The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-20
HOMES OF THE JAPANESE.
No Windows Nor Regular Doors-Walls
and FIoors-The Go Down."

|
only one story, and very seldom of
more than two. They do not, of
course, resemble one another exactly,
any more than English houses do; but
it may be said Of them generally that
they have no windows in our sense of
the word, and sometimes no regular
doors, but they are always provided
with veranda before the lower story,
and when they have a second story,
with balcony. ~
AS to solidity. it is fact that the
japanese do not even aim at making
their houses substantial, as English
houses are, or as, even when CON
structcd by Jerry builder" they
profess to be. The outer walls of an
English houses are always intended to
be fixtures, and so far durable that
when once put up they cannot be
pulled down without sending for
workmen; but among the japanese
two or more of the sides are not per
manent walls, but are closed with slid
ing screens, which can be set up and
taken down at the pleasure of The in
mates. On hot day, or when thorough
ventilation is required, the whole side
of room can be opened to the outer
air
OF course, people who are not par
tlcular about having n permanent
wall between their rooms and the out
side world, do not caro- to have i'm
movable partitions between one part
OF the house and another Although
IN England rooms ere occasionally
parted from one another by O curtain.
or by folding doors, yet. as a general
rule, they are separated by walls,
which, however tlim;y their construc-
ton may be, are fixtures. and cannot
be taken away and replaced at viii |
But IN Japan one room is commonly |
parted from the next merely by n !
scrcen-a framework Of wood covered |
with paper which runs in "a shallow |
groove on the floor and a deeper |
groove on the ceiling. a plan which |
gives the inhabitants the power of |
adding to or decreasing the number Of
their apartments at their pleasure.
Baron Nordenskjold. the famous Arc
TIC traveller has recorded the surprise
with winch he woke up one morning
at japanese inn IN quite small
room, having gone to bed over night
IN very large one.
Ii has been suggested that the reason
why the japanese do not build their
houses more solidly is that, in a land
like theirs of continual earthquakes, il
IS not worth while spending n long
time on rearing up building which
may be tumblcd down again at any
moment. But it IS doubtful whether
tins explanation is a true one. for
violent enough to destroy
a really strong building do not happen
very often at any one place. and. be-
SIDES the japanese do erect durable
houses. which the English call 'go
Towns, - for the protection Of ,hcm
from loss or accident. The
most common accident Is by fire. TO
which the iniiammablc Japanese J
houses fall an easy prey, and 10y which
argc parts Of the towns are c0ntlnu-
lily being burnt down. On the ap-
roach of cOuilaglation the prudent S
japanese, rs far as possible, pulls his !
iousc down and takes away not only S
IS contents. but large parts Of itself. t
o the go down, which Is a building C
hickly coated with fire proof clay. very
trOng and substantial. but very sci. &
om used as home. t.
The floors Of japanese rooms arc in 81
arlably caipctcd with rush mats of a
cry careful construction. some two or d
lrce inches thick and about six feet 81
Dig by three broad. As these mats 4
ne all Of one pattern. the size Of a Is
pom can be determined by the mum o
or OF mats 10 contains. and il is de p
ribbed as q SIX mat or twelve met r.
)0m rs the case may be-. Since the fl
rooms are either of SIX or d
eight mats. and since an cieht mat al
net room Is only about twelve feet by So
yclvc IN extent, il viii be seen that q
re- rooms Of q japanese house. like /
ne japanese house itself, are generally
nall The japanese fireplace is gen
ally q portable brazior made Of
'onzo, porcelain or wood. lined with e
ny, IN which not coal but charcoal lC
Ines are burned Sometimes, how vs.
-cr, there is q clay lined hole i'm the "
Dor containing q fire Of the same 50
nd.-CasSell's Family Magazine @;