The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-19

INV puhO WV NV VI w h.s hhiN ~.
from tho artisans of old Japan, who spent patient
months. and even years, OF toll in fashioning one
estry. Then tho main idea was to make some
thing beautiful. Now 1t Is to make somo-
%trottcrs, of whom Americans arc largely IN the
majority.
simulacrums of those Of the past. Much display
for n little money is the present watchword.
This being tho case, Japan may In time become
an agile competitor Of Germany, but never OF
America.
Politcnoss, mctaphorically speaking. is a coin
world, IS generally accepted ut It's faco value,
and Is rarely ,rung on the counter to test its
genuineness. Politcnsss: however, is not always
crs unacquainted with the inner workings of the
Japanese mind are prone to attribute their cx.
tho people, MS q mass, are apt to DO registered by
time-pressed tourists as pleasing, sympathetic,
and congeninl. Practical manufacturers OF the
Occidental world nevertheless look askance att
people who are ever ready to c,vade. by fair
purchased, and arc quick to believe that tho
truest politenesss springs from g kind heart and
never yet established a permanent competition.
or the millions of feet, of straw braid, tons OF
silk, paper. &C, constantly being brought from
me interior and shipped from Yokohama and
\ EG eSsS GiHeSS i in the % sodo SS shbs eiore th sf bro Sase ean
feel assured that his foreign client is not being
Although this has been going on for years. and
in spite of the fact that tho swindles discovered
and, tho percentage of reflections IL amazing, the
hope that the foxes may some day confound the
red-haired, barbarian and enable him TO reap
but vaguely realize the confusion caused in New
York IL IT. were found necessary. to unpack, ex-
amine, and repack all Of the mnltitudinous mer.
that port for alien shores.
The tea brokers consider Japan as yet in the
found in tea boxes destined for export, and a
prominent tea, shipper In Yokohama assured me
had he : p G%stq eau the e5G mnititu de1 Of stones Which
have reached him In tea cases during the last
ten years.
to hornswoggle the foreign devil. the average
Japanese runs the Bombay Arab u wonderfully
close second. To cnumernte them all would be
a hopeless rs well as II thankless task, but one OF
the commonest methods, which here ranks in
the same category with the gold brick manipu;;
lation and the Elusive pea in America, l regard
as worth reproducing.
1t is customary for every Japanese to change
his name several times during his fugitive mum
dane existence. 1t is also habitual with him to
possess several names at one and the same time.
One, of these he is known by in the business
world; another in private circles; one or two he
uses for certain periods Of his life, and an odd
lot; like 2 bunch Of old keys. is Kept to At Ger.
sistcncy in their average domestic life.
A man may change his name at any time he
nearest notary office, and it is not obligatory
for him to make the change publicly known. TO
Tic OI II WITTY tuRp OI 100 aDIup n ITuDBlIlOD,
he may continue to DO business under the old
name so long as he may see fit and until he &C
customs himself to the new dignity acquired.
He can even hang out two signs, and answer to
one or both Of the names thereon.
Signatures are rarely written on commercial
group of irregular curves, like squirming cholera
Eacilli or n batch Of chilly anele-worms, serving
as the legal symbol of the signer's name or mark.
These ideographs are entirely unintelligible to
foreigners. and oftentimes represent mere ar
bitrary, signs to the possessors. 80.
III illustrate hotter fhn HpaCrinrfnn VIZ Qhnl
assume the following. which, barring the hc-
titious names, is all too true and common in this
Nj. Kanaea%a Of Yokohama is a large dealer
in American and foreign imports. and for some
port and import firm OF William Wait s. Co. OF
the same treaty port.
Doubtless, being unable to make his collec,
quite a respectable balance to his debit on the
books OF the latter firm. and, suddenly deciding
foreign .unbelievers and placed the debit bal
shaves his face and head. dons native clothing
again, changes his name and sign. burns his
Of of9 5hs . f,aii in the 4 eG neares, sh Iise s sahe a. , a ,e an
innocent face. and, with a congratulatory
chuckle at his own enterprise. squats in his
In the course OF time w. W. & Co. also find
ing collections staGnant. send their confidential
returns with a bit of gossip which raises a
cyclone in the breast OF Mr.. w. who hastily
jumps into u rickshaw ana calls in person on
lie Gnds Mr.. X. somewhat disfgured, but still
rubbing along at the old stand. and is greeted
with an obsequious, compourd-lever salaam as
The chair boy whisks out for the inevitable
teapot; Mr.. K, kneeline upon the floor, lights
his diminutive bamboo pipe. extends his thin.
semi transparent fingers over the little group of
live charcoals in the brazicr near by. and with
suavc expectation awaits the onslaught. His
face is as placid as that OF the bronze Diabutsu
Nans nmnly worth nlnTfnU for and pvarv ;
scrap OF fortitude. patience. and cunning Is col.
leStcd and marshaled up for The play. Mr.. W.
school for patience. though boiling within,
a calm and disnitied exterior and
gentle pcrsistency begins the attack.
The presence OF n foreigner in a Japanese shop
invariably encourages the family TO appear, and
progeny. and ali the clerks line up in a semi.
circular, buckskin-colored halo around the deep,
saffron Uranium Of he master, and. with a single
ness Of purpose which only intense Japanese
curiosity, can enScndcr. prepare 10 profit by any
chance bit Of gossip INDUCED in: Once having
his Interpreter. MIR. W. PRESENTS his bill and
mildly suggests liquidation thereof.
on .Mr. h. 5 face as he listens. but as he takes the
bill, adjusts his iron.rimmed goggles and eN. |
amines IL closely, n tidal wave OF pleased discoy-
he returns it. pointing out, meanwhile, thu, it is
not for him: his maine is not Kanagawa. it is
between his closed teeth as a mark OF unfailing |
esteem. he reaches out a small. handleless cup
OF lnslplut suShTicss lcu. ana sulhainS IN antitl- |
of his rude house being SO honored by his
very honorable visitor.
Ii Is now Mr.. w S turn 20 be surprised. and /!
he checks of the expression with n facility
which at least proves his sincerity, Question
follows question, and these soon abdicate In
favor OF recriminations. ~ all Of which Mr..
Kobcyama smiles inhulGently, bows his head to
tho floor. TO better hide The expression OF his
face and present TO Mr.. W The top OF his head.
is cloqucntly incxpressivc. Each time he |
rises sturdily to the next attack.
This is n favoritc and fetching posture of the
and ono which throws fha nninItinfnH fnr. |
cigncr into II paroNysm Of sympathetic admira-
ton for him In case he does not stop long enough
to consider that when II man bends his head TO
The floor il may not he so much an exhibition of
courtesy rs evidence OF n desire TO slip n surrep- |
titiouS wink through n convenient crack toa
confederate in the room below.
BE this as it may, Mr.. w. learns to his com.
for goods bought by nm unknown
kanHgRwn.
Orders are checked up. and. while it is easily
proven that Mr.. koheyama received the goods.
the stamped signature on the orders show them
TO have been purchased by Kanagawa. Kobe.
Of course, took them in. MS he would any
thing that came unsolicited In this manner.
The Japanese code provides no laws governing
a 1