The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-07
From he Washington Star.

The national museum has now in poSses-
sion something quite novel in the form Of a
Japanese dwelling house. The house was
imported from Toxic aud is at present in
process of reconstruction under the
hands Of q Japanese workman. The mate
rial, from top to bottom, IS japanese
throughout, and will be quite an instructive
museum in itself when flushed.
The house is 12x25 feet; the steps G 2-7
inches high by S 81 wide, the doorway 5
feet-9 inches by feet II inches. and the GU
riously carved front window AZ inches by
IA inches.
The frams work OF an ordinary Japanese
house is simple and primitive in struct-
ure. Is consists of number of
upright beams, which run from the
ground TO the transverse beams and inclines
above. The vertical framing is held together
by short strips, which are let into appropri-
ate notches in the uprights, 10 which the
bamboo lathing is fixed. There is no exca-
walton beneath the house, nor is there a M
tinuous stone foundation, as with US. The
uprishtS rest directly and without attach
ment upon single uncut stones; these, in
turn, resting upon others which have been
pounded solidly into earth by means Of q
wooden maui.
When the foundation is laid and the car
penters commence, it is a curious sight to
see these fellows at work, for they use their
hands and feet at the same time, their toes
being as hardy as their fingers At first
there seems to be a great advantage at their
having four hands instead of two, and.
although they seem to work
with great rapidtty, yet they do
not accomplish one-half as
much as good American mechanic in the
same time. There is one singular feature
among them in constructing a house which
puzzles our American carpenters to account
for. When Jap sees al aperture tina
needs to have piece of wood fitted in he
gives glance at the hole, takes up his ak,
cuts off the piece needed and 1t fits as ac-
curately as if measured.
Their tools are very peculiar. For in
stance, they have smoothing plane "a
inches long, inch broad and u inch thick.
The most ingenious article in their tool
chest is chalk line. 1t is a wooden cup
containing spongy substance STEPPED In
India ink; this is pierced front and back and
the marking line passes through it, the
end of the line is attached to a small awl,
and the other end is wound
around reel not unlike a fishing reel, which
takes the place of the handle to the cup. To
mark line down plank the japanese car
penter sticks the awl in at one end of the
proposed line, carries the cup TO the other,
the line playing out itself as he does so. He
holds the line down to the board
when he reaches the desired spot,
strikes the mark, takes up the cup and
reels up the line ga he walks back. When
a Japanese wants to rip up plank he
places it ncross anything which will elevate
it few inches. then stands upon the wood
and cuts it by Selling the cleaver~looking
saw wi h both hands and pulling it toward
him. Thus by q number of short, quick
strokes he gets through plank not 80 speed
lily, but quite as effectively as an American
carpenter would with the long, slow down
and up strokes of the hand saw. The adze,
as stated by Mr.. Morse in his work ON
japan, is provided with rough handle
bending considerably at the lower end. ''In
summer the carpenters work with the
scantiest clothing possible and nearly al
ways barefooted. 1t is startling sight to
a nervous man to see carpenter standing
on stick OF timber hacking away In a
furious manner with his crooked handled
instrument, having an edge as sharp as a
razor and taking of great chips of wood
within an inch Of his naked foot.n
In certain districts in Japan, aud as Is the
case with the dwelling now at the museum.
the house Is papered both inside and out,
there being no plaster used.
Besides the order aud neatness with which
his house is made, the cleanliness OF the
Japanese is one OF his most commendable
qualities. 1t is apparent in his body, in his
house, at bis workshop and no less in the
carefulness and exemplary exactness with
which he looks after his fields.
The absence of all paint, varnish, oil or
filling is at once remarked. The wood is left
in just the condition in which it leaves the
cabinetmaker's plane, with a smooth, simple
surface, and whenever a workman can leave
bit OF nature in this way he avails himself
of the opportunity to do 30.
The kitchen differs from the guests aud
tea rooms II is without ornament, and
the principal culinary utensils are spoons,
knives, charcoal cups to hold the burning
embers, a stove, house lanterns, fireplace,
packets and tubs, teapots, cups, plates,
paaes, chopsticks and box containing flint
and finder and fuel. The fuel is wood in
the form OF sticks about foot long. There
is no pipe to the stoves. hence the kitchen Is
often filled with smoke, but aside from this
the room altogether presents quite neat
appearance.
BY far the most interesting part of a
japanese house are the guest and tea rooms
but oil japanese houses are not built the
same. Every province in Japan has a mode
of building peculiar to itself, for instance.
the dwellings at Nagasaki are differently
made from those of Kioto, while those Of
Kioto differ from those of Toxic and other
large cities In the northern part of the en-
pire. Besides the different ways Of build
ing practiced by each province the high and
low class have their dwellings constructed
differently; they are the low class, the mid
die class. the wealthy class and the nobility,
each with its own form Of architecture to
suit wants and means.
The tea room is made for the purpose Of
holding the tea ceremony in, while the guest
room is a place TO receive visitors, as its
name implies. Chairs or tables are
nowhere TO be seen, and this is the
case with all japanese rooms. The soft
mating which covers the floor is used in
stead. for whoever heard Of a Japanese Sit
ting In a chair when he had mating? On
this mating the Japs eat, sleep ami work.
The mating itself is woven very thick
and heavy and covered with another one
of a lighter material. not unlike the
common Canton mating. Knowing Of the
softness of this carpet the Japaneses taxes
off his wooden clogs when he enters the
door, and thus saves the wear aud tears
But foreigner, utterly regardless of the
feelings OF these people, is apt to walk in
with his muddy boots and temporarily
spoil the mating. This is one Of the many
petty things which makes the Japanese dis
like the foreigner.