The silver lance., 1897-10-22

I les very haro. He
x,~ speaks English and
W French. have
seen him several
times-once amons
others at grand military review held
ON the birthday OF his father, the2em-
peror. He wore q superb uniform OF
captain. and was mounted on pretty
black pony. During the whole time OF
the review he was close at tho empe-
ror's side. and gave me the impression
OF being an accomplished horseman.
Urites John A Cockrell. from Japan
A Japanese house has no bricks. NO
walls. no chimneys. and no Window
This sounds very funny. and so 1t IL;
yet japanese house 10 both pretty and
comfortable. The most prominent thing
about It IL the roof. which is made OF
large. heavy tiles and projects some dis
tance beyond the sides. The roof IL
supported on posts. which. not bur-
led In the ground. as you II expect
them to be, but rest upc.- large NAT
stones. so that the house may rock 70
and fro upon the stones instead Of fall
ing. when shaken by an earthquake or
hurricane. The rooms are all on one
floor and are separated by light slid
ing doors. which can be pushed In and
out when eoing from one room to an
other. or taken out altogether II II 10
desirable to make the room large.
The side OF the house consists OF more
sliding doors. made Of very thin white
paper. through which light comes. but
you cannot sec outside unless you put
your finger through and make hole
The noors are covered with soft. white
mata. which are pretty and clean. and
the low ceilings are made Of wooden
planxA
japanese people. although the most
artistic people In the world. are also
the most simple in their daily life.
Their furniture coUsists Of two or three
heavy Quilts. called futons. for each
person. and which serve for both bed
and bedciothes. some small nat cush-
ions on which they sit. very small
tablse-about six inches high, several
hi bachis." or fre boxes. and some
lamps. cups. bowls. wooden tubs and
saucepanA These things. with. OF
course. clothes. which are kept In 4 sort
Of chest Of drawers. and q beautifully
painted silken scroll. which answers to
our pictures. are the chief bslongings
Of q japanese family.
japanese boys are extremely brave
and patriotic: they love their country
With all their heart and would willing
~ give their life to defend It. A few
months ago. while the var was raging
between Japan and China. all the big
boys Of fifteen and sixteen. Who thought
they were strong enough to carry a gun
and night. offered to enroll. Their SER
Vices. however. were not needed. -. "a.
pan had an army larger than was nee
essary to vanQussh the ChineS,. There
are In Japan several military schools
md q great naval academy whers
young men are prepared to become Of
acers In the army and navy.
In Toxic there h . nSst,class uuiver-
sity with departments Of literature. Ian.
guages. sciences. medicine, engineer
ing. Law. etc. The students are aiso
taught French. English or German.
Al there are very few horses in ia
pan. men called kuroumas are used te
drag along the cartA A small two
wheeled carriage. pulled by one man
and sometimes By two. IL used all over
he country. Most Of them seat only
one person. but some are large enough
Tor tUc. They are called jinruksha or
kicknhA The kuroumas are very
strong men They: can run - fast a =
hcrse and for hsuFs nj = time.
There are nov In Japan many rail-
roads like our own Educated Japan
- who travel frst and second class be-
aave in the cars Just - ne do: but the
common people Who are not accus-
toned to chairs In their houses do nos
know how to use the ssafA When thev
enter = car they uscas.y take on their
shoes and pat them on the floor: ther
they climb On the seats and sit ON their
heela
The japanese children are uudoubs-
sdly more respectful toward their p.r-
ents than ycons people in any other
country When very you.g they are
s<nxht that. in order to Be happy IN shi.
xcrld and avoid frightful punisAmen,
n the other. they must obey their ,sr.
ents and older brothers or sisse<s Be
eensle and kind b the younger ones
and polite - all These good prineipaep
are taught in every family. ana 1t Con-
tributes much toward making the Ia
panesc natives Tie bess-aatured. kind
~. happiest and tolliese people q,
snrth-
0AEne - . Ra0say
sh> uhxllorn~~ ~>~~-s