Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-11-27
IHE JAfaNLsL FACE.
Prominent Non OF Japan Who
Eese mble Americana
Photographs of Notod state and Army
Leaders That Might Pass for Those
OF Dtsting uisaed Men Of tho
United States

The typical face of the Japanese race |
has become familiar in this country
within year through the pictures
printed in the papers. At FIRST it may
have made rather an rnfavorablc i'm
preston upon the physiognomists and
observers in general, but us people
have become better acquainted with it
through the study of It's pcculiaritics it
must have grown in favor. 1t differs
from the face of other Asiatic races; it
is obviously distinct from the Chinese,
the Tartar, the llindoo, the Malay and
the Persian face. 1t bears n nearer re-
scmblancc to the Corcan face than to
any other in Asia. But in facial out
lines. as in mental characteristics, the
Japanese are more like the European
races than arc any other Asiatic people.
Prof. Griiiis, of Toxic, says that there
arc two marked varieties of feature in
Japan which are stri!lingly portrayed
in their own pictures. These arc the
broad, Nat face of the lowest class and
the oval face, with full nose, of the
higher. Prof. Cribs has been further
led to believe that the Japanese, whose
origin has been lost in antiquity, arc q
mixture of two separate races, the one
of which had extended southwark from
Siberia, hairy and broad featured,
while the other, which approached
from the southwest, had the Hindu
stani physiognomy and smooth skin.
To this day the natives of the chief
island, Nippon, regard those of the
lesser island. Ycso, who are called
Amos, as of inferior quality. The face
here spoken of as typical Of the natives
of Japan is that of the well-born Nip
poncsc, o people who probably owe
their origin 70 a cross between the
primitive Amos and the later corners
from India.
The face Of the milSado, as printed
from Toxic portraits of him, says the
| New York Sun, ia. one which, apart
from it's complexion, resembles that OF
many Americans who may be seen in
the streets of New York any day. At
first glance ii seems to have a rather
sullcn expression, but when closely
studied it gives an idea Of intellectual
ity, thoughtfulness, stcadfastness, eau.
tiousncss, energy and levcl-headcdncss.
It is eminently Indicative Of the mans
character, rs illustrated during his
long and successful reign. All the fea
lures of it ore we'll formed, and the
bearing of the head is in accord with
his traits, as known to the world. Any
physiognomist, after thoroughly eX
amining the cnipcror's face and head
would very surely pronounce mos
favorable judgment upon them. Thu
face of his wife, the empress, is oval
full of intelligence, kindly, and nigh
be taken for that of n fine-lookinb
American or European woman, in 81
far as form and expression are con
cerncd, yet not, perhaps, as regard
complexion, though it is a truth tina
many Japanese women of rank, VIII
rarely go out of the house, are fair CON
plexioned.
The premier, Prince Ito, the grea
diplomatist, would pass here for a Co
orado senator or North Dakota spccr
lator in town lots. Gen. Yamagat
looks not unlike the late Robert LOU
Stevenson, novelist. Marshal Cyan
bears some resemblance to Grove
Cleveland. Viscount Mutsc would b
fine looking for a white man. Vice AZ
miral Ito's double may be seen upo
every block on broadway any fin
afternoon. DIR. Depew, the Bower
, peach" would smile if he saw one I
the Japanese portraits in the Suns CO
lection Of them, and Thomas G. Pla
would smile if he saw another. tt
faces of group of young Japs in
photograph belonging to the Sun loo
, like those Of any group Of your
Americans ut Yale, or Harvard,
, Princeton.
The typical Japanese face, as draw
. and colored by native artists, bea
: less of resemblance to the America
or European face than when it
' photographed, for the methods
Japanese art are peculiar. The re
!. style and spirit of the face are be
" brought out by the camera. 1t is
l face that must be studied very close
n and very long and very often by an
one who would get proper comp
l. hension of it, or who would seek
!" gain an insight into Japanese charact
= by means of it, or who would attem
to interpret the history Of Japan by t
p distinctive phys,ognomy of its peculi
people.