Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-19
A JAPANESE WATERING PLACE.
People You viii Meet-Dudes and
Dudines of the Mikado's Land.
From an Ioka Letter.

From an IOkd Letter.
To some foreigners, enfeebled by long
residence in the East, the medicinal
value of the water is a great attraction,
and whether he drinks the water or no,
what newcomer ever tires OF the short
walk to the Yumoto, or hot-spring's
source, in the glen behind the village?
Ihere is no "pump-room" here-only
dusky sylvan dell, rustic bench or two,
square hole in the rock beneath which
the steamIng water flows, and a single
bamboo dipper for those who drink. But
the morning or evening walk thither is
delig htful, in the cool shade of a lovely
ravlne, rich with greenery, enlivened by
the murmur OF falling water and the
shrill whirr OF cicadas, and frightened
by the most picturesque and happy of
human thrOngs. On this neutral ground
you meet representatives of nearly all
classes or Japanese society, from the
plain shopkeeper or professional man of
the capital to the blue-blOoded scions of
an arlstocracy so ancient that no member
Of 1t begins to think his family worthy to
be called an old one until he can trace a
clear descent for six or seven hundred
years. There are daimiyo of the old re-
gime, ministers and secret ries of the
neW-possibly, also, prince or princess
OF the imperial family. There are the
greater and lesser MOBILES OF the feudal
era, most of them now enrolled in the
lately created peerage; and former samu-
raj, of all degrees, who mainly compose
the large official class Of modern japan.
Many are accompanied by their wives
those gentle, devoted, well-bred and es-
sentlally feminine women who brighten
Japanese homes, and who, you rejoic
to see, are no longer distigured as Of
old by blackened teeth, but can and
do smile on you in all their native come
illness. The prevailing dress of both
sexes, If 1t be morning, Is the yukata, or
modest cotton bathing robe, of all hues
and patterns, bound at the waist by
glrdle of silk, satin, or Grape. Here,
however, comes a Buddhist priest. all
snaven and shOrn, in his silk robe and
cool mantle of delicate gauze, tanning
himself with holy but needless fervor.
Next, high foreign office dig nitary, look
ing as he well may do, good deal bewil-
dered about the treaties, and clad in the
quiet SILK and Grape garments OF ordinary
life, with the crest of his house woven in
white on the back and sleeves of the up
permOst one. Then, perhaps, you come
| upon pair of young handles, IN all the
pride of foreign clothes, stand-up collars,
tight gloves, and dainty canes and shoes.
But they are mistake here, where, eX-
cepting themselves and the foreign style,
socks, shoes and straw hats, now pretty
or nothing to remind you that you are not
in old Japan.
Next-Oh, happy contrast!-a f1utter OF
fans, patchwork of VIVID colors, a ripple
OF laughter, and you are face to face with
gay troupe of Japanese Hebes, rosy
Tipped and dark-eyed, with beautiful
teeth, clear compilations of all shades
| from ivory white to nut brown, willowy
forms, finely penciled eyebrows and rich
masses of black hair tastefully braided
and set off by some bright flower or coral
ornament, with a neat binding of blue or
crimson Grape. Mirth, guilelessnsss and
if there be anything in physiognomy-a
| large capacity for love beam from the
faces OF those most killing japanese bellies.
And their dresses are a study. While
Japanese parents and adult folks generally
| content themselves with colors of almost
! Quaker-like sobriety. the nation seems 10
| have lavished world OF artistic taste and
| skill on the dress of its girls and children.
| Be the colors bright or dull, the pattern
| bold or tame, the fabrics coarse or fine,
| the contrasts sharp or soft, you find that
in artistic arrangement, grace and beauty,
| the whole effect is always charming. As
! for the children, they swarm, they are de-
! lightful, and they present perfect nose
| gays OF color. If at first they look little
| Old-tashioned, in costumes which, as to
! cut, are merely reproductions in minia-
ture ofthose of their parents, you soon find
out that in reality they are very children
OF children. When you know them better
| you also find that, with all the attrac-
| tions and virtues of children, they have
very few of their faults. Long before
Herbert Spencer taught the Western
| world now children should be reared,
! Japanese parents had, OF their own no.
ton, adopted most of the very principles
! of training which he inculcates. The re-
suit is the Japanese child ofto-day. Great
! CHANGES have passed over japan during
| the last thirty years. Great changes still
| lie before her. But, come what may, let
us at least hope that in disposition, man
ners, grace and dress Japanese children
| and young girls may remain essentially
as they are.