The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-06-11
JOLLY JAPANESE,

Quaint Little Children Who Resemble Men
and Women in Miniature,
OF all the charming surprises that
await the globe-trottiny traveller in
Japa, the quaintest, the most pictur-
esque, the mostcaptivating will be found
in the by-streets where the little kimo-
noed children romp and play as children
must all the world over. Here we find
hem playing games varying but little
from those we see in our streets at home
-battledofe and shuttlecock, bounce
ball, mop scotch, etc. The games are
familiar enough. But the children.
Nothing short of actual acquaintance
can convey any correct idea of the
charm attached to them.
No doubt at first much of this charm
is connected with their picturesque Co.'S
tune; with the variety of coloring in
their fy-away kimonos and broad obs
or sashes, and it may, perhaps, lie in the
fact-and it strikes one humorously at
frst-that each child is in appearance q
miniature adult; for, with the trifing
exception of the broad tucks at the
shoulders. its dress is the same as that
of grown person. And it is odd and
delightfully."- quaint to see these chubby
little men and women, many with still
smaller and chubbier samples of hui
mainly on their backs frolicking in the
hearty enjoyment of children's fun.
But there is also charm in the little
creatures themselves, apart from their
butterfly sleeves and little pitter-patter
cloga, their plump cheeks show a ruddy
glow beneath the olive skin-a striking
Their mouths are almost invariably
we'll shaped, often exaggarating the ad-
mired Cupid's bow, and their slanting
black eyes, sparkling under the peculiar
ly sharp fold of the upper lid, give deli
cious piquancy to the baby face. Tho
masses of black hair are often elabor-
ately arranged, and ornamented with
wisps of spangled colored crepe and
sprigs of artificial flowers, when they
adorn the heads of little girls; while the
boys are either shaved as fancifully as
any poodle, or trimmed to something
like a mop. Their little faces are brim-
ming over with fun and good temper
The Japanese are said to be the most
childish of the human race, I am sure
the Japanese boys and girls are the most
childlile of all children; and how sur
prisingly good they are! Naughtiness
is almost unknown. Ihave spent hours
watching them in the streets, in school,
at work or at play, and very rarely
have seen a quarrel, writes a traveller
Some discussion may arise, and for
moment one expects chubby fists to
come in contact with chubby heads; but
an innate sense Of humor is with them a
stronger passion than pugnacity, and
the threatening thunder clouds burst in
= rain of laughter.
BY what golden spell do japanese par
ents control their children? BY what
magic do they command the willing
obedience which is a noticeable char
acteristic in these little people? Ger
tainly not by coercion nor by punish
ments. l have been ''slumming" for
over year I'm all parts of Japan, and
never once have I seen a child slapped
or shaken, and have been told by Eu-
ropean teachers in native schools that
punishments are very rare and discipline
very easy to maintain.
Rapidly cheap German clothing is
driving away the classic kimono. I'M
ported boots are cramping the little toes
which through generations have known
no further restraint than the padded
cords of sandal or clog. And, worse
than all, the little round heads, which
for thousands of years have required
only an oiled paper parasol to protect
them from sunshine and shower, are
now thrust into every variety of Euro
pean cap and hat, from the hard felt
''bowler" 10 the unadorned straw shape.
IN. Y. Journal.