The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-01-09
BT0adDTin'S New York Letter

Of toy Harmonious and all of the other
horrors that Santa Claus let loose on us
a week ago, utterly disqualify a man
from either thinking or writing at the
present time. "Were you never boy
yourself?' says my wife deprecatingly.
Eyes, I was, but it was a long time ago,
and in those days it didn't take as much
TO fill a Christmas stocking rs it does
now" But no matter for that; the
stockings were all filled and cmptied;
and until the last drum head is broken
in, and the last tin trumpet is smashed,
l suppose we have got to suffer. It
may be that in Sheol they have toy
drums, if so, pity the poor sinners who
90 there.
There are lots Of things going on here,
the town is full of them. A special at
traction at the present time is the Jap
ane5e village at the Madison Square
Garden. Nothing like it has ever been
seen in this country before. 1t really
only seems like the other day since
Japan was a Terra incognitd-hemmed
in closer by its despotic Tycoon and
Mikado than China by its gigantic wall;
none were allowed to go in and none
were allowed to go out, IF you got in
you lost your head, and if you got out
you were sure to lose it if you ever went
back. The world surely does move. for
here we have a perfect Japanese town
with all sorts of artisans. and real live
japanese men and women walking
about the streets. Oh, yes, and there
are genuine japanese babies, who while
not exactly UP to the European orthodox
standard of beauty, yet viewed. from a
japanese standpoint are no doubt as
pretty as a picture.
While the japanese, in common with
all the world. devote much of their time
to the necessary and useful, il is won
derful the thousands, not to say millions
of them whose occupations are esthetic
and ornamental. While many of the
things which are manufactured under
yourvery eyes are exceedingly ingenious
and beautiful, you are transported back
thousands of years, for just such work
men wrought their hamdicraft after the
self-same fashion, before Solomon raised
his magnificent temple, or even while
Lot and Abraham were shepherds among
the Judean Hills. The potter's wheel
is the same that Joseph saw in Egypt
thousands of years ago-it has not al
tered a hair. The loom where their
beautiful silk fabrics are woven, might
have stood in the tents of the Patrarchs.
But it fills one with delight and admir-
alton to see the sweet and uncomplain-
ing patience with which they toll.
Compare the faces of these japanese
artisans with the faces of an equal num-
Der Of American wage workers, and you
can understand what | mean. If these
are fair samples of the average japanese
worllmen, life in Japan must be a happy
lot. The poorest artisan there seems to
be by nature n gentleman, and the COM
monest woman lady. Such sweet
| soft and gentle manners in their inter-
course with each other, and with strang-
ers, has never been seen in this land be.
fore, among the working classes. We
might go to Japan to learn manners.
The miniature town is divided into shops
each pursuing its different calling. The
cabinetmaker sits on the floor and planes
his board towards him, which he hold:
in wise with his toes. The cnnammel.
er plies his wondrous vocation. and as
you watch him hammer in piece after
piece on some magniiicently enamelled
vase, you do not wonder at the enorm.
Gus cost, when you see the slow process
OF manufacture. Here You see the EN-.
brolderer at work on those beautiful
birds and flowers in which the japanese
so much delight. The spinner winds
his silk, and the weaver weaves it. The
potter works at his wheel, and the cop,
persmith at his handicraft. The tailor
and the barber are there, and the mar
that makes bows and arrows. And
there is nice little tea garden, where
some dear little japanese women it,and
sweet faced girl hands you a cup oi
tea. They are all so sweet and clean
and tidy that it is pleasure to look al
them and be near them. Ono of these
young Japanese beauties has already
made hole in the hearts of hundred.
OF our young American dudes. She has
great large melting eyes, teeth like
pearls, and a complexion as soft as q
ripe peach. 1t is a beautiful and unique
exhibition, and one to which man car
20 himself,or take his wife and children
with pleasure and profit,
1t is not the pleasantest reading fol
holiday time, but while on the subject
of amusements cannot help noticing
our boxing craze-I call it craze, because
] its lacks the elements and decency OF
common sense, and because | see mer
calling themselves respectable, disgrac.
ing themselves by mingling with a lot OF
ruIiians and loafers whose proper home
is the penitentiary.
The New York Athletic Club is on,
of the toniest, II not the most intellec
tual in New York. 1t is devoted tc
physical development. 1t is noble
ambition to bring the human form tc
the highest state of physical perfection
but in this high toned club, in which ar,
bankers and brokers and merchants and
lawyers, and not few clergymen and
artists, physical culture seems to mean
boxing, and within a few weeks We have
had two exhibitions where a number OF
/ professional pugilists Were engaged to
pummel each other, which they did tc
the huge delight of an immense audi.
ence Of nr financial and mercantile