The silver lance., 1898-07-01

seen him several
times-once smone
others at grand military review held
on the birthday of his father, the en-
peror. He wore a superb uniform OF
captain. and was mounted on pretty
black pony. During the whole time OF
the review he was close at the empe-
ror's side, and gave me the impression
of being an accomplished horseman.
writes John A Cockrell, from Japan
A Japanese house mas no bricks, no
walls, no chimneys and no windows
This sounds very funny, and so 1t Is;
yet japanese house is both pretty ana
comfortable. The most prominent thlhe
about it is the roof, which is made OF
large. heavy tiles and projects some dls-
tance beyond the sides. The roof Is
supported on posts, which. not pur-
led IN the ground, as you expect
them to be, but rest upc-- large nat
stones. SO that the house may rock TO
and fro upon the stones instead OF fall
ing. VIXEN 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
cut SOlAt3 ouc Aooih ~ e.As
other. or taken out altogether IL 1t is
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 see outside unless you put
your finger through and make hole.
The Goors are covered with soft, white
mats. which are pretty and clean. and
the low ceilings are made of wooden
plants.
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 futoHs. for each
person, and which serve for both bed
and bedclothes, some small fat cush-
ions on which they sit. very small
taDles-about six inches high, several
hi bachis,' or fire boxes. and some
lamps. cups. bowls, wooden tabs and
saucepans. These things, with, OF
course, clothes, which are kept in q sort
Of chest OF drawers, and be- utifuily
painted silken scroll, which answers to
our pictures. arc the chief belongings
of Japanese family.
Japanese. boys ere extremely brave
and patriotic; they love their country
with all tneir 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
they were strong enough to carry a gun
and fight, offered TO enroll. Their SER
9ices, however, were not needed. as IA
pan had an army larger than was nec-
esssry to vanquish the Chimes. There
are in Japan several military rchooIs
and great naval academy where
young men are prepared to become Of
1cers in the army and navy.
In Toxic there is a firstrclass univer-
sity with departments of literature, Ian.
guages, sciences. medicine, engineer
ing. law, etc. The students are 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 sometimes 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 al time.
There are now in japan many rail-
roads l.ke 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 accus-
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-
edly 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,
N the other, they must obey their ] ar.
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 |
panese natives the best-natured, kind |,
est. happiest and jolliest people ON |