Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-07-19

steps with dIvlue food; but he onl,
rubbed his shins and laughed q
his mshap, while he was irrever
entlyioined in his hiiarity b,
the onlookers. This same prizes
with whom / was in the habit of drink
ing tea while he smoked my cigarettes
nsed iokingly to make signs to me t,
clap my hands after the manner of /
devotee when he makes his offering
aud when | once responded by throw
ing an old-fashioned coin, three inchel
long, into the box, where it rattlet
through the bars like a horseshoe, b,
tapped nee lightly on the shoulder, ant
giggled immoderately at the small
joke Once he went so far as to salute
me with his fan between his hands, al
if he had been before the shrine, by
which irreyerent action another priest
who chauced to observe it was indeed
Ittie Disconnected. The prayers NUT
tered by most visitors are only shorl
phrases said in a couple of seconds
and Immediately before and after suct
praying, they indulge in laughing con
veTsltion, and even, as / have seen, II
bOIsterous mirth.
There does not seem, however, to be any
lack of votaries in this temple. Hun
dreds of people visit the shrines during
the day. Sometimes they are working
men, who find time to put their poles
baskets, or tools on one side, approach
the casE-box, throw in their ri, claJ
their hands, and say or chant prayers,
of length proportional to the piety
OF the individual, but generally pretty
Il ffarn ,rhx Nf
from the sOuth, of the long-faced Jup
auese type, wearing large, round rus
hats, and EjmOHO tucked up to give
freedom to the legs, which Grn clad il
white CATERS to the knee. They beaI
long slaves and carry small bundles
slung over the shoulders. Many mile
have they tramred in their straw
sandals, and they are dusty anc
drowned by the sun. They bear them.
selves with a proud air, however,
strong contrast to the few of the shop.
keeping class, clad in sober -colored
EiHlOnO and coats, Who are not usually
very devout. But now there comes
group of women on a holiday trip. the
blue dresses looped up so as to show
brilliant red or white petticoat reach.
ing to the knee, the calf of the leg GOV.
cred with white, or sometimes beauti
ful light blue elk CATERS, their head,
bound up with blue and white cloths,
surmounted by the usual basin shaped
hat.
AS the day wears on into afternoon,
gangs of holiday-makers from the towr
make their appearance, mostly womer
and children IN bright obis, gay sun
shades and plenty of color about them.
including that of the artificial flowers
In their hair. They wander about,
chatting and laughing; they feed the
whito pony, throw their offering into
the cash-bUx, and gaily try to teaci
the baby of the party to clap his little
fat hands together before shrine. On
they may be a knot of noisy, irrever.
ent youths, who intend to have a merry
time at the tea-hOuses, and come only
to stroll carelessly about. Meanwhile
the proprietors of these tea-houses ar,
busily engaged in providing the visit,
ors with refreshments; and the plump
smiling mattresses shuttle about, shout.
ing q long-drawn "He-e-e" in answer
20 the clapping of hands that summoni
them.
But the light-hearted and the gay ar,
AOI Tut Spl5 clucuLtIs Vi lue touIplc'
There ia a certain percentage of poor.
looking men and women, who attend
with real devotion, to call on the deity,
and clap their hands and pray. 1t is
pathetic sight to me to watch thest
ragged figures, with their SCARED
and wrinkled faces; to see then
bring forth, with fumbling fin.
gers, a copper coin from a dirty
wrap to cast into the box; and &C
hear the low agonized voice humbIy
petitioning the Unseen. The very
aged totter up the steps and feebly
strike together their withered palms
as their bleared eyes are bent dimly
and vaosntly upon the shrine. 1t may
be that the coin now heard to rattle il
the wooden box is the last humbl.
offering that they will make to the
deity; and as | watch the slow, de
creplt step, and note the uncertain
gaze that seems to see not, as the bent
form creeps away, L think on the
mystery of death that comes alike tc
all races and to men of all religions.
PctN NIU G05ette.