The Portland daily press., 1888-11-28
PERSONAL AND PECULIAR.

The home life Of the Japanese is such that
fires can hardly be avoided, writes carp"
the well-known correspondent. Instead of
using matches for lighting their cigars they
have little bowls Of charcoal called hibachis
and these are kept on the floor, which is
usually covered with straw mating The
Kitchen stove Is merely stone box and the
partition OF the houses are Of thin paper or
Of boards which will spring into flame at a
touch. There Is no such thing as gas in the
ordinary Japanese house, and the candle and
the coal oil lamp are the illuminating pow
ers. The lanterns are the ordinary paper
lanterns. which you see at American lawn
over. wooden frame in which lamp or can
die burns. The lamps and lanterns are
placed on the floor and about them the chill
dren play and the family sprawl. 1t is a
wonder, indeed, that there are not more fires,
and when it Is remembered that there is not
a. chimney on any of the houses of Japan and
that the fuel of the country is to large ex-
tent charcoal, the danger from fire is appre-
ciated. The ordinary Japanese smokes a
PIPE, and the fact that this pipe must be re-
nlled about two times minute adds to the
danger of FIRE. The bowl of Japanese pipe
Is not bigger than the bottom of a thimbie.
1t holds about two puffs of smoke and it is
usually made OF brass or metal.
A public spirited citizen of Boston has
given to the Art Museum travelling schol-
arship for young painters. 1t will be under
the direction OF the school of the institution,
which will receive applications until Mon
day, the 25th inst. The applicants must be
men under IS years of age, residents of New
England, dependent upon their own exer-
tions, and fully determined to make painting
their profession. They should apply in per
son II possible, and should also write to the
secretary OF the school, giving their age, con-
dltion IN NE, their references, course OF study
and pXDnrianCa admitting ole
OF their work. They must also pass an ex-
animation, in " hich they will be required to
draw figure from the nude, to paint head
from life, and to sketch composition. The
examination will require weeks time, and
the date will be given later. The sum Of
5000 yearly will be furnished the successful
competitor, and with this he will study for
three. years In the art schools of Europe.
Fol. particulars application should be made
to the secretary Of the school for drawing
and painting in connection with the Art
Museum.
An indianapolis correspondent writes that
walking is Gen. Harrison's favorite exercise.
He does not move briskly, neither does he
saunter, but he has three-and- a-half-miles-
an-nour gait which Is peculiarly his own.
he puts his feet squarely down in such a
way as to wear the bottoms of his boots
evenly. He never shuffies. 1t is a clean
medium step, each one precisely like its pre-
deccssor. He wears black overcoat which
reaches to the knees and his hands are al
most constantly buried in the capacious side
pockets. A pair of gloves lasts him long
time. A soft black hat is the Generals fav2
orite headwear, although some of his pic
lures show him with silk tile in his hand.
This black hat is not worn in military fash
ION, with long crease from front TO rear
through the top, but the crown is pushed up
into place, and but for the small dents would
present fiat top. The rim of the hat is not
wide one, and 1t curlsup all the way round.
There Is nothing ''dressy' about the coming
President. President Arthur had more new
trousers in quarter than Gen. Harrison will
have in four years.