The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-14
JAPAN'S QUAINT FOXES.
They Have Great Power, and 1t Is
Not Well to Offend Them.

They Have Great Power, and 1t Is
Not Well to Offend Them.
New York Herald.
In Japan, with its quaint, gentle people
and its quainter, gentler beliefs, even the
foxes are not the same as they are in
other countries, Here a. fox is play
thing, a creature to- be harried and torn
to pieces by dogs for sport. In Japan It
is we'll to address fox by the most hon
orable 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 little folks whis-
per-whisper for fear the foxes will hear
and take offense-about the deeds Of In
ari, the fox.
They are popularity supposed to take
up their abode with those whom they
fancy-and, alas! also with those whom
they do not fancy. And sometimes 1t Is
hard to decide which Is the happier. For
the foxes must be fed. And as there arc
always many in a family and they do
not visit singly, much rice must be con-
sumed for them. Good luck comes from
their arrival, however, but it is liable
to be changed into the direst ill-fortune
at any moment. For the foxes are exceed
ingly sensitive, and a word carelessly
spoken, nay, even a thought sometimes
will serve to send them off IN huff, and
then all sorts of misfortunes will follow
When a man is seized with a fit In Japan
they say: HE Is afflicted with foxes, "
or HE has made an enemy Of the fox
es."
Only half of the good done by foxes Is
genuine. The story Is told OF woman
who kept a little shop where rice was
sold Every night tall woman entered
H.. oriaa 10 fryr NO
down upon the counter and left without
saying a word. The woman would place
the coins in drawer and think no more
of them. One day the woman entered the
shop bought her rice, but as she turned
her back the shopkeeper saw long white
tail hanging below her dress. She cried
out, and the woman disappeared. Rush.
ing to the drawer 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 1t Is supposed that
foxes have taken up their abodes therein.
| Families supposed to be afflicted with the
| friendship Of the foxes are rather left
alone by the rest Of the peasants, as 1t Is
never certain when the unwelcome guests
presence-to others. And the villagers do
| not care to place temptation in their way.
Families not having foxes are not allow
| ed to marry into those having them, as
when the foxes attach themselves to q
family it includes in Its affections oil
members, even to those most remote. One
| of the most famous families in Japan
claims It's supremacy to be due to the
| good influence Of the foxes who have tax
en- up their abode in that family.
All over Japan you will see images OF
| the foxes-old gray foxes, with their noses
| Clipped and their ears broken off; old
err foxes still. with a growth Of moss on
| their backs; sly, alert foxes, with noses
| perked smartly in air; great foxes and
| little foxes, sages and clowns. all kinds
| and degrees-showing the prevalence OF
| this belief In the land Of the wistaria and
| the fan, and also showing in what respect
| the fox is held.
It is curious to note that in all countries
the fox above all other animals has been
| considered to exert great influence and
| power. All nations have legends Of which
the cunning and intelligence Of the fox
is the theme