The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-06
THE GROWING BOY IN JAPAN.
At Fifteen He Ia Given IA New Name to Ee-
gin Life In Earnest On.

At Fifteen He Is Given New Name to To
gin Life In Earnest On.
Miss Hodgett, In describing the
growing up" Of boy In Japan, says
when he is years old he begins to
wear the obi, a girdle, three inches
wide. which confines the kimono, a
loose sort Of garment, and the main
part of the japanese dress, both for
children and grown people. The put
ting on Of the obi is the occasion OF
another family feast; and very i'm
portant garment 1t is. for it cores
ponds to pockets in an American boy S
first trousers. The front part of the
klmono above the obi Is also used as a
| pocket, and the long, wide sleeves sew
ed up at the lower end, make two very
| big ones.
When fifteen years old the boy be-
| comes Of age, and third family fes-
tival occurs. Another name Is given
him and his hair is allowed to grow all
over his head, like a mans. Previous
to this time the head is shaved so as
to allow the hair to grow only in spots
or tufts, the place of the tufts varying
up to the age Of ten, when the crown
only is shaved.
At this festival celebrating his ma
jority the manner Of his friends and
relatives changes toward him, and
while the day before he was still ad-
dressed as child, now no is addressed
in the ceremonious forms required by
Japanese etiquette. The title of re-
spect, san, is henceforth affixed to his
name even by those nearest and dear
est. These titles, san sama, always
follow the name, and are never pre-
fixed. as with our "Mr." For exam
pie a boy whose name is Kyoshi will be
called Kyoshi-san. In his responses
to the kind speeches made to him the
boy shows that he understands the new
honors that have come upon him, and
that he Is now ready to apply himself
to the serious business of life.
1t used to be great thing to be born
a (sah- moor-rD boy baby in Japan.
The samurai were soldiers and schol-
ars. and were entirely apart from and
above the ordinary people. They
could not engage in any business nor
could they marry into another clan.
This has all been changed since the
Japanese revolution of 1S67-6S. The
people are now divided into two large
classes-the hemin (ha-meen), or COM
moners, and the shizoku (shee- -koo),
or gentry-and all have equal rights
under the law. The average boys
success in life depends upon his own
abilities, and the use he makes of the
teaching he may have.
The first thing the samurai baby
needed after be was put In his nurses
arms was sword. Rather a queer
thing for baby to have, but then the
baby was samurai! No matter il
the tiny hand could not grasp the ham
die. his nurse carried 1t for him, and
when the obi became a part of his
dress the sword was fastened to it and
hung by his side. To be sure 1t was
wooden sword, but what of that2 1t
was the badge Of his rank. and must 60
wherever he did all day long, and when
he went to bed 1t was laid close BY
'The sword is the soul of the samurai,"
Is an old Japanese saying, and it was
thus early fastened to his side that he
might become used to grasping 1t from
Infancy.
When our young samurai reached the
age Of 1t was great day OF rejoicing.
At the family festival two real metal
swords were fastene,: to the obi, one on
zach side. The edges. however, we're
blunt, and accidents we're further
guarded against by having the swords
80 fastened In the:T shcaths that the
JOung sHordsman could not draw them
cut. These were now his constant
until, 81 tho age Of Is, the
Weapons handed down In his family
.ook their place.-St Nicholas.