Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-23
JAPAN'S QUAINT FOXES.
They Have Great Power and 1t is Not
Well to Offend Them.

From the New York Herald.
In Japan with its quaint gentle people
and its quainter, CENTER beliefs even >e
foxes are not the same as they are in other
countries Here a fox is Il plaything a
creature to be harried and torn to pieces
by dogs for sport. In Japan it is well to
address fox by the most honorable titles,
to treat him kindly, place food for him and
be very glad when he goes. For in Japan
foxes have great power, and it is not well
to offend them. Many are the tales the lit
tie people whisper-whisper for fear the
foxes will hear and take ofrense-about the
deeds of mari, the fox
They are populary supposed to take up
their abode with those whom they fancy
and, alas also with those whom they do
not fancy. And sometimes it is hard to de-
eide which is the happier. For the foxes
must be fed. And as there are always many
in a family and they do not visit singly
much rice must be consumed for them.
Good luck comes from their arrival how
ever. but it is liable to be changed into
the direst ill-fortune at any moment For
the foxes are exceedingly sensitive, and q
word carelesSly SPOKEN. nay, even a thought
sometimes will serve to send them OF in
a huff. and then al sorts of misfortunes
Will follow. When man is seized with fit
in Japan they say: He is afflicted with
foxes or He has made an enemy of the
foxes
Only half of the good done by foxes is
genuine. The story is told of a woman who
Kept little shop where rice was sold. Ev
cry night a tall woman entered the shop,
bought some rice, laid two coins down upon
the counter and left without saying word.
The woman would place the coins in a
drawer ana think no more of them. One
day the woman entered the shop. bought
her rice but as she turned her back the
Shopkeeper saw a long white tail hanging
below her dress. She cried out, and the
n rod
where she had placed her money, she found
some coins and some dried leaves Half of
the money she had received was good, the
other half had been bewitched and had
turned back to dry leaves.
Sometimes houses will be stunned by the
Villagers because it is supposed that foxes
have taken up their abodes therein Fam
ines supposed to be afflicted with the friend
snip of the foxes are rather left alone by
the rest OF the peasants, as it is never GER
tain when the unwelcome guests will trans
fer their affections-and their presence-to
otherS. And the Villagers do not care TO
pace temptation in their way. Families not
having foxes are not allowed to marry into
,hose having them, as when the foxes at
tach themselves to family it includes in
us aHecuons all members, even to those
most remote. One of the most famous fam
mes IN Japan claims its supremacy to be
que TO the good influence of the foxes who
nave taken up their abode in that family
All over Japan you will see images of the
~ say loHeS, WIN their noses
chlpped and their ears broken off; oder
toHes sun, with growth of moss on their
backs; sly, alert foxes with noses perked
shaartiy IN air; great foxes and little foxes,
sages and clowns. all kinds and depreasN
showing the prevalence of this belief in
me iahd OF the W jtaria and the fam and
held NV Iva 10
1t is curious to note that in all countries
the FOX above all other animals has teen
eohsioefed TO exert great influence and
power. All nations have legends of which
IL me cunning and intelligence of the fox