Washington sentinel., 1898-05-14
-. :. ~ SENTINEL
Among the Japanese.
- HlnsLraked Magasne.

persist IN clubbing his Majesty the
Mikado," but as a matter OF TACT
the title is almost unknown, GER
tainIy never heard OF, in Japan.
Unless an audience be obtained
through one of the legations at
Tokyo, it is difficult for the pass
ing globe trotter TO get glimpse
of his Majesty. Occasionally Jap
anese royalty honors Yokohama
racecourse with its presence; and
then there is a tree show for every
body. Great excitement is created
as soon as the news becomes
known, and full particulars OF the
route the royal party will take in
passing from the station TO the
racecourse, about three miles, are
published for general information.
His Majesty is always punctual
to the minute, and large crowds
collect along the line of route, the
whole line Of which is guarded by
ubiquitous little policemen. The
Emperor generally travels IN a
closed carriage which is preceded
by about a dozen Imperial Lam
GERS, a like number bringing up
the rear. Inside, his Majesty usu-
ally has a companion, in the per-
son of one OF his Ministers or the
Crown Prince. The royal party
proceeds at a fast pace through the
streets and as IL passes along
everyone, except the ladies OF
course, must uncover their heads,
and those who have climbed upon
an eminence, such as a wayside
pile OF stones or adjacent fence or
lamPPosC are promptly ordered into
the roadway until the procession
has passed. No one is allowed TO
occupy a position from which he
can look down on his Majesty and
previous TO such an event as an
Imperial visit, a courteous note is
sent BY the police to the proprie-
tors Of all two storied bungaloes
or houses along the selected route,
requesting them to be careful that
no one appears at the upstairs
windows while the En- peror is en-
route. During the EN-
peror's stay on the racecourse, he
is the object Of everyone's atten-
tion, This does not prevent him
doing his duty by the champagne
basket, beverage of which he is
said to be fond. His Majesty gen
orally makes an early return to
Tokyo, and as he drives away he
is greeted, as on his arrival, with
enthusiastic cheers from the crowd
which is formed almost entirely oil
foreigners. Evidently the ruler OF
forty millions of Japanese is as
popular with the inhabitants Of the
settlement as he is with his own
subjects.
A travelling operatic company
once visited Japan having amongst
its repertoire Gilbert and Sulli-
vans MIkado. But before that cd
iavorite could be eriormed in
public it had to be re- -christened, -,
altered and "cut" until a Savoy
habtfNe would have been unable to
recognize it. 1t is difficult to say
what would have been the fate OF
the players if the opera had been
staged in its original garb. The
native public would, l think, Of
their own accord have lynched
them for trifing sacrilegiously
with the personality Of their EN-
peror.
Most persons know what a Jap
anese looks like, but a "Jap"
abroad and a "Jap" in his native
habitat are two distinct beings, the
difference being mostly in favor of
the latter. A Japanese, as a rule,
is what Europeans would term
downright ugly. Jet black hair,
which stands straight up like the
fur OF Persian cat from its having
been kept shaved during baby
hood, a wrinkled brow, thick lips
and hattened nose under which
may often be seen an incipient
mustache. Short Of stature, with
long bodies and short legs, they
walk with slouching down-at-
heel sort Of gait, the result Of their
peculiar footwear, getfa, which
necessitates the body being held
in forward slanting posture. the
feet being dragged along. These
clogs are the favorite missile IN a
street row, as they can be slipped
of their feet at once, and when
they hit their mark--a foreigners
iace-an ugly wound is the result,
The much wrinkled brow is due
to the absence (until recently Of
any kind of head covering, which
consequently allows the sun full
play on the eyes, causing an al
most constant screwing up Of the
features until the wrinkles become
permanent.
Nor can the women be called
pretty. Here and there pretty
specimens may be found, but they
are eagerly snapped up for tea
house attendants. With their let
black hair, quantity and curiously
rolled and fu,ietsI. thss- r7,ineina
way. OF speaking and walking,
their little STOPPING figure, and
their peculiarly tinted skin so COM
Elementary an its color they form a
tent ensemble as charming as it is
picturesque. But it must not be
picked to pieces. The little WON IN
when with stranges have not much
to say, but among themselves they
are the most inveterate chatter
ers. When embarrassed a girl will
take the comb that is to be found
IN her headgear and calmly com.
mences combing her hair. Tell
her joke which she can thor
oughly understand and she'll sim
ply 60 into fit after fit OF genuine