The National tribune., 1888-12-13

systems of municipal Government which are
being introduced are in themselves great edu-
Gators. The towns of Japan will in a short
time levy their own taxes. They have their
Councils and their head men, and they have
their laws much the same as do the towns of
the United States. There are now going on all
over the Empire industrial expositiOns, show
ing what the various parts are making, and
visited one of these at Nagoya and another at
Toxic. Either would compare favorably with
any of our State fairs, and the arrangement of
the exhibits of both with regard to the edu-
cation of the visitors was better than any local
exposition / have ever seen in America Ma
gOya is in the center of the pOrcelain-making
region of Japan, and there were here specimens
of the various clays and of the various prod
ucts, from the cheapest of crockery to the finest
clOissonne. There were specimens of Sevres and
other French and English china, to show the
contrast, and the whole was classified, labeled
and analytically arranged. At Kiota which,
by the way, is as big as Cincinnati there is an
exposition of this kind covering several acres.
1t costs just two cents to be admitted to 1t, and
you will find it always crowded. The exhibits
come from all parts of western Japan, and the
finest of embroideries brocades in velvet and
silk, porcelains and fine metal work are shown
by the side of the cheaper articles which Japan
makes for her own use. New machines for silk
weaving are exhibited, and the prices are
marked upon all the goods, though they will
not be for sale until the close of the exhibit
tion.
This city of Kiota, in which I have been
stopping for the past week is one of the gay
est aud joIliest Of Japan. The air is pure, and
the great green hills which surround the city
are covered with pines 1t was here that the
Capital of Japan was located for more than
1000 years, and here was for years the center
of all that was going on in the Empire. The
town still has some of the best art works of the
Empire, and the finest of the silk and of the
porcelain factories are located here. These
factories arc little affairs of one or two small
houses to the establishment. The finest of the
work is done in small houses, and the painting
on the china is all done by hand. saw some
women painting among the men, and / was
shown how the vases and toapOts are burned
again ana again during their making. Some
of the furnishings for the new palace of the
Mikado were being made by shop whose
workroom was not larger than the sitting
room of average American size, and china
which costs small fortune is made inside of
four very narrow walls
The people of Kiota are like their workmen.
The girls dress the loudest, aud bright colors
are seen everywhere. l saw q girl on the
street last night in red silk crepe gown cOv-
cred with white stork5 each of which was 10
inches long, and from my room at the Yami
Hotel l hear the songs OF the geishas and the
music of the samiSen nightly. The music of
japan is almost altogether made by singing
girls, who are professionals, and who are paid
so much for an evening or an hour. They are
| pretty and gay and the most Of them can dance
! and tell stories as we'll as sing and play.
! FRANK G. CARPENTER.