Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-20
A JAPANESE VIEW.
Outline Principles of Decoration
 Seen by a Native.

Outline Principles of Decoration as Seen by a Native.
 [K Takahashi in the Inter- Ocean.l
 It is error to regard fans as articles of dec oration; at least the Japanese themselves very seldom use them such. There are exceptional cases of course as where a fan has on it an autograph line of certain emi- nent personages (which is most frequently the case), or where some artist made it worthy of esteem for touch of his brush. The like instances will be almost innumera- ble, and under these circumstances simple unornamented fan will make itself object of much regard for it's owner, and the intro duction of such a fan into an elegant decora- tion will elevate the graceful tone of the place. Otherwise we will never bear to see bundle of mere wind producers 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 decora- tion!"
 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
 
 summer comes the bulk and weight of fan of this description necessarily require certain amount of muscular exertion to draw any draught; but then it is found out that the heat generated in this exercise will generally be more than can be famed away by tine drowsy flaps of this not easily manageable weapon; and after all the ladies are obliged to relate the history and the skilltu1 work manship of this favorite fan amid faintlng breath and running persplratloni
 LANTERNS AND UMBRELLAS.
 Now I hasten to mention lanterns and umbrellas We'll, lanterns have some charm of their own. For instance, take a 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 it's pale rays you will even imagine you were in presence of Goodness herself. Or hang out pot of paper lanterns in a gay row over your wlndoWsllis and along your store fronts. TAe burning can houses the air of joy and hilarity to join the prevailing festivity of any occasion. But the umbrellas are very harmless things and have nothing to say about them. Anyway it was beyond the genius of Japanese people to bring either lanterns or umbrellas into a richly decorated hall, and to dream the har- mony with the glittering surroundings. If it were in Japan should have good reason to be offended at my being led as guest into 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 imaginative con- captions; and hence an aversion to the child ish love of mere showiness and gorgeousness Thus the Japanese are totally disgusted with painted picture panels and silk embroidered screens, although they are above others we'll 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. It is true the sliding doors, the moveable screens, the hanging panels, are all favorite and necessa- ry furnitures of the Japanese household dec oration, but the point here is that we would rather have them framed and finished in a gentle and tasteful manner than have them debased with glaring and ostentatious colors or paints, and also that we would rather have them painted with serene mountain scene-