Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-12-05

W1 ~ "A " ANAAAbNhl anu bNuN
NV les very hard, He
NV" speaks English and
W French. have
seen him several
tlmes-once among
others at grand military review held
on the birthday of his father, the en-
peror He wore a superb uniform Of a
captain, and was mounted on pretty
black pony. During the whole time Of
the review he was close at the empe-
ror's side, and gave me the Impression
of being an accomplished horseman,
writes John A, Cockrell, from Japan.
A Japanese house has no bricks, no
walls, no chlmneys and no windows
This sounds very funny, and so 1t is;
yet Japanese house is both pretty and
comfortable. The most prominent thing
about 1t is the roof, which is made Of
large, heavy tiles and projects some dis
lance beyond the sides, The roof Is
supported on posts, which are not bur-
led in the ground, as you would expect
them to be, but rest upon large fiat
stones, so that the house may rock to
and fro upon the stones instead Of fall
Ing, when shaken by an earthquake or
hurricane. The rooms are all on one
floor and are separated by light slid
ing doors, which can be pushed in and
out when going from one room to an
other, or taken out altogether If 1t is
desirable to make the room large
The side Of the house consists Of more
sliding doors, made of very thin white
paper, through which light comes, but
you cannot see outside unless you put
your finger through and make hole,
The floors are covered with soft, white
mats, which are pretty and clean, and
the low ceilings are made Of wooden
planks.
Japanese people, although the most
artistic people in the world, are also
the most simple in their daily life,
Their furniture consists Of two or three
heavy quilts, called futons, for each
person, and which serve for both bed
and bedclothes, some small fiat cush-
ions on which they sit, very small
tables-about six inches high, several
hi bachis," or fire boxes, and some
lamps, cups, bowls, wooden tubs and
saucepans. These things, with, Of
course, clothes, which are kept In sort
of chest of drawers, and a beautifully
painted silken scroll, which answers to
our pictures, are the chief belongings
OF Japanese family.
Japanese boys are extremely brave
and patriotic; they love their country
with all their heart and would willing
ly give their life to defend 1t. A few
months ago. while the war was raging
between Japan and China, all the big
boys of fifteen and sixteen, who thought
they were strong enough to carry a gun
and fight, offered to enroll. Their SER
vices, however, were not needed, as ia
pan had an army larger than was nee
essary to vanquish the Chinese. There
are in Japan several military schools
and a great naval academy where
young men are prepared to become Of
ticers In the army and navy.
In Toxic there Is first-class univer-
sity with departments of literature, Ian
guages, sciences, medicine, engineer
ing, law, etc, The students are also
taught French, English or German.
AS there are very few horses in ia
pan, men called kuroumas are used to
drag along the carts. A small two
wheeled carriage, pulled by one man
and sometimes by two, is used all over
the country. Most Of them seat only
one person, but some are large enough
for two. They are called jinruksha or
kicksha. The kuroumas are very
strong men. They can run as fast as a
horse and for hours al q time.
There are now in Japan many rail-
roads like our own. Educated Japan
ese who travel first and second class be-
have in the cars just as we do; but the
common people who are not aecus-
toned to chairs In their houses do not
know how to use the seats. When they
enter car they usually take off their
shoes and put them on the floor; then
they climb on the seats and sit on their
heels.
The Japanese children are undoubt-
eddy more respectful toward their par
ents than young people in any other
country. When very young they are
taught that, in order to be happy in this
world and avoid frightful punishment
in the other, they must obey their par
ents and older brothers or sisters, be
gentle and kind to the younger ones
and polite to ALL These good principles
are taught in every family, and 1t con
tributes much toward making the ia
panese natives the best-natured, kind
est, happiest and jolllest people on
earth.