Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-12
A KNEELING NATION.
Though Not overly Religious, the
Japanese Spend Much Time
IN TIE ATTITUDE OF DEVOTION.
Bad Air and Bad Water Are the Crying
Evils of the Orient.
HOME COMFORTS NOT APPRECIATED

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DrsPATcH.l
YOKOHAMA, September 10.-Although
the japanese are the most irrellgious people
in the world. few of them ever getting on
their knees before a deity in temple or at
home, they may yet be described appropri-
ately as the Kneeling Nation, since they do
almost everything on their knees that we do
sitting or standing.
Whenever guest, be he native or foreign,
arrives at an inn, the host and his wife and
all the servant girls drop down on their
knees simultaneously and lower their heads
till the nose almost touches the floor. The
same Is done when he leaves the inn. In
this respect Japan has not changed except
in a few large hotels in Toxic, NIkko, Kio-
to and other cities which are kept by jap
anese proprietors almost exclusively for
foreigners, since few natives are able or will
ing to paw So to So 30 dav, when they can
be com fortably housed and led in o genuine
Japanese inn, for about a dollar. In such
an inn, again, it would be considered
great breach of etiquette ii the servant girl,
on being called to guests room by clapping
the hands, did not get down on her knees be-
fore inquiring what Is wanted. And when
a japanese eats his meal from the little
lacquer table three inches high and foot
square, not only does he himself kneel, but
girl also kneels opposite him, waiting to
fill up his rice bowl from the big vessel
standing by her side, till he has had enough.
RECEIVING A VISITOR.
Nor is this kneeling habit by any means
confined to innkeepers and their servants.
Shopkeepers greet their customers similarly,
and at home people of all ranks get on their
knees to receive visitors, who also kneel
down, both parties touching the floor with
their head two or three times, while ex-
changing some excruciatingly elaborate and
formal Oriental compliments. IN which each
one calls himself an unworthy being (much
as Christians call themselves miserable sim
ners in church), and exalts the other. In
deed, in Japan it would be considered as
rude to receive a visitor standing as it would
in America to receive him sitting-one of
the instances OF topsy-turvydom which
Prof. Chamberlain forgot to add to his long
and amusing list in his entertaining new
volume called "Things Japanese"
Ii you engage a few music girls to play
for you while you eat your dinner, they will
kneel opposite you while they play their
banjo and small drum; and young lady at
home, when she plays on her koto (the
Japanese piano), places it on the floor and
kneels before it. So also, when she goes to
the theater. she does not sit on chair, but
kneels during the whole performance in an
attitude which to foreigner would prove
racking torment in ten minutes. But she is
so accustomed to it that she actually finds it
more comfortable to kneel aud sit on her
heels than to sit on a chair or bench, as is
proved in the cars, where you often see
woman or girl dropping her slippers and
putting her feet under her on the seat
THE LONG SILK TROUSERS.
performance in Toxic, at which some of the
actors wore trailing silk trousers, such as
were worn 80 years ago. I asked jap
anese friend what be thought was the origi-
ual object of this strange costume, and he
replied that it was TO give the impression
that the Tycoon's subjects were on their
knees even when walking. 1t seems, how
ever, that the mobiles compensated themselves
for this humiliation (iT SO they considered
it) by making their interiors 60 down on
their knees before them even in the street.
1t has been suggested that the docile sub
mission shown by the japanese people finds
it's explanation in the great license allowed
during the feudal age to the samurai, or
two-sworded military men. who, on return
ing from a nocturnal carousal, could with
impunity slash and stab not only dogs that
got into their way, but Inoffensiye coolies
and shopkeepers, who thus learned to consider
polite submission the better part of valor.
But this theory does not account for the
remarkable courteousness which prevails in
the aristocratic circles as well as among the
people, and has made genufection the
national attitude OF the Japanese. 1t Is
universally admitted by foreign visitors
that the Japanese are the most truly courte-
ous and kindly people in the world and
that whereas the insinuating politeness Of
Frenchmen and Spaniards is often mere
surface polish, that of the Japanese springs
from true kindliness OF disposition, which
shows itself continually in their bearing
toward each other and still more toward
foreigners. I have myself had numerous
experiences OF this during the last two
months, but will mention only one incident
which, for the very reason that it is OF such
4rivial nature, is all the more eloquent.
AN EXAMPLE OF COURTESY.
One day, while at Otarn in Yazo, went
with friend just outside of the town limits
to take bath in the sea. There was no
sandy beach, but the shore was rocky, and
some workmen were digging away the hill
side to make room for more houses.
When we had had our swim and returned
to our clothes we found that these workmen
had spread a clean new mat over the rocks
so that We might have place to dress COM
tortably. In what other country would such
ali ACT of gratuitous courtesy enter the minds
of common workmen?
1t is to be hoped that :hIs national cour-
tesy, rs we'll as the love OF art and nature,
OF flowers and scenery, and the contempt for
vulgar displays of wealth, which now char
acterize the Japanese, may ever continue to