The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-10-18

rivals, or to be shown singly as a spe-
cial favor 10 guest. Similarly, !
have been told that the richest and
most expensive parts Of a japanese
lady's dress are never intended TO be
seen in public-and everyone knows
that they are never displayed by
studied accident. 1t seems to me
that here is one manifestation OF a
fundamental and beautiful principle
in japanese culture. Intentional dis
play of,personal possessions or quail
ties is despicably vulgar. IL is esi-
dence Of genuine refinement modestly
to conceal them. japanese students
can SCARCELY be induced to avOw the
merit of having performed task as
signed them or OF having possessed
the intellectual capacity to compre-
bend subject. Their polite greeting
is II was very rude the last time |
saw you; please excuse me- Instan-
ces Of sisHilar purport might be indef-
initely multiplied. l should not ven
ture the bold geDeralizatien-for gen.
civilizations about things japanese
are specially dangerous-th Japan
csc lack vanity. / am, however, con-
vinced that they are too genuinely re-
fined to show il.
Nevertheless, to return TO the sub
ject of the houses, Japanese residences
are, in fact and appearance, relatively
cheap. But this is not the result
solely of poverty or Indifference. Not
only must they struggle with niggard-
ly nature. They have specially to
contend against those dreadful dis
ters--hres, floods, typhoons and earth
quakes. Within few hours on the
night Of August 18th under conditions
OF drought and almost hurricane wind
about 3, 200 houses in Yokohama and
5000 in Toyama went up in smoke.
Next morning 60,0 homeless people
viewed, with stolid resignation that
to US remains mystery, their econo
mics of years in smouldering ashes.
Last week typhoon left in its SIMS.
ter train nearly 1000 persons dead,
over twice as many injured, $4,000
houses destroyed or damaged, not TO
mention damages to other property,
crops and stock. This was the COM
bined effect of wind, water and land
slides. Some years ago, submarine
earthquake rolled in tidal wave that
brought sudden death to over 80, 00C
people and swept every movable thing
off large district. A single earth
quake sometimes-fortunately not Of
ten destroys fourth or a half the
houses Of a city and decimates its
population. Would it not be folly to
construct buildings 50 costly as in the
West? Besides, lofty buildings and
those constructed Of brick or stone
are specially subject to damage and
particularly liable to cause damage
An observing resident cannot even
recall such disasters without being
impressively reminded Of another Pc
culiarity of the japanese. Whatever
the calamity, they face it without a
murmer. No tears. no wringing OF
hands, no hysterical lamentations
Not feature of the face betrays in
ner thought or emotion. The danger
passed, the current Of life, without
agitation, flows on. Smiles and
mirth return While walking with a
friend and with heavy heart, under a
boiling sun, through the desolate
ruins at Yokohama three days after
the fire, heard a lady of perhaps
forty, who was keeping her little shop
in a rude board pen, laughingly re-
marx to customer: Eyes, we fixed
up this shanty in a day. With pre-
cisely the same determined, indiffer-
ent mood, they, on occasion, witness
or meet death. 1t seems to me to be
one trait Of the peculiar character de-
veloped by the long centuries of their
feudal organization. That chivaly
which led brave Western knights to
dare and and die for lady's smile
was unknown to Japanese feundalism.
But the feudal code and character of
Japan exacted a self sacrificing loyal
ty that made it impossible for Jap
anese retainer to survive the hope of
avenging wronged or murdered lord.
This spirit permeated Japanese socie-
ty more thoroughly than ever the
feudal spirit swayed che West. In
consequence Of it, it is to this day
quite natural for faithful servant to
dle' IN order TO save MS endangered
masters HE. l snail cite the merest
DETAILS OF a noted historic instance.
From my study window, in the sec
end story, l behold, over the roofs Of
natlve architecture, few hundred
yards away the clustering trees which
shade the tOmbs of the Forty Saven
homlns "a rOmln was sort OF Grant
Knlgnt) Inc l0rd OF these men, I'M
der the prevocation of extreme inso-
lence and oppressive injustice, at
tempted to assasslnate a cruel and
corrupt nobleman. He was, in conse-
quence, condemned to commit suicide
by the usual method, hara kiri (dis-
embowelling ones self) This estate
was confscated and his family and
followers ruined. The forty-seven
followers formed league, as was u.s.
ual under similar circumstances, to
avenge their masters death by Staying
MS NOBLE enemy In order to disarm
TINS man OF suspicion and catch him
without unusual guards, they dispers-
ed and engaged in various pursuits,
some OF them in disguise entering the
service OF their enemy for the purpose
of obtaining desired information.
The leader entered upon a life of dis
solution and debauchery. He even
went to the length of divorcing his
wife and abandoning his children.
In this way, two or three years sufficed
to convince the enemy that his life
would not be sought. Then in con-
cert, the forty-seven men assaulted
the enemy's castle and slew him.