo,n itssIe nis
irlend' The Japanese sav,nSs "u tC
Know inc new, searcn tho old. and n
you mate a man Let him l.ve,' and avon
tnelr FAMOUS swords are made of iror
I1S.SIinss, arc old friends In now dress
bus Dust be otl,h looking at his watch
i IIu , que reporter ,reproachmlly, al an
array tomorrow DO all YOU wish,
hlu.tered the reporter, as ha watched
i u.s TREND hurrying across the street
'"'0usn 'he ueluge OF rain aud sleet.
How Exquimaux Dogs Are Trained.
/ N IL