The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-11-24
A MODERN UTOPIA.
THE CHARM OF THE JAPANESE
ISLANDS,.
Pleasing characteristics Of the Peo'
plea Land OF Many Holt.
days-Master and Ser
vant-Japanese Art.

whole length Of the island chain, 1,2Oo.
miles in extent, hardly presents a spot
that would not be subject for land
scape painter. The great central noun
tain range, with the overtowerlng cone
shaped r'ujiama, rises almost out OF the
OCEAN below to be lost in view In the
clio: .ds above. Long transverse spurs OF
hills run out into the sea. Deep, warm,
rich valleys have becn everywhere cut
through the mountains and hills, and
bordering the ocean fertile plains have
been formed from the weatherings and
wash:ngs of the great mountain masses.
Covering these plains, valleys, hI!lsldes
and mountains is verdure that riots IN
luxurance. Clear streams, from their
elevated sources, dash through narrow
gorges,: pour in cleaning cataracts down
Drccipitous mountain sides and whiri
IN crystal eddies at the feet OF over
branching forest trees. 1t is climat c
zone where the flora of the cold north
and that Of tle heated sonth meet and
inter minglc. The pine and palm, the
maple and magnolia. the beech and bam-
boo, and the oak and the orange in!er-
lace their branches in the same grove.
Around all the land are the waters Of
the great ocean, from which soft winds
temper the heat of an almost troplc sun.
Living in such scenes of enchantment
these people are as light OF heart and
sunny in dispo .ition as children. and so
polite and pleasure loving as to excite
the admiration of even their French and
Italian visitors. There is no dwellin5 so
humble b It it has a spot for trees and
flowers. The rich have gardens IN which
are faithful Reproductions in minia ure
of their varied landscapes, hidden IN
trees and Towering shrubbery. Every
farmer's plot of land is beautiful and
adorned. The gold OF the ripened rice
and wheat is contrasted against q back
ground of green foliage. Whatever name
NAV be given to the religion of that peo-
p.e, and whatev,r creeds and doctrines
may have been engrafted upon their be-
licfs, the main feature of their worship
is an intense love, amounting almost 10
an alteration, of nature. This appears
in their whole life. They have built
their temples on the sides of the great
mountains, cmbowcrcd them in over
hanging groves, and surrounded them
with everything Of towering shrub. The
sites of these command beautiful views
of the surrounding country, and usually
are near fountains and waterfalls. Inc
village shrincs are located in the most
charming spots of the neighborhood,
and no labor is spared 10 adorn and beau
tify them. The highways are bordcred
by rows of trees, planted centuries ago,
whose branches form an evergreen arch
over the head of the traveller. The road
to Nikko, where the temples and tombs
of the Tycoons are situated, has grand
avenue of giant frs. For sixty miles
one may ride in the shade of these wide
branching trees. From Yokohama south
to Kioto, the old capital, 400 miles, the
road is one continuously shaded avenue,
winding along the ocean shore, around
narrow bays and inlets and over high
hills and mountain sides.
Unlike their neighbors, the Chinese,
the Japanese take time from their toll
to enjoy all this. Their government may
have been dcspotic and arbitrary, but 1t
never overworked its laboring popula-
ton. 1t gave them more holidays thai.
any people under the sun ever enjoyed.
They had what were known as the
:.Ichi-roku" days, that is, all the days in
the lunar months that were designated
by one or six Thus the lst, 9Th, 18th,
18th, 21st and ofth days of each month
were legal holidays. In addition to
these. the birthdays of the ruling EN-:
peror and Empress, and also of several
of the greatest of their predecessors of
the ruling dynasty, which reaches back
through $500 years, are holidays. Every
village has festivals in honor of its patron
saint, and the saints of the famous tenn
pies and shrines have fe<tal days. On
all these the people, in their holiday
dressrs, gather at the temples and shrines
for thanksgiving and to admire the
beauties of earth and sky. Whole neigh-
borhoods turn out their population,
leaving only enough people at home to
care for the households, and go some-
times hundreds of miles, on what may
appropriately be called these religious
picnic,. They walk along the shaded
avenues, talking, Laughing and singing.
They re,t when weary from walking in
tile shade of the great trees by some
clear stream, or some bubbling sl'ring.
All these great highways are lined with
tea booths, wEerr, tea, rice, eggs or cakes
can be had for an incomparably low
price.
s The spring and summer bring the
flower festivals, when city and village
streets for miles are filled with the most
beautiful floral exhibitions. and crowds
of admiring people. There is no more
beautiful sight than one of the long
wide streets lighted at night and filled
with flowers. The love of the beautiful
has led the Japanese TO forego the grosser
pleasure of ting the fruit of the cherry
tree in order that they may enjoy the
beauty and Fragrance of the cherry bios
SONS. There are large groves of the
double .1owcrel cherry trees in all parts
of the country. which grow to enormous
size. The flower is as large as rose,
and when in full bloom these groves are
q marvel of beauty, and are visited by
thousands of people, who spend the
whole day in these howery avenues. The
chrySantnemtlm Sarueus, " pe io"iu II.
all towns and villages, are points OF
great attraction. In these are to be seen
every variety of that flower, every shade
of color, and almost every size Of bios
som.
The summer sees streams OF people,
, the poor as well as the rich: going. to
gnzc at Fujiama, the pearl of mountains.
No person is SO poor and no distance so
great but several pilgrimagcs are made