Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-05-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
In Japan.
THE LAND OF UPSIDE DOWN.

A Japanese book begins where
ours ends, the word finis" coming
where we put the title-page. Con.
sequently, when we read book, we
turn them from right to left,
while the japanese turn them from
left to right. The Japanese put
their foot-notes at the top of the
page, and the reader puts his book
mark at the bottom.
In writing a letter, the Jap puts
the stamp on the seal and writes the
name of the town first, and the name
of the addressee last, thus exactly
reversing our way of putting the
particular first and the general last.
The complete address thus assumes
an appearance which to us Is Comical
in the extreme, as, for example 4:
Japan, Toxic, Aksaka District, Such
and-Such Street, nineteen number,
Smith John Mr..
In Japan, children are called by
their family name, or last" name
first, and their "given" or Christian
second. 1t is as if we were to call
our youngsters in such way as
Jones Tom, Smith Peter, Robinson
Mary.
In Japan, the total of bill is put
at the top, and the items beneath,
and many tools and implements are
used in a way contrary to ours. For
instance. japanese turn the lock the
wrong way and japanese carpen-
ters saw and plane toward, instead
of away from themselves. When
the ingenious Jap was first intro
duced to corkscrews, his notion was
to twist the bottle on to the screw.
The Jap mounts his horse on the
right side, all parts Of the harness
are fastened on the right side, the
name is made to hang on the left
side; and, strangest of all, when
the animal is brought homo and put
into the stable, its head is placed
where we suppose its tail ought TO
he, and the animal is fed from tub
at the stable door.
Boats are hauled upon the beach
stern first. The Japanese, in naming
the points of the compass, do not
say northeast or southwest, but 'east
north,' west SOUTH.
The best room of house is not at
the front, but at the back. When
building a house, the roof is con-
structed first, then, the pieces having
been numbered, it is broken up again
and kept until the substructure is
finished.
Politeness in Japan prompts the
removal Of the foot gear, not of the
different ideas of beauty from
those of Europeans. A European
beauty wears lOw-necked and almost
sleeveless dresses, but would be
shocked at the bare thought of show
ing her ankles; a japanese would
keep the upper portion carefully
covered, and shows her feet. The
women OF the middle and lower
classes, when dressed for an evening
entertainment, show as much of
their feet as possible, sometimes GO
ing entirely barefooted. In Japan
the ladies dress splendidly until they
are sixteen-the age about which, in
our country, they only begin to dress
we'll.
White, not black, is worn as mourn.
ing. Marriages are solemniZed in
the daytime with US; night Is the
proper time in Japan. Here the
wedding breakfast takes place at the
house OF the brides parents, who is
sue the invitations and defray the
cost. If in japan there is any feas
at all, the bridegroom bears the bur
den.
We eat together at long tables. II
Japan, small tables are set for jus
one person. Their servants stant
in front, instead of placing the plates
an the table from behind.
Doctors bills are unknown in ia
pan. When physician is called in
he never asks for his fee but whel
his services are no longer required
present is made to him of what
ever sum the patient or his friend
: deem to be just compensation. Tn
: doctor Is supposed to emile, take tn
: fee, bow, and thank the patron.
Children are not kissed in Japan
To the strict observance of this rul
has been traced the remarkable ab
sence of various infantile diseases Il
that country. Indeed, kissing an
embracing are practically unknow
+ as tokens of affection. Such action
would be held to be highly immod
est. Girls do not kiss one another
nor do parents kiss or embrace thei
children and this rule holds goo