The silver lance., 1897-09-24
THE AMERICAN EDITOR ON
SOME JAPANESE CUSTOMS.
The Son af the Emperr II an Accom-
pIished Horseman-The Curions Houscs
nt the Far Eastern Empirc-5raverJ
OF Japanese Boys. y

.,ISS speaks English and
~ French. havs
seen him severa!
times-once amole
others at a grand military review neiu
on the birthday Of his father, the en-
peror. He wore superb UNIFORM vi
captain, and was mounted on a pretty
black pony. During the whole Time VI
the review he was close at the erhpe-
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 chimneys, and no winoo"s
This sounds very funny. and SO II Is,
yet Japanese house is both pretty anu
comfortable. The most prominent thlhs
about it is the roof, which is maze Oh
large. heavy tiles and projects some dis-
tance beyond the sides. The roof Is
supported on posts. which not par-
led in the ground, as you eHpeo.
them to be, but rest upc-- large ha'
stones. so that the house may rock "
and fro upon the stones instead OF iaii-
ing, when shaken by an earthqu Le OF
hurricane. The rooms are all on one
fiocr and are separated by light shu-
ing doors, which. can be pushed in anu
out when going from one room TO an
other, or taken out altogether If 1t Ia
desirable to make the room large.
The side of the house consists Of more
sliding doors, made Of very thin wnto
paper, through which light comes, but
you cannot see outside unless you put
your finger through and make a hole.
The floors are covered with soft, white
mata, which are pretty and clean, anu
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 botn 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
laucepans. These things, with, OF
course, clothes, which are kept in sort
of chest of drawers, and 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 it. A few
months ago, while the war was raging
between Japan and China. all the big
boys Of fifteen and sixteen, who thought
81, ct fo
and fight. offered to enroll Their SER
oices, however, were not needed. as,L1S
pan had an army larger than was noe
essary to vanqu'sh the ChineSi. There
are in Japan several military schools
and a great naval academy where
young men are prepared to become Of
fcers in the army and navy.
In Toxic there is fiss1uclass univer-
s;ty with departments OF literature, Ian.
guages. sciences, medicine, eng ineer-
ing, law, elc. The students ara 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 somcti,ses by two, is used all over
.he 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 at time,
There are now in Japan many rail-
roads like our own. Educated Japan
ese who travel first and second class be-
nave in the cars just as we do; but the
common people who are not acous-
toned to chairs in their houses do not
know how to use the seats. When they
enter a 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-
sdly more respectful toward their par
cnts 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
m 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 it con-
tributes much toward making the ia
papese natives the best-natured, kind
est. happiest and jolliest people TN
earth.
Garlic Remedy.