Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-12-30
Japanese Children.

Japanese Children.
A French magazine lately publish
ed an article on Japan that would al
most make the reader think that coun-
try a childrens paradise. American
boys and girls will like to read few
paragraphs translated into their own
language. The writer says:
"Truly Japan is a children's para
disc! Nowhere are there more of
them; nowhere are they better
loved. The sweetest religious senti-
ment of Japan is filial love, and
parents who love their children
passionately are amply recompensed
for this affection by the care
and respect with which they are sur
rounded later in life, when they have
reached old age.
"It is charming spectacle to see
the children in Yokohama, when they
go, 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 Sleep
ing babies are balanced funnily on the
hips of older brothers or sisters.
1.-TWO days in the year are exclusive
~ devoted to children. At Tokyo, Kio-
ia, Yokohama, and in all the cities Of
Japan there is a day when the shops
are full of toys, little models of per-
sons or things, or even figures of the
entire Japanese court in miniature.
This is on the great holiday for lit
tie girls. At this time, large and small
are dressed in garments of all colors
and affect the most extraordinary head
dresses. The mothers are very proud
of these toilets.
"The corresponding boys holiday
falls on May 5. Then they are seen
scattered everywhere about the coun-
try At each house is raised bam-
boo 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 stu
diors child can, in following the diff
cult current of life, acquire fortune and
renown. There are as many of these
paper fishes at each house as there
are children in it, so that at some
houses as many as dozen fish may
be counted on the masts.
japanese children love also the
sport of kite-fying. They make kites
with strips of bamboo on which is
fastered the paper of very tough tex
ture, common in Japan. Some kites
are Of huge size and can be raised
manv hundred yards. Veritable swarms
of them may often be seen flying about
villages. The children attach to them
little devices that under the influence
of the wind give out most curious
musica! humming sound.
"The japanese child is neither rough
nor brutal. He is full of life and spir-
it's. nothing more. He spends his
money for fruit and candy like other
children, and takes his pleasure in a
more rational way than the American
child, being both less strong and less
combative Wickedness seems I'M
known to him.
THE coolie child, with his brown
face and bare legs, is always interest
ing. How many things he can carry
on his back! + X Under his big
straw hat you often see finely form
ed face, but it is almost always sad.
with the resigned expression common
to children who suffer.
But the child that attracts the most
attention is the child Of the sampan
(boats). Each sampan is generally
navigated with the aid of two heavy
sweeps, managed by two children, Of
whom the youngest is often not more
than eight or ten years old. Under
the eyes of parent or patron, the young
boatmen give proof of Incompatible
address and agility. They live on
board the boat, eating and sleeping
there, and SO are trained to be excel
lent sailors for the Japanese navy.
Foreign firms also employ in their
offices a certain number of Japanese
children as clerks or errand-boys.
= It is said that all little Japanese.
especially these messenger boys, have
a special talent for whistlinG. They
even whistle European tunes.
I'm Japan people love children so
much that when they have none of
their own. they adopt one, and if
japanese thinks he is too poor to sup
port his child. he hastens to get it