The Helena independent., 1894-11-29

a road In quite enough 10 close the thor
ouEhfare, IL ls dlffloult to reconcile tho
character OF this pohccahle ana plea
aurcsloYing race which the modern trnv-
clcr secs With that which IN nhcribed 90
their fofcfhthorH-thoRo heroes of the
desperate Wara and bloody revolutions
which an the pages OF the early HIS
tory ~ japan. II may be that two
centuries OF 10kUgawa rule. fatherly
but autooratlc, developed qualities of
nnreaHoning obedience, and perhaps all
the struggled of the past were merely
dynnBtlc, or affalrs between the war
riora of different clansl perhaps the
people themselves have always been nR
gentle 40 they are now, cultiyating their
land and pursuing their Ingenious
trades, little affected by these turmoils
except that, like the producers OF all
times ana CountricH, they We're called
on 10 supply the sinews of war
one day when / was painting the
willows my boy Matsuha, who had
plenty OF spare time for Investigating
the nelghborhood while waiting 90 carry
home my umbrella and things, came
and told me that there was n wrestling
match at small temple about n mile
away. | packed up al once and we
walked over there. for | was very anN-
lous 10 see what kind OF n sport Il was,
This was tournament, and nil the pro-
fesslonaf wrestlers OF the noighbor-
hood, and many youths anxious 10 dis
tingulsh themselves. had collected to
take part In II. They were divided In
10 three classes. The masters Of the art
were all past their first youth; not enor-
mously stout, as they are often repre-
sented IN drawings and carvings, but
fine athletic men, taller than the ave
rage of Japanese. They wore thoir hair
In the ancient style, shaved away from
the center of the head, and that from
the back and side made into a queue,
turned up ana knotted with string on
the top OF the poll; they had no clothes
except loin-cloth and an embroidered
apron. In the second class were men
who had won but few PRICES; they were
not all In the professional get-up. and
some OF them were evidently laborng-
men with taste for sport. The third
class was composed of youths, none OF
them more than 10 or go years old. The
contests took place In the temple court
yard on a circular bed OF sand. under
a roof supported by wooden pillars. but
not enclosed at the Sides round the edge
of this raised circle there was laid n
straw rope, and the man won who could
either fairly throw his opponent or
dragged over himself. The proceedings
were conducted by "A Shinto priest in
full dress, wide trousers, and a coat
sticking out from the shoulders like
that OF modern young lady, who, with
"A peculiar shaped fan, gave the signal
10 begin and stop. For the highest class
this umpire was venerable old gentle
man; for the others the place was taken
by young priests who needed to learn
this part OF their business. The wrest-
lers came on in pairs as their names
were called, and after great deal OF
marching round. stamping, rubbing
their limbs, making gestures OF defi-
ance, and so on, they squatted opposite
each other. When the signal was given
TO begin they rested their fingers on
the ground between their knees, ana
leaned towards each other TIL their fore.
heads touched, sometimes waiting sew
eral minutes before attempting to make
any grip. II the grip seemed unfair or
unsatisfactory To one Of the opponents,
he Immediately put down his hands,
the priest stopped the bout, and all the
preliminary business had to be gone
through again. but II IL seemed all right
the struggle began, and sometimes
lasted fox Ave minutes, each man strain
ing every muscle in splendid way. and
using all the science and cunning he
knew. II IL lasted too long without
either man gaining any advantage. the
priest signalled TO them 20 stop, and
they had TO walt till their turn came
round again. Everything was conduct
ed In the most ceremonious and orderly
manner, and there was no drunkenness
or rowdylsm, although the multitude
who had assembled were entirely of the
poorrkt class. The most fashionable
wrestling matches are held In Tokyo In
spring and autumn, and the champion
is as much popular favorite hs a fam
Gus torero In Spain. or well-known
prize-hghter in England and America.