The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-05-28
THE JAPANESE HOME.
,louses Are Built So as to Withstand
Earthquake Shocks.

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Earthquake Shocks.
Ida Tigner Hodnett writes of ''The
Little Japanese at Home" inst. Nlcho'
las. The author says:
The climate, of course, varies in
parts; even in the mid-coun-
try the cold is intense in winter, and
the heat intense in summer, yet both
cold and heat are somewhat lessened
by the surrounding ocean. To strang-
ers it seems odd to see orange-trees
bright with golden fruit, and at the
same time icicles glittering in the
morning sun, but this is one OF the
strange sights presented to the view.
In their dwellings shelter from the
rain, shade from the sun, and free
circulation of air are mainly sought by
the japanese, who, as rule, seem to
be able to endure much cold. Even
on winter days their houses are seen
entirely open to the morning sun, and
in this respect they set good example
to their western brethren. Then, too,
these houses must be such as will
not be readily shaken to the ground in
an earthquake, for Japan is a land of
earthquakes.
For security against this danger, the
house is put together in very simple
way. All parts Of the structure are
held together, one author says, by
system of "dovetailing," neither nails
nor screws being used in their produc-
ton, except for ornament. 1t is not
made fast to the ground, but stands
upon wooden legs or columns, which
are merely placed upon stones high
enough to keep the ends out of water.
Then, when an earthquake occurs, the
building moves to and fro, and settles
down again after the vibration has
ceased. It is believed that most OF
the damage from earthquakes in ia
panese cities has occurred with houses
having tiled roofs, as the tiles are
easily shaken loose, and, being heavy,
cause destruction in their fall. Build
} ings with roofs of wood or thatch gen.
orally escape damage.
1t is thought that the use of tiled
roofs arose from the dread of fire. AL
, though many roofs are made OF stone
: tiles, the majority are Of wood, BAN:
: boo, or thatch. Thatch is. much used
: in the poorest villages; but even TEN
> Piles, as we'll as dwellings, have beer
known to be matched. On the ridg'
L of this matched roof the iris is fire
quently planted; and when in bloom
its velvety-purple blossoms and ligh
d green leaves give the house a pic
g turesque appearance. Seen from
y distance, the village looks as if ther
were little gardens on the tops OF tn
houses.
% Most dwellings are but one stor
high. When the roof and FRAMEWORK
r. are made, it remains to arrange &c
10 the outside walls and the partition
= = Of the rooms. Most foreigners regar
the outside walls as huge windows, ft
AZ they are merely light wooden LATHE,
work frames covered with a Still
semi-transparent paper. These frame
slide in grooves, SO that they can !
X * taken out at pleasure, leaving tt
whole house open to the cool breeze
is AT night they are covered with amad
OF wooden shutters, which also Sill
Or, in grooves along the edge otthe vera
s Is da or a projection Of the floor, and
e.. shut in the house. In the daytin
I'D the shutters are pushed back so as
I'll. form ornamental side-pieces. II
w. ": kind Of wall and window in one is a
other of the needs Of building in
ple earthquake land, where the use
*. glass would be dangerous and cost
The rooms are made by means
eat sliding partitions of woven bamboo,
rec >lse Of paper-covered latticework sir
:" lar to the outside walls, fitted II
ing grooves in the ceiling. The CELL
'ral and all the frames for outside and
side walls are of implanted wood, a
Ill parts of the house are genera
or kent perfectly clean.