The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-01-31

latter city, he declared, of all places in the
Celestial Empire was the most dangerous
Tor foreigners in general and Americans in
particular; meanwhile this "Sinbad," safe
in quaint Japanese inn at Nagasaki, sips
his mild bohea and is quite delighted to
near OF his danger somewhere else.
Inc widespread belief that the Japanese
resemble their Monaghan neighbors in
their habits and lives is an error. True.
they have slanting eyes, but in no other
trait is there even a semblance. Though
ooth OF Asiatic origin, these two races have
flowed apart through immemorial tracts of
tlme. Their written records show the
Japanese to have maintained a policy OF
COMPLETE ISOLATION
for at least 1900 years. The present
Mlkado is the 12lst Emperor of a family
Iaat runs back in an unbroken line to
Jimmu, warrior king who reigned Go b.
u. 1nlS all history comedies.
1t was formerly tbs custom in japan for
married women TO blachen their teeth in
Greer To render themselves unattractiye to
anyone save their husbands. That usage
Is becoming much honOred in the breach.
Inc lew now seen thus distigured are of
middle age or rather old women, if one re-
memoe that japanese girls frequently
become mothers at fourteen. While the
men wear their hair a Ia pompadour, the
| abundant, blue-black hair Of the women ia
always carefully, and after a style (?i of
their own, deliberately dressed, in which
condition 1t will frequently remain for
three days, the padded block used under
the neck at night as pillow avoids disar-
ranging it. No head covering ia worn nv
either sex, with the exception, perhaps. in
Iue winter, when woman is occasionally
seen with thin scarf draped around her
mead and shoulders in the Spanish stvle.
CIlIoren are as grave and as courteous
as Uuelr elders. Infants are strapped to
the backs of their elder brothers and
sisters, who go about their play.as if with
out care-little people with lesser people
behind them, and
WHOEVER HEARD JAPANESE barry CRy2
japanese houses, like the dwellers there
In, are perfect specimens. No paint Or
hardware is used. CThey dowel and NOR
tlce(. Toy-like in size and the verv per
1ectlon OF cleanliness, they yet have no
system OF drainage, the impurities being
daily removed and distributed over the
land. These dwellings are generally one
or two story; are frequently tiled, but gen
orally matched with broad, projecting
caves The first duty of Japanese house
morning, Is to remove the front of his
house, large, square, wooden, panels which
slide IN grooves to one side, leaving the
interior in view to the passer-by with
whatever domestic duties may be going ON
at the time or during the day. In the in
terror, sliding screens, or light sashes
glazed with rice paper, take the place of
DIVISION walls and give softened, mellow
!lght that IS very soothing to the eve.
w
lily removed and two or more rooms thrown
into one. The floor covering is of mats of
rice straw.
PALACE OR Howell
use no other. These mats are 3x6 feet. and
when spoken of indicate the size of house.
as ten mat house, 300 mat house. etc.
All railways in Japan are narrow gauge
and sell first, second and third class tickets
they charge for the latter l 10 cents per
mile, and add 90 per cent. more for each of
the other two classes. The s'Tokaidon was
the first road built in the empire. and the
initial train was run in 1872, between Yoko-
hama and Toxic, the capital, distance of
eighteen miles. To signalize the event in
Vltatlons were issued to prominent native
and foreign citizens TO go or a trial trip
On the trains arrival at the latter place it.
was found that the Japanese, in accord
ance with their usual custom on entering
doorway, had removed their clogs and left
them outside, they supposing that the plat
form and station was attached to the train
and moved with it. and their CONSERVATION
was great on learning that
THE CLOGS HAD REMAINED BEHIND
in Yokohama.
The police are notified of the arrival of
all strangers, and strict, though quiet and
lnoffenslVe surveillance, is kept upon their
movements. The special Japanese PASS
port Issued to Objectionable travellers who
wish 10 go inland disclaims any responsi
blllty upon the part of the Mikado or his
government should the traveller be mur-
dered or otherwise maltreated during lis
absence beyond distance of twenty five
miles from any one of the five treaty ports.
There are some who regard it as dangerous
to ramble beyond the beaten paths, but the
writer, after some experience thinks il
less so than nocturnal strolls through the
isolated thoroughfares of his own CITY.
Recently, the necessary papers were oh
tanned through the legation, and the start
maze Tor the
FAR-FAMED sHRINEs OF NIKKo,
located amidst the grandest mountain
scenery OF Centre Japan. There is no other
point IN these Islands which combines in so
eminent degree the beauties of art and
the beauties of nature. Aside from the
stately temples, tombs and idols of bygone
centuries, there is found within the radius
OF fifteen miles no less than thirty-fi of
the most beautiful cascades in the country
one known as ke kon -no-taki is $50 feet in
helghth. Nlkko is also celebrated for the
splendors OF its foliage and the solemn
grandeur OF its mountains. The .Jananese
VINO are keenly alive to the beauties of ma
ture, have a saying that "he who has not
seen Nlkko, cannot say Kekko ~ (beaptifnl
splendid, superb
The journey began by rail, continued
with jinrckishaw, and ended in sedan
chair. AT first the road for long distance
ran close to an ancient avenue of cryptom-
era trees through yellow rice fields heavy
with grain, undulating in every passing
breeze. Tired at last with gazing ont nj
the car window, l turned to examine the
face OF the other occupants of the compart-
ment and note
TWO OLD LADIES JABBERING FIERoE1y
to each other who are evidently. from their
dress, returning from some village hard nv
The only other occupant is Japanese gen.
tleman puzzllng over the contents of an
English pocket dictionary. | address a
casual question to him in that language and
he replies in his own. l shake nv head re-
specially, and after few struggles he
makes the meaning clear In English and
seems delighted at the "practice'' he is
getting. Later on, noting quiet smile on
his face at some remark between the old
ladies. ask for my share of the fun and
get 1T, in substance as follows: ''They are
beWalling the extravaganza gong on at
Toxic. Sugar is now being sold at MANY of
/ he stores there and she has even heard
that some of the people are commencing 10
put it in their tea''
The scenery commences to brighten once
more and a few STATIONS further ON the