Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-26
Fans Not TO BE Regarded as Articles of
observation-disclosures Lanterns and
observation-disclosures Love of Simple
Things-Furniture and Landscape.

-NpT ub We iiISleiiu u dplTeCldte JuOse
costly fans much admired by the ladies' of
tins country. The broad frames Of polished
ivory, on which are wrought extravagant
carvings, ard the shining fringes that adorn
their elgcS, NAV 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 certain
amount Of muscular exertiOn to draw any
1raught; but then it is found out that tn
heat generated in this exercise will generally
be- more than can be famed away by the
lrowsy flaps of this not easily manageable
weapon; and after all the ladies are obliged
to relate the history and the skillful work
manShip Of this favorite fan amid fainting
breath and running perspiration!
LANTERNS AND UMBRELLAS.
Now hasten 10 mention lanterns and um-
brellas. Well, lanterns have some charm Of
their own. For instance, take a plain glass
cased lantern and hang it in the deepening
shades of 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
presence of Goodness herself. Or hang out
lot Of paper lanterns in a gay row, over your
windowsills 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 cvailing feStivity of any occasion
But the umbrellas are very charmless things,
and have nothing to say about them Any
way it was beyond the genius Of japanese
people TO bring either lanterns or umbrellas
into a richly decorated hall, and TO dream the
harmony with the glittering surroundings.
II il were in japan | should have good reason
to he offended at my being led as n 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 low
ing simple things with imaginative concep-
tiOns: 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 embroidered
screens, although they are above others, well
known in the foreign market as japanese
goods. They are altogether too vulgar for
our taste though we manufacture them, and
We supply the demands abroad 1t is true,
the sliding doors, the movable screens, the
hanging panels, are all fsvorite and necessary
furnitures Of the japanese household decOra-
ton, but the point here is that We would
rather have them framed and finished in a
gentle and tasteful manner than have them
dGbasel with glaring and ostentatiOus colors
or paints, and also that we would rather
lave them painted with a serene mountain
scenery or poetic cuckoo flying in a moon
than have them covered with cheap-looking
embroidery work
The same sentiment forbids us to overload
our rooms with mere curios- For this reason
our bronze flower vase, however unique and
rare thing it may happen to be, We always
appreciate it better with fresh cut branches Of
trees planted in it than when 1t is kept topside
down on a special stand rust TO satisfy the
visitors curiosity.
FURNITURE AND LANDSCAPE
condeScend TO say that our dwellings gen.
orally lack glaring contrast of hues and Of
abundant furnituring of chairs, Sofas mir
rorS, stands, etc, which are so many sources
of western comfort. But it must be owned
that it is not the Japanese temper to eItort
wonder and admiration under a glance. We
are satisfied, if we find pleasure in looking
into our yard, where hill rises in perfect
Likeness of serene nature, and a cascade rip
piles down a rugged precipice into pond be-
low, enjoyed by pair or two Of happy ducks
fishing peacefully at the roots of growing
birds and flowers upon our doors and screens
are vivid enough 10 transport our guest into
all unconscious recitation Of a lyric. The
shelves, running not uniformly, but artist
cally; 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 immeasurable charm into the mind Of
an interested observer
We have sometimes been ridiculed at the
lack of geOmetrical uniformity in our decora-
ton, but We never look over the harmony.
For instance, we will hang up our valuable
pictures with a costly silk string instead of
worthless wires, and the luxuriant plants we
will keep in prOportionally beautiful pots, in
stead of crude wares of reddish brown earth.
Nor do we overlook that important principle
Of art Of decoration--the change and refresh
ing neither do We overcrowd our rooms with
the wholesale exhibition of all beautiful
things we have. We display panels and pic
tures sparingly at a time in their number;
but we never allow the same ones to remain
hung at the same spot over a season; they are
displaced with the reserved ones from time TO
time, thus giving the place the fresh and
changed airs 20 suit the season and occasion.
In fact, this system of spare and change"
display is a very sensible portion of japanese
decoration, for our visitors will always find
chance to do honor to the correct taste of the
hOSt-k TakahashI in Inter Ocean.