Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-01-02
JAPANESE SCENES.
100 AND INTERESTING SIGHTS SEEN
eY A TRAVELLER.


Dsaatiral Dancing.
TIE Japanese PEDESTRIANS who are not |
barefoot wear wooden clogs, OK paftens,
q straw sandals. In either case they arc
kept on by a core which passes between
the great toe and the others, the stock
tngs being made 10 accommodate, Ike o
mitten. the grea; toe in place OF the
thumb. The IA. ems are raised two or
thseo Inches from the ground by cross
pieces under them four inches apart. and
thsy mako n great Gathering. especially
n crossing brid- &c or wooden platform.
The najority OF Che japanese men of the
colmmos, sort are bareheaded in the street.
Tho women never have any other cover
ing on the head than their deliberately
dressed hair. always very black. very
smooth and very abundant. Frequently.
though, in these days. the japanese man
who still wears the native costume sur
mounts it with a derby hat, which pro-
duces n peculiar effect.
One OF the first things which strike
stranger is the manner in which the ba-
bies are carried. We see men, women
and children with babies on their backs.
1t is not uncommon to see girl Of or
years with q baby brother or sister
strapped on her shoulders. Thus incum-
bered the children walk about, play ut
games. stop TO look at puppet shows, and
10 what they please, without appearing
to feel the burden. The babies are apt
TO be asleep, and their heads swing about
until you wonder that their necks are
not broken. The children all seem to he
merry and amiable. Very seldom is one
seen either cross or noisy. wish tire
good missionaries who are beginning to
swarm in the country would send home
the secret of the excellent behavior OF
the children.
AS n rule, the young and middle aged
women are quite good looking, subject
to the reculiarities of their type. They
have smooth, round faces, often with
fresh color. iquid black eyes, exquisite
hands and well rounded arms. Their
feet are not SO attractive. being spread
put by the use of clogs or pattens. This
footgear tends 10 give them ungraceful
gaits-a sort of waddle-and it is con-
sidered the correct thing to toe in. Their
costume. almost always becoming as &c
materials and color. makes them look a
. little dumpsh. This is especially the
effect of the great bow of the belt or obi
worn on the small Of the back as much
as 4 foot square. In most cases the faces
7 wear aniable. contented expressions.
The women of Japan are much better
treated than their sisters i'll other east
ern nations. but they are considered dis
, tinctly inferior to the men and are
, taught from their earliest childhood ODE
lience-first. to their parents: then to
their husbands. and finally to their SONS
when they become the heads of their
households. Bat this docs not appear to
weigh upon the Japanese woman. She
is cheerful. docilc and contentel with
her lot, happy TO serve in the station ap-
. pointed her. with simple tastes and good
digestion. and politeness which neve:
, fails. They are said TO be good house
, keepers, always observant Of their du
/ ties. but the simplicity of their house
, keeping relieves them Of great meas
ure of the care which wrinkles the brow
5 of the New England hoUsekeeper.
; Their houses, even the best of them
e are the simplest structures imaginable
+ containing almost nothing Of what w,
!. call furniture. and their dresses reqUir,
Q no art in their cutting and manufacture
Thus the two great causes of worrimen
|, from which our women suffer do not ex
e list FOR these simple creatures.
We had heard 20 much about the gel
sia girls that We were curious to extent
our chronological Investigations in thi
e direction. Soon after our arrival in Yo
q kohama arrangements were made by n
!. experienced friend 70. q function at on
d Of the best tea houses in the city. w
D. started at SIP. H., five of us, each in
D jinrikisha, for q ride to the place nj
pointed, about 4 mile from our hote
y We went off at brisk trot, each huma
L nag carrying Taper lantern. Throug
II the crowded STREETS, around the corner.
p with sharp warnings, we Jared, and i
30 10 minutes brought up ut our rende;
(. vous. We were received with low 81
he laa,ns, and after exchanging our boot
I'd for soft oversocks. were conducted to
. spacious room, inclosed by paper pa,
eled partitions Here We sat down O
silk cushions about 10 inches square. A
1ic side Of each was placed q bibachi,
Ill small box containing q live coal imbc'
in ded in ashes to furnish light for phi
o or cigar.
A buxom attendant approached wi,
d, tea things, male n low prostration, viii
I'M her face touched the floor, and mo
IS. gracefully served tea for US. She al
sir brought US fruit and cakes, every step
ID: the process unctuated by a low bow.
dy this preparation succeeded six girl
- quite pretty, ncatly dressed in soft era
costumes, wit smiling faces. Two we
to play the saiaisen. n sort Of guitar, a,
the others wcie the dancers. All squs
-s ted and prostiated themselves before I
h. Then the muse struck MP, the playe
accompanying their instruments with
peculiar vocal effort which bore the br
' den Of the sto:y to lie illustrated in t
dance.
~ The dancer sprang to their places ii
the fun began. Each dancer carried
CIV {e>u r,,,.v Is sx-l,;<,1,