Kansas City daily journal., 1896-10-30
CHILDREN In The ORIENT,
JAPAN A PARADISE FOR THE LITTLE
TOTS.
There Are Plenty of Them There and
They Have n Good Time the
Year Rouud-Alwnys Happy
and Good Natured.
for The Literary Digest.

Translated for The Literary Digest.
Japan is a children's paradise. if we are
to credit Mile. Renee SEWN DespIaces, who
writes about japanese children for the
Magazin Picturesque paris, September l5).
We translate below portions of her descrip-
ton. which go far toward justifying her
assertion. Says Mile. Desplaces:
''Visitors to Japan may have different
opinions about the picturesqueness of her
landscapes, the color of her sky, and the
richness of her flowers, the solemnity OF
her temples. and the grandeur of old Fuji.
but all agree that nothing in Japan is pret-
tier or more interesting than her little chill
dren.
Even the young men and girls have the
looks and manner of children. and many
of them appear as If they were merely
playing at life.
Truly Japan Is a children's paradise!
Nowhere are there more of them; nowhere
are they better loved. The sweetest relig-
ious sentiment of Japan is filial love. and
parents who love their children passion
ately are amply recompensed for this affec-
ton by the care and respect with which
they are surrounded later In life. when
they have reached old age.
1T Is a charming spectacle 20 see the
children in Yokohama, when they so, at
the beginning of springtime, to look for
shells at low tide. They come in groups
from all parts Of the city. carrying with
them baskets and boxes hanging from their
backs.
Having disrobed. they run joyously over
the beach, prattling and crying out with
glee. devoting all their energies to the
search, while the heads Of sleeping babies
are balanced funnily on the hips Of older
brothers or sisters.
japanese children are never bashful or
sullen. They look you straight in the face.
never draw back II you call them to you.
and although intimidated by the familiar
ity Of strangers. they smile at you II you
show them a friendly face. And curiously
enough you can draw a crowd Of them inn
mediately II you seem interested in some
invisible object. Thus passer-by In Eu-
rope who looks into the air will soon sea
a crowd gather about him. In Japan this
crowd Is one of children.
THE custom OF shaving their heads Is
disappearing. You know in what manner
this is done. Only little lock Of hair is
left just at the top of the head, and some
times also tuft at the neck.
MANY children have eczema on the
shaven part of the head, a trouble attribu-
table perhaps to unclean razors. This
spoils the looks Of the little creatures. but
no mother in such case would resort "a
medical treatment. All believe that the
cause is some interior trouble Of which
the skin-eruption Is only symptom. and
none of them would for the world consent
to take any care of it. Besides the trouble
stops as soon as the parents stop shaving
the child's head.
Two days in the year are exclusively
devoted to children. At Tokyo. kioto, Yo-
kohacna and in all the cities of Japan
there is day when the shops are full of
toys. little models of persons or things. or
even figures Of the entire Japanese court
in miniature This Is on the great holiday
for little girls.
"At this time, large and small are dressed
in garments of all colors and affect the
most extraordinary headdresses. The moth
ers are very proud Of these toilettes.
"The corresponding boys holiday falia
on May g. Then they are seen scattered
everywhere about the country. At each
house is raised bamboo mast from which
hang, blown about by the wind, strings
of paper fishes. These represent carp. and
are symbols of energy and constancy. For
as the carp can ascend streams against
the strongest currents, Just so a studioua
child can in following the difficult cur
rent of hfe acquire fortune and renown.
There are as many of these paper fish q
each mousse as there are chiioren III IT, so
that at some houses as many as oozen
fish may be counted on tne masts.
japanese children love aiso ,he sport OF
kite-flying They make kites with strips
of bamboo on which Is fastened the paper
of very tough texture. common IN japan
some Kites are VI nuse sAe GU a. y
raised many hundred yards Veritaoie
swarms Of them may often be seen 1ying
above villages. The chiioreh attach u
them little devices that under the lhhuehce
of the wind give out a most curious musi-
cal sound.
ine 1aPae .,-,.s -
brutal. He IS ruii OF me anu spirits no.n.
ing more. He SPENDS MS money ior run
and candy like other cniioren anu 'akes
his pleasure In a more rauona way tnan
the American cniiu' Drns uo.n iess s.io
and less comoatiVe. "cXeuhess seens uii'
known TO MIN.
and bare legs, Is always interesting. nov
ho"S ,uns ~. s. 80 10, 20, ofter
onu s 80 ~, ., ;s .,nos,
gee . nheV iolmeu n,e. a. rass,o, con,ron
SAD with tn6 EeSlSueu cApEcSSioh SoihhioA