Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-09-14
HOW THEY VOTE IN JAPAN.

The polls had opened at eight o'clock,
and one by one the farmers had come
struggling in from the surrounding
country. The greater number gather
ed in the small meeting-hall just out
side the polling-roOm whence arose
quiet buzzing. 1t was reminder of
the gathering in the churchyard on
Sunday, in old times, between the
morning and the afternoon services.
There was little laughter, less loud
argument, and no angry disputing.
Every now and then, like bees leav-
ing a hive, a figure was seen to sepa-
rate from the rest and move off toward
the polling and soon another
returned. One saw among them here
and there the modern Japanese, with
his imitation of foreign garments, in
appearance seldom elegant, often awk-
ward, and generally out of harmony
with the surroundings. But chiefly
there came the fashioned rustic,
in his best silk robes, with square sha-
ven crown and short queue caught up
and tied,-perhaps wearing the hdkd-
ma, or divided skirt, of the old sGnlu-
raj 4 gentleman in every act, he bows
as he enters to the official at the door,
carefully writes his ballot aud affixes
his seal, then with great elaboration,
folds it and places it in the oblong Off
cfal envelope. For some OF the voters
it is necessary to seek the assistance
of a special clerk in writing their bal
lots. 1t is not that they cannot write;
for everybody knows the plebeian kd-
ma, or syllable writing. They prefer
to see their ballots inscribed with the
more elegant Chinese characters; and
then, too the kama is sometimes
ambiguous (for soma words have a
dozen different meanings), and there
is a natural perturbation and desire
to have their meaning clearly and cor
rectly conveyed. When the writing is
finished, the long-sleeved voter walks
over to the tdchioiniR, or inspectors.
Here further illusions OF pOliteness
take place while the voter gives his
name, number, and address, and is
checked off on the register. Then
with another gesture of courtesy, he
turns to the ballot box, and with bow
perhaps in duplicate, to the kind old
mayor who sits behind the box, he
carefully deposits his ballot and quiet
ly retires by another door.-Scribner'
Magazine
- = e.
The oldest, StafoCn1aTl in the annnffsy
are the joIliest A man who is 20 can
afford to be witty, and he who has
lived to be so, and still feels well, ought
to laugh and be merry all day long
Senator Justin S. Morrill, is now 81,
and he can cackle a laugh with all the
vigor of a boy whose voice is changing.
He was born in 1910, began life as
merchant, then turned farmer, and fl
nally graduated as a statesman. He
hangs to his seat in the senate like grim
death. For 35 years he has been in
public life, and his congressional ca
reer is more than generation. Still,
at 81, he is tall, well formed and fine
looking, and though his shoulders are
a little bent with age, his eyes are
bright and his brain still works He
is very much averse to interviewing,
and the gist of my conversation with
him was that he felt as young as ne
used to be, and that he by no means
considered himself an old man. 'sCome
round" said he, "about six years from
now, and l will feel myself fitted to
give you an opinion on longevity. At
present am one of the young men of
the day, and 1 do not feel that my
appearance justifies me in giving ad-
vice to the other boys.''