Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-18
MANNERS IN JAPAN.
POLlTENESS AS PRACTiCEO IN IrE
SUNRISE LAND
Description of the Japanese Bow-A Tea
Party Queer Practice 81 Meal Time
Paradise OF Children school.
iur the CHRIS.

i"r the Girls.
Harp.r~ Raztr
Visitors to the sunrise Land are al
ways impressed with the graceful bows
and cOurt,y ceremonies Of Its people To
see "puriry OF motion YOU must 90 into
japanese house and be welcomed in
Japane,n ia ,hIun
One writer Describes the japanese bow
thus Seated on the mat in the ordinary
way, the hands are brought forward to "A
natural distance IN frolt Of the knee. and
placed with the palms on the floor and
with space between the hands Of about
one foot Then with an easy roCNIug
motion the bod, Is carried forward until
the face almost touches the floor when,
after a slight pause the lead Is again
lifted to it> natural position. Great care
should be taken not to raise the hips when
carrying the body forward
Cake aud Tea are invariably offered no
matter how short or informal the call mas
be Tea j. served in Jiuy cups without
sauCcrs When no more i wanted the
cup may he turned over on the little stand
or chadai on which ltI~ passed Japanese
guests usually take home some Of the
sweeImcaIN They carry them in their
sleeves. for the sleeves of their Garments
invariably end in capaciouS pocket
\ real .apan tea party Is very
ceremunruue a!ar The apartment IN
VIII ch the company assemblies must
be arranged expressly tor the pur
pose The cups, the >tralnrr The tea
ladlc. the kama. ur hot wafer kettle
every thing must he st a prescribed pat.
tern and in prescribed place Lvcn the
a. 4. 4 -..l
the water i lied l. regulated hv rule,
and the arrangement of the charcoal is
supposed TO require great skill The
utensils used AT these cha no "a parties.
a. they are called have usually historic
interest and al certain Stages Of the tea
making the guests ARE expected to Sh w
their appreciation by careful cNamina-
lion of them. aud 10y graceful well
wOrdcd culog.rS.
Ordinarily the japanese take their
meals IN silence According 10 the old
codes conversation j. almost Prohibited
1t is cons dercd a mark OF good breeding
hOweycr when ealing and dr hiking. TO
draw il the irrath with considerable
nOI~r. This i supposed To indicate that
the guest = en- wing his food ON taking
up residence ma new place. the stranger
makes the inst calls Go'ug Iuuud To the
houses ot the oldest residents. the new
conner formally announces thar she has
recently moved into their honorable
nclGhburhuOd. that She viii prouah be-
very troublesome nciChnur but hopes
they will h.. graCl. r>
Iur!@g the first week after death in
family prr-ent> OF cake. eggs cIC axe
sent 10 the bcTraved 10 prevent the nrCrs-
slty of preparing food for the numerous
friends who call ON >iIs Of confidence.
Gifts of money 10 help ueiray the fuucra.
expenses are also sent
When child enters schoOi. pres nj
is usually given 10 the teacher This Is
sometimes Il basket of fruit or Il box II
eggs, or sponge CAKE. | have even known
paper ba OF sugar TO be presented under
such circumstances. and on placing a
child at boarding .hrol il is not unusual
for the parents 10 bring presents of Goa
fcCtionery for all the pupils
Japan has often been called the "Tara
disc of children but il is only the ia
vored few who have been gathered
together in thnstIan schools that know
anything of thris,mas trees or hr>lmas
presents considerable attention i given
By adults. however 10 the sub eCl of New
ear presents II Is customary to give
u present at New \ ears to any one out
side the circle of intimate friends who
may ha e done EOua Special favor duriHg
the wear. and Il present Is sometimes given
AT the beginning OF the new year tn indi
cate the desire TO receive taVors duril
the ear to come. CIV ear calls a~e
far more general in Japan than IN America
The old year closes with general house
cleaning uantities of rice cakes a d
other good things are prepared. and the
lr>r week OF the new year is given up to
te>tivlly. Every body seems 10 visit every
body else and the streets are So throng"d
with gayly dressed people that ouc won
ders who can be al home to re eve the
guests. tongratulal pry letters are sent 10
friends at a distance No one is over.
looked al this season
In schools for girls, teachers are EN-
ployed who give systematic instruction in
etiquette every week. il not every day n
these classes girls are taught how to walk,
how 10 enter room. how 10 sit. how TO
stand. how To eat, how TO receive a guest. |
how TO carry Candlestick. how to pre-
sent bunch of towers. and many similar |
things, and no matter what a Young ladv'> |
attainments NAV be if she can not pass a |
cup OF tea IN the conventional manner She /
Is looked upon as rustic
The japanese language ahounds in |
honorihc particles and expressions whi.h h |
seem wholly unnecessary to US and which |
are most absurd when translated literal Y /
into English and vet the omission or the |
wrong use o: one of the most insignificant |
OF these PARTICLES often changes pOliteness |
to rudeneSs and were it not thai the pc, /
pie are usually too courteous II laugh at |
our blunders they would have many /
jokes Al our expense
olitcueSs in this respc, |. howe, cr is !
often carried to such an extent that it /
ceases TO be virtue. for men aud womtn |
emplo' ed to instruct foreigners .
in the vernacuIar are sometimes too pcltc /
10 correct their errors and allow the same |
to be- made dav after day with .
put once calling attention 10 them
An EX-Cnunt.rI,it.r'. WARNING