Wichita eagle., 1886-09-09
9ai19 eagle
A JAPANESE VIEW.
OUTLINE PRINCIPLES OF DECORA.
TON AS SEEN BY A NATIVE.

Fans Not to Re Regarded as Articles of
observation-disclosures Lanterns and
Things-Furniture and Landscape.
1t is an error to regard fans es articles Of
decoration; at least, the japanese themselves
very seldom use them as such. There are ex-
ceptional cases, of course, as, where fan has
on it an autograph line of certain eminent
personages (which is most frequently the
easel, or where some artist made it worthy of
esteem for a touch of his brush. The like in
stances viii be almost innumerable and IN
der these circumstances simple unorna-
mented fan will make itself an object of much
regard for its owner, and the introduction Of
such fan into an elegant decoration will cle-
vate the graceful tone Of the place. Other
wise we will never bear to see a bundle of
mere wind producers let loose, tackled against
walls, spread over bureaus, hung by posts,
and, in short, scattered all over an apart
ment as if they wero goods for sale. Nay to
call that dainty fan decorationw
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,
they look only awkward to our eyes, When
summer comes the bulk and weight Of a 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 the
lovc of< Ia
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 to mention lanterns and um-
brellas. Well, lanterns have some charm Of
their own. For instance take 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 a
lot of paper lanterns in 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 pevailing 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 richly decorated hall, and to dream the
harmony with the glittering surroundings.
If it were in Japan l should have good reason
to be offended at my being led as guest into
q place where lanterns and umbrellas are
lying scattered.
The time and circumstances have led tho
japanese to acquire tina. ..cculiar taste of lov-
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, tho
hanging panels, are all favorite and necessary
fuInitures of the japanese household tecora-
ton, but the point here is that we would
rather have them framed and finished in a
gentle and tasteful manner than have them
C!cbased with glaring and ostentatious colorJ
OF paints, and also that we would rather
have them painted with a serene mountain
scenery or poetic cuckoo flying in 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 it is kept topsid-
down on special stand just to satisfy the
visitors curiosity.
FURNITURE AND LANDSCAPE.
l 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 extort
wonder and admiration under glance We
are satisfied, if we find pleasure in looking
into our yard, where a hill rises in perfect
likeness of serene nature, and a cascade rip
pies down rugged precipice into a pond be-
low, enjoyed by pair or two of happy ducks,
fishing peacefully at tho roots of growing
reeds We feel proud if the landscapes and
birds and flowers upon our doors and screens
are vivid enough to transport our guest into
an 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 ard 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 LangIAp our valuable
pictures with a costly silk string instead of
worthless wires, and the luxuriant plants we
will keep il 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 nd pic
lures spar;ngly at a time III their number;
but we never allow the same ones to remain
hung ct 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 q
chance to do honor to tho correct taste Of the
host-k Takahashi in Inter Ocean
It was not until about 1850 that the word
donkey found its way into the dictionaries