The state herald., 1891-01-09
FACTS ABOUT THE JAPs.
CHARACTERISTICS IN WHICH
THEY FAR EXCEL U6.
Extraordinarily Polite srs Thsy, narvslsssly
Clean sad Fearless Of Desth-Hatrsd Of
the Chinsss--Uniqss Festsrssof
Their Publie Bath.

Japan 10 the land Of flowers and
Silks" said Mr.. Charles P. Dunno,
proprietor Of troupe Of performing
Japs. II have lived there some four
years now. and shall always live
there. No man ever lived in Japan q
year and was willing to leave or live
anywhere else. I'm anxious to get
back. There isn't u Japan in my
company us homesick to see Japan as
! am. FlowersP-ihere is no end!
They make the very air balm with
their perfume. The chrysanthemums
-the national fower-are alone worth
trip across the Pacific.
Americans are especially the favor
ties Of the Japanese. The courtesy
and kindness which this government
has displayed toward Japan, In con-
trast 10 the somewhat abrupt and
dictatorial methods Of England snd
France, arc responsible for this. Eng
land made her demands with threat
to blow down town II they were not
met; the United States bowed politely
and put the same thing in the form Of
II request. The Japs appreciate the
difference and love the Americans.
1.-The Japs personally are the politest
people on earth. A Frenchman isn't
in it with a Jap. You lift your hat
and Jap will lift his higher; you bow
and Jap will bow foot lower than
you do. This eycess OF polite at
tention is ut first little irksome, but
one gets used to 1t and likes It.
Tho Japanese are adva ncing fast.
faster in fact than aoy people on earth.
They are building schools and filling
them with students all over the islands.
1t is peculiar but true that these young
Jap students we'll educated, mind
you. and but little. II any behind the
college boys OF the same age in Amer
ica-are the most bitter and fanatical
expositors OF their old heathcn re-
ligion. So far as the Mikado's gov
eminent and The people generally are
involved, they tolerate unhesitatingly
the presence Of all religions and lay
no embargo on the efforts OF mission
aries to reclaim all who will to Chris
tianity.
These people are very clearly.
heir cities are models as being well
kept and pure. have been in one Of
their fishing villages, which Is the
poorest and meanest, and so FIR us Of
tense TO sight or smell was concerned.
IL was like u con servatory OF flowers.
In the big cities they maintain public
bath houses and all are free 10 dip
themselves at pleasure. That brings
me to another matter Of some delicacy
TO foreigners. People OF both sexes
battle together in Japan. There is Do
discrimination or difference. 1t is not
gents To the right and ladies to the
left with them. They mingle in the
bath without restriction and In natures
garb. This, which is shocking to any
but Jap. is altogether commonplace
TO these nonchalant celestials- 1t is
their custom. their fashion. the lesson
OF their life. or anything you may call
II, and 50 they think no more Of these
mixed lavations than you would OF a
party o. men and women at dinner.
1.-The Mikado's government Is very
jealous OF my attempt to take the
women away from Japan. I venture
TO say am the only foreigner who
ever brought amy women away under
contract and did II by lawful passports
and on the square. The four have
with me had trouble to get, l assure
you. and l had lived In Japan four
years and was well liked and respect
ed by them. had 10 give big bond
10 bring them back all right. and even
then they fused around and made me
lose two steamers before ! got clear
with them. They are afraid Of the
women being drawn into nm immoral
life, which, In their notion, would
bring shame and rcproach 70 the I'm
pev!al government Of Japan.
THE Japanese laws punish crime
very severely. Their jails arc awful
holes This prisoner is cooped up In
little dungeon not big enough to swing
II cnt in. aud has for provant no more
than one rice ball and about IA pint OF
water daily. The jap authorities are
not allowed to punish foreigners. In
each city is lhrge tract, or part. OF
the city. marked OF for tho occupation
OF aliens. This Is entirely maintained
by the foreign element and Is called
the ''forcign concessions"
"Oh. these Japs are brave. They
have no more fear Of death thin has
bullock. They will kill themselves.
The time was and 10 still for that mat
ter, when some high official like the
Mikado might find fault with some
member Of his staff or reiinue. and
command him to commit hari harf -
Not hari kari; hari hari. Now. |
don't understand any grief wou
specially flow II tho oulprit disobeyed.
1t might disgrace him; but In any
event none OF thom sver avoided II. so
far MS know. Tho doomed man
would go home and tnhs week 10 do
II. II no saw It, He suited his own
taste Ms 70 that lie made big feast.
kissed his friends goodbye. dressed
himself In spotlcss white. knclt down
on II mat plunged n knife into his
bowels, making n great slash. and
died,
~ Jap will forgive anything bu I
t.Ia, .allad a. ('hluu,oan AhA.,lI