The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-23
GROWING UP" IN JAPAN.
The boy Becomes of Age at 10 Years.
and Is Given "a New Name,

From ST. Nicholas
when he Is three years old, he begins to
wear the obi. glrdle three inches wide.
which confines the lSimono, a loose sort Of
garment, and the main part OF the lana
nese national dress, for both children and
grown people. The putting on of the obi
Is the occasion Of another family feast;
and a very important garment It is. for It
corresponds TO pockets IN an American
boys first trousers The front part OF the
kmono, above the Obi, is also used as a
pocket: and the long, wide sleeves, sewed
up at the lower end, make two very big
ones.
when fifteen years old, the boy becomes
OF age and third family occurs. Anoth-
er name Is given him, and his hair is al
lowed TO grow all over the head. ike a
mans. Previous to this time the head "a
shaved so as to allow the hair to grow
only IN spots or tufts, the place Of the
tiits varying up TO the age of ten, when
the crown only IS shaved. AT this festival
celebrating his majority the manner OF
friends and relatives changes toward him.
ana While the day before he was still adj
dressed as a child. now he Is addressed
IN the ceremonious forms required by Jap
aneSe etiquette. The title of respect san
- henceforth affixed TO his name even by
those nearest and dearest. These titles san.
sauna, always follow the name, and are
never prehxed as with our "Mr." For ex-
ample a boy whose name is Kiyoshi viii
be called kiyoshi-san. In his responses 10
the kind speeches made TO him the boy
shows that he understands the new honors
tnat nave come upon him, and that he Is
now ready 10 apply himself to the serious
business Of life.
Ii used to be a great thing to be born a
samural (sah-moo-rD boy baby IN Japan.
The samurai were soldiers and scholars.
and were entirely apart from and above
the ordinary people. They could not en-
gage IN any business, nor could they marry
into another class This has all been chang
ed since the Japanese revolution of 1867
g. The people are now divided into two
large classes-the heimin (ha-meen). or
commoners, the shizoku (shee-zo-koo), or
Sentry-and all have equal rights under the
law. The average boys success in life de-
Ponds upon his own abilities, and the use
ne makes Of the teaching he may have
The first thing the samurai baby needed
AFTER he was put in his nurses arms was
a sword. Rather queer thing for baby
20 have, but then this baby was a samurai!
No matter If the tiny hand could not CRASH
the handle, his nurse carried ID for him:
and when the obi became part of his
dress, the sword was fastened to III and
hung by his side. To be sure 1t was a
wooden sword, but what of that? 1t was
the badge of his rank, and must go wher-
ever he did ali day long, and when he went
10 bed II was laid close by. 1.-THE sword ia
the soul of the samurai" Is an old Japan-
csc saying, and IL was thus early fastened
10 his side, that he might become used 10
grasping II from infancy.
When our young samurai reached the aee
of seven it was a day of great rejoicing.
At the family festival two real metal
words were fastened TO the obi, one on
each side The edges. however. were blunt
and accidents were further guarded against
by having the swords 80 fastened in their
sheaths that the young swordsman could
not draw them out. These were now his
constant companions until, at the age Of
fifteen the weapons handed down In his
family took their place.