Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-09-15
A JAPANESE VIEW.
outline Principles OF Decoration as
seen by Native.

Jutiine FrincfpieS OF DECORATION as
seen by Native.
1t is an error to regard fans as arti-
lies of decoration; at least, the Japa E.
.se themselves very seldom use them
IS such. There are exceptional cases,
If course, as, where fan has on it an
autograph line of certain eminent per-
yonages (which is most frequently
the easel, or where some artist made 1t
worthy of esteem for a touch of his
brush. The like instances will be
almost innumberable, and under these
circumstances a simple unornamented
Tan will make itself an object of much
regard for its owner. and the introduc-
| ton of such fan into an elegant deco
ration will elevate the graceful tone of
The place. Otherwise We will never
bear to see bundle of mere wind pro-
iucers let loose, tackled against walls,
spread over bureaus, hung by posts,
and, in short, scattered all over an
apartment as if they were goods for
sale. Nay to call that dainty fan
iecorationln
Nor do we pretend to appreciate those
costly fans much admired by the ladies
Of this country. The broad frames of
polished ivory, on which are wrought
extravagant carvings, and the shining
frInges that adorn their edges, may be
grand" but, honestly, they look only
awkward to our eyes. When summer
comes the bulk and weight of fan of
this description necessarily require GER
tain amount of muscular eXertion to
draw any draught; but then it is found
out that the heat generated in the eXer-
else Will generally be more than can be
famed away by the drowsy flaps of this
not easily manageable weapon; and
after all the ladies are obliged TO relate
the history and the skilful workman
ship of this favorite fan amid fainting
breath and running perspiration!
Now l hasten to mention lanterns
and umbrellas. Well, lanterns have
some charms of their own. For in-
stance, take plain glass-cased lantern
and hang it in the deepening shades of
a green bower on a summer evening.
there you will perceive the very spot
where pearly dews lodge, and in the
stream of its pale rays, you will even
imagine YOU were in hepresence of cool
ness herself. Or hang out a lot of paper
lanterns in gay row, over your win
dowsill and along your store fronts.
The burning candles will send out from
every one of your houses the air of JOY
and hilarity to join the prevailing fes-
tivity of any occasion. But the UNI
brellaS are very charmleSs things, and
have nothing 10 say about them. Any
way it was beyond the genius of Japan
ese people 10 bring either lanterns or
umbrellas into a richly decorated hall,
and to dream the harmony with the
glittering surroundings. If it were in
Japan | should have good reason TO be
at my being led rs a guest into
a place where lanterns and umbrellas
are lying scattered.
The time and circumstances have led
the japanese to acquire that peculiar
taste of loving simple things with i'm
aginative conceptions; and hence an
aversion to the childish love of mere
showinesS and gorgeouSneSS. Thus, the
Japanese are totally disguised with
painted picture panels and silk emhroid-
cred screens. although they are above
others. we'll known in the foreign mar
let as japanese goods They are
too vulgar for our taste,
though We manufacture them, and we
supply the demands abroad. 1t is true,
he sliding doors, the movable screens
he hanging panels, are all fayorite and
furnItureS of the japanese
household decoration, but the point
lere is that we would rather have them |
ramed and finished in a gentle and
asteful manner than have them debaSed |
With glaring and ostentatiouS cOlors or
,aints, and also that we would rather
lave them painted with a serene noun
ain scenery or poetic cuckoo flying |
n a moon than have them covered with |
heap-looking embroidery work.
The same sentiment forbidS us to
overload our rooms with mere curios. |
For this reason our bronze flower vase,
unique and rare a thing it may
happen to be, We always appreciate il !
,etter with fresh cut branches of trees
planted in it than when it is kept top
ide down on special stand just to
atiSfy the visitors curiosity.
i condescend To say that our dwell. |
ingS generally lack glaring contrast OF
lues or abundant fuTnituring of chairs, |
;ofaS, mirrors, stands. ETC., which are
20 many sources of western comfort. |
But it must be owned that it is not the
Japanese temper to eXtort wonder and
under Il glance. We are
if we find pleasure in looking |
ntO our yard, where hill rises in per |
feet likeness of serene nature, and a !
cascade ripples down rugged preci- |
pice into a pond below, enjoyed by 3 |
pair or two of happy ducks. fishing |
peacefully at the roots of growing |
reeds. We feel proud # the landscapes
and birds and flowers upon our doors |
and screens are vivid enough to trans |
port our guest into an unconscious re- |
citation of a lyric. The shelves, run. |
ming not uniformly, but artistically; the |
carved figures, not grotesque, but
quaint; the exposed posts, neither |
shaven nor stained, but polished until
it is shining; the nails, insignificant and |
yet ornament headed, one by one, as
they come into perception. Will work |
.ullntdSuIdDlt ClldtLl lutO lLlc lulilu Ol
an interested observer.
We have sometimes been ridiculed al
the lack of geometrical uniformity il |
our decoration, cuC we never look oveI |
the harmony. For instance, we will |
hang up our valuable pictures with 3
costly string instead of worthless wires. |
and the luXuriant plants we will keer
in proportionally beautiful pots, instead
of crude wares of reddish brown earth. |
Nor do we overlook that important |
principle OF art of decoration-the
change and refreshing; neither do we
overcrowd our rooms with the whole |
sale exhibition of all beautiful thing, /
we have. We display panels and pic
lures sparingly at a time in their mum
Der; but we never allow the same ones |
TO remain hung at the same spot over a
season; they are displaced with the re
served ones from time 10 time, thus CIV
ing the place the fresh and changed airs
TO suit the season and occasion. In
fact, this system of ''spare and change"
display very sensible portion of Jap
lnese decoration, for our visitors will
always find chance TO do honor to the