Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1894-10-12
'MERRYMAKING IN JAPAN.
CHARACTERISTICS or PEOPLE O.
THE FLowERY 6ISGDOE.
Great Public Festivals That Had
Their Origin in Religious and
National Ceremouials.

THE japanese are essentially a
merrymakiug people, court
eous, kindly and intelligent,
and their frequent festivals
are observed IN Il happy, chi!diIke
and gorgeous manner. \ japanese
crowd of holiday makers visit the fairs
with full determination TO see aad
be seen, aud if, a. Judged by our own
standards, a few repulslve features o.
life do occasionally present them
selves when least looked for and uLdcr
almost startling circumstances, II Is
none the less fact that the great
mass of the people ENJOY their mirth,
ful seasons innocentiy and with hearty
coed will.
Public festivals in Japan, A. rule,
have their origin in some religious or
national ceremonial, says IA core
spondent of the Chicago Record, but
they arr now carried on quite apart
from any religious observance,
although the fairs are held and the
booths and stalls are erected in the
broad avenue approaches about tue
temples, and the priests, rs matter
of course, cone in for fair share "a
the holiday money spent by old and
young alike. The temples at these
times are open almost the entire day
and night, few priests knccling on
either side the shrine chant their I'M
ending appeal 10 Buddha, aud the
front of the portal is open FOR the APP
proach and homage Of the fa!thtUl.
No long act of devotion is expect /
from holiday makers. The deyo.sr
gives a quick jerk Of the rope, which
rings the gong fixed above the shrine,
to call the attention q! the protecting
god or goddess, bends his head and
clasps his hand. IL Il most devotional
manner and approaches close to the
image. A few mutterei words, "A
money Offering, parting rrnE Of tae
gong and the officiating priest hands
to the worshiper II charm paper on
which appears presentation OF tho
, deity o! the temple mud, uucoucerne /
and solf-satisticd, the dyvot.c pa -e,,
out quickly to Join the merry thronI
without turning to tea house o.
theatre
Away from the beaten trac.s q
travel japanese tea house is \ charm.
ing place for rcst aud rcirr-hmeut
Simple rural fare. bright smiles anil
polite attention enhance the pleasant
experiences, and especially is il 80 at
distance from the settlements, where
the tea houses are built n pracetu!
valleys, or pcrchci on the very banks
OF roaring torrent among the many
culorel hills. But the case Is very
different III towns and villages durin :
festival season 4 crowd O! eager
customers fills every room OF the house,
and no corner can be found wherein
to rest. 4 constant stream e.. visitor,
flock in all day long seeking refresh.
ments Bo.sterous laughter and noisy
merriment prevail, and the dlscord |.
/ heightened by the sharp twang OF the
banjo and the harsh notes % the sing
ing girl. 70 the stranger, unfamiliar
with Language and surroundings the
tune is bewildoring IN tue extreme.
Certainly there Is no lack OF patron.
age, and the waiting girls, dressed
gayly in summer attire, are hurried
about everywhere and have troops oil
admiring sWains to fling after them
pretty compliments. Bat smile and
soft word, or perhaps "A witty re-
partee must suffice, rs the busy dam.
sells manage somehow to be IN tw,
places at the same time. The clamuI
Is kept up on all sides for fish ant
rice, chopsticks, wine AMI cverythinz
else pleasing to the palate, AMI the
swiftly moving attendants must show
no preference, Sut attend with ever
temper and impartial kindness to tn,
wants of every guest Onepar'y rise!
and the vacant space Is filed AT once,
and so amid the compliments, chatter
ing, laughing and singing the Tea TIM
goes on from the early hour, OF morn
ing TO the latest IL the evening.
Outside OF the tea house, as the da,
advances, the scene Is very strlEiu-,
and as one can rca lily ascend a neigh
boring hillside the motley crowds O
gay addressed holiday makers and IT,,
many attractions of the fair can b.
viewed to advantage. The avenues t,
the temples are haakcl with S!aY
trees which throw welcome and re
freshing shade over the crowds below
and beneath the sheiterIng branchc
the tumblers, Juggler., the ballal
mongers and sweet meat sellers, ans
all the varied types OF itincrant mer
chants are surrounded by wondering
rustics and admiring urchins.
In convenient places many largc
booths have been erected, and from
the crowds focking toward the lar e
booth there can be no doubt but tina
something unusual must be about tt
take place. Near the opening on
separate platform stand several mel
of quite large stature for japanese, an,
there is no mistakiuE their splendi,
physique. "Wrestlers," We are toll,
in answer to inquiries, aud IT Is sale
that several famous combathuts vii
shortly test their powers. The Jap
anese are famous wrestlers, and tn
performance of two champions is &C
counted a great treat and thorough,
enjoyed.
The preparation of the prett,
young japanese dnmsels are also wortl
few words of description. Thei