Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-06-09
A JAPANESE RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL.


A JAPANESE RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL.
Fete of the God Suwa as Described ny
United States Consul Jones'
The temple Of Osuwa is one Of the old
est in the city In what year it was built
the annals Of Nagasaki do not reveal 1t
is noble edItice. enCircled by spacious
veranda over which the high, picturesque
roof projtct and is envlroned by smaller
temples or chapels in the gardens OF the
demesne. The interior is of plain and un-
ornamented woodwork, of the best mate
rial and the most skilled workmanship,
and contains neither images nor Orna-
ments; but, as in all ShintO shrines, has
suspended in the chancel Il large circular
metallic mirror, which is regarded as An
emblem of the purity of the soul and spirit
Of the sun Goddess.
An idea of the great age of the Osuwa
temple may be formed when it is men
toned that the stone steps OF hard gray
granite are deeply worn by the sandaled
feet of the devOut pilgrim.
This temple, on the occasion Of the Mat
surf Is prOfusely decorated with rich
kangings and banners Of hutterng silk.
| displaying quotations from the sacred
writings of Japan: and the people repair
to it, in their graceful Oriental sIstonps,
to invoke their gods and tender to them
their prOpitiatOry offerings. On the ter
races OF the approach, on either side, tiers
of seats are erected, under CanOpies rising
one above the other. BY early dawn
every available space is occupied, and the
great steps leading to the temple show
one solid mass of people When the first
procession presents itself, at O'clock in
morning. il is noon almost before the last
completes its performance First in the
procession comes the hight priests OF the
| temple, accompanied by their acolytes, i'll
stole and gaberdine, bringing in their
care the helmet and sword lin shrine
| magnificently gilt and lacquered) the
symbols Of the deitied hero whose wOr
ship they conduct. After these. to the
roll of drums and the clash of cymbals,
appears train of children, clad in mimic
arnOr. representing some expedition OF
one OF the early mikadOs.
Then comes pageant Of NEUROLOGICAL
device, the participants habited in anti
que costume, dancing the sacred dance,
which commentaries the withdrawal of
the Sun Goddess from earth, and the lures
by which gods and ID sn induced her once
more to brighten th' armament with the
glory of her countenance Following
these, drawn by fifty yOnng men dressed
alike in appropriate costume of the car
penters guild. is a huge platform on wheels
on which rests a beautifully executed
model of japanese tea house, of charac-
teristic light, graceful structure, filled
with gay party of Geisha singing songs
and discourslng music. A company of
actors comes next il the paint and rouge
and splendid vestments of a court drama
Then there comes drawn by 100 men in
the scanty garb of fishermen, boat of
great size, filled with young men and
boys, plying the implements of this import
ant vocation. From the soldiers quarters
comes regular phylanX of mail clad war
rlors of the feudal ages.
The exact representation of an enormous
whale, forty feet in length, drawn on
wheels by a great number Of hardy whale
fishers, carrying the harpoOns, the nets
and all the apparatus used in the capture
OF these monsters of the deep, was a sue
cessful feature Of this interesting eXhibi
ton. They had skilifully arranged a
pumping mac hine within its capaciouS
mead and from time to time great spouts
OF water were thrown the air.
drenchng in their descent every one
within reach, to the amusement of the
spectators. The favOrlte fables of the
country are represented by professions in
the deXterOus guiSe of foxes, of badgers,
of cats, and to the infinite diversion of
the Juvenile portion of the audience, with
the closely initiated antics of these female
animals. The legendary dragon from
whose tail. ancient history tells us the
sword was plucked that was given by the
sun goddess to her descendant Jimmu
TennO. the first emperor of Japan, has a
conspicuous place Conspicuous also in
this brilliant and varied pageant are the
representations of emblematic objects. ex-
ecuted with high art and great cost. borne
on stages covered with cloth of gold.
which elicit expsessions of admiration
from the people These representations
are for the most part, historical, legend
AIRY and myths. And through all the dav
and among the immense multitudes in at
tendance, there is no confusion, no dis
order. There are, in an eminent degree,
however, unanmity of delight and uni
versal ioyousness; features that always
mark the festivities of this best-mannered
and happiest people in the world-St.
Paul Pioneer Press.
How Billiard Bills Foot Up.
The cost of billiard playing is very well
illustrated 10y the experience of few Of
my friends. 4 party of four of us clubbrl
together and bought a table and set il up
in basement, playing almost every even
ing and on sunday. There was no cost ex-
ccpt for chalk, keeping tips on the cuc>
and occasionally having the table put in
order. To defray those expenses We put
up strong box, and the loser or losers of
each game played would each drop a nickel
into the box. Games which thus cost ) or
10 cents would have cost - or 80 cents in a
billiard hall But still we could have
bought chalk and tips for every table i'll
the city. and also kept the tables in good
condition. II took only few evenings to
accumulate - or Slvin niCkels-Fred Hat
tersley in Globe Democrat
Prince Krapotkine. the Noted Sihili,t.
Prince krapotkine has head Of billiard
ball glOssineSs, except just at the base.
where, seen at a distance his hair appears |
like brown fur-trimming To the bald !
Uranium His beard also dark brown, is |
long and bushy. The eyes are hidden lie |
hind spectacles. When seen they testify |
TO lively and very active spirit The |
nostrils of a somewhat retruusse nose. |
wide at the base, are tremulous as those of |
a thoroughbred horse. This arch-Nihilist |
is spindleshanked, wears wide trousers, |
and shoes so loose as to be incOnvenient |
when he walks. He was brought up in
the tip-tOp grade of Russian society, and |