Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-01-24
IN JAPAN,
Relation in the Land Of the Rising
Sun.
Various Facts, Odd, DrolI, Startling and
Otherwise Concerning the
Japanese.

habits Of the Jsp-Miksdo is me spiritual
Emperor of Japan and supposed to be the
ineal descendant of tho Sun Goddess.
This fact being known we naturally pass
TO a consideration OF the religion Of The
country.
Fret. Bcdihism. A religion with a
following Of go 600, 900 souls, more than
sixtimeg SIS many converts as thsre are
people IL The United States It was founded
by Sakya Slnha, who attained divine hon
ors and after bis death was dignifed under
the name of Buddha or the Sage His
tory is so blinded in the orient that the
founding OF this religion is uncertain.
Its leading features are the metempsy-
Ghosts or the trsnsmigration OF souls-
thus the dogma Of taking animal life. The
worship of a host Of idols who are sup
posed to live forever.
~
Buddha was a Prince raised in luxury
and guarded from any sight of misery and
sorrow. In spite Of the vigilance a walk
during which he met an old man, q sick
mar and saw u corpse, prompted him 10
entertain serious thoughts as TO the cause
OF birth, old age, sickness and death. After
a long meditation be found the eolunon,
threw of the shsckles Of Brahm!DiCal phi
losophy and attained the essence Of knowl
edge and became Budihs, the Sage.
The Japanese temples OF worship are
imposing looking structures with immense
roots. 4 couple of dozen priests and a few
s%co!ytes form tho working force. These
are supported chiefly By burial fees. That
charming ~perquisite Of our %clergymen, SO
willingly paid | refer to the marriage fee,
ia wanting in Japan. The clergy there
have uolb!rs to 60 with marriages.
~
On entering the temple you end q drum
on the right and E. bell on the left. The
former is bsateu and the latter tiukled to
arouse the idols 10 listen TO prayers. The
Japanese Gods probably partGke Of come
OF the characteristics OF our church goers.
Near The central shrine is Ii piece Of
wood like 3 feb, upon which time is beat
during the chaute.
Contribution boxes are Tabled For feed
ing hungry demons The graveysrds are
always near the monsst.y and contain no.
tees posted everywhere, urging the employ.
ment Of priests al funerals and warning
the employer not TO forget TO pay for the
service. The faithful worship at shrlnes
placed on the hill tops, Offering lowers and
small, coins 10 the idols.
~
In some localities are found posts con,
tanning a small iron wheel, on the spokes
OF which are iron rIDgs. Each turn OF the
wheel registers q prayer in heaven to the
credit Of the ~worshiper. The jingle of the
rings attracts the attention OF the Deity;
the greater the noise the more attention.
A gentleman who travelled through ia
pan told mel had often ran by water power.
This may be and doubtless is true, but it
reminds me Of that story you have ofen
heard Of the Washington county man who
pasted the Lords prayer on his bedstesd
and on retiring at night would point TO IL
and say, "Oh, Lord, them's my senti'
ments.
The form of worship to the uninitisted is
strikingly like that Of tie Romauish church
Lamps and candles burn on the altar, the
ROBBED priests, the tinkling OF bells, the
incense, the worshipers with their ~roSaries
over their olasped hands, bowling from time
10 time their heads to the ioor.
| think it quite possible that the mission.
aries Of Tire early church, seeing the charm
which these impressive ceremonies had for
the masses, adopted them in q modified
form, and ! think it is due TO theSe cere
monies that the Catholic missionaries are
to-day more successful in oriental countries
than those OF any other denomination.
~
You will excuse my prolixity upon the
subject Of Buddhism, but this is not q
dead religion. lis followers number more
than those of oil other religions combined,
nor is it only bsrbarians who are included
among the faithful. Only the other day
an English lady became q convert and this
is By no means en- isolated case.
What the attraction can be AN at q
loss 10 imagine. There are times 10 be
sure when we would like to think that hor-
rid reality ia but q dream, but most OF US
prefer 10 take the reality with the good or
bad. Then the dogma is Q little too much
like the man who thought he WIS thinking
-
Whenever d Japanese gentleman com,
mits an ~offense ..agsins the laws and fears
discovery. be invites q few friends to his
house aud after a suWptuou' repsst, puts
on his ceremonial robe aud commits hars
kari, or disembowels himself. This saves
his estates from confscstion and his heirs
from oblcquy.
have ot;eu heard Japanese sing, and
their music is peculiar 10 say the least. 1t
staris Of we'll enough, but ust Is the singer
begins to warm no, he ends the strain with
a grunt which would lead q blind listener
to think wGs caused by q kick in the stom.
ach.
Japan is C. hcusckeepers paradise. The
mistress OF a household finds here a haven
Of rest. The ouly question che need on
swer during the day lie: How many plates
for tifin, or dinner, will be required?'
You employs steward and be buys what.
ever tha markets afford, and il il cooked
end served il the finest style. At the end
OF tie week he brings il his account and
you pay it. Yea know &c is making bis
little squeeze, but he is content to steal
twenty-five cents a week, so its better to
stand it and escape annoyance.
That kind Of living 10 the United States
would be a little risky, but in Japan all
kinds Of fish and gams are abundant and
very cheap. Servants are well trained and
reasonable in charges. A skilled cook
familiar with the mysteries OF French cook
ipg-Cets s. per month He however, can
get up and serve a dinner in the very finest
style, with finely appointed table, pleasing
both eye aud taste,
Table boys, who also dc buffers work,
get s. per month. Lsborers get about 81,
nursas and casmasrs abous g, psr month.
Let il De understood right here that have
corner lots IN Japan for sale.
l should also sdd that servants in ia
psn board themselves and that the prices
/ have given are The highest paid the re.
s~pective classes for labor. You may won
der how they live, but 2 cents per day will
buy them rice and fish, and that's about
h.l " ,,k,i,, ,n.,