The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-11-23

mp their emotions with laugh If
one tells you about the death OF his
child he will probably laugh as he |
does so. At funerals there Is not |
that solemn silence we are accus-
toned to, but frequently loud talk |
ing and laughing. The coffin Is a |
square upright box with considerable |
ornamentation. Hired mourners, of
when we read in the Bible, are com
mon. In ancient times they were
hired to follow the corpse, mourning
in a loud voice, but now they simply
follow in the procession, wearing
white garments. The usual mode of
disposing of dead bodies Is by inter.
ment, but many are cremated also
The government will not permit
person to be buried until twenty
four hours after death. For several
weeks after body has been buried.
1t Ia customary for the members of
the family to make daily visits to
the tomb. and to present offerings In
the temple to the departed spirit.
The offerings consist of cup OF tea,
a vase OF flowers and burning in
cense, and bowl OF holy water,
which Is sprnkled over little
tablet containing the name of the
dead, before they worship. Each
year, on the anniversary OF the de-
parted, the children are expected to
visit the tomb ami worship the dis
embodied spirit This custom of
ancestor worship is forbidden by
Christianity, and the people say we
teach disrespect to parents and an
cestors.
The Japanese people are very
| polite. Politeness is exalted above
everything, above even truth aud
honor. Is YOU ask an ordinary
Japanese which is better. to tell a
falsehood or be impoIite, he will at
once reply, "To tell p falsehood."
While the people are very polite,
great deal of it is superficial, with
OUT any meaning. Etiquette re.
! quires that you address and treat
your equals as though they were
yours supporters. A Japanese
gentleman never stops to converse
with a friend, be he only child,
without Iaking off his hat. In many
Instances forms of politeness are
carried to ridiculous extreme.
When you give present, no matter
how nice, you must apologize by
saying it is cheap and insignificant
and that you are ashamed to present
1t, but If they will condescend to
accept it they will make you very
happy. When you receive it you
must raise 1t to the top of your head,
Gas that is considered the most
honorable part), and at the same
time say it Is the most beautiful and
valuable thing on earth. When
you are invited to dinner the
invitation will state that no special
preparation will be made for the
occasion. At the beginning of the
meal the hostess will apologize for
setting before you such mean, dirty
food, and will declare she has nothing
whatever for you to eat, although
she may have feast fit for king.
The greeting between friends is
real funny. 1t is common to hear
such conversation as this when two
men meet on the streets Taking
their bats off they bow almost to the
grounW. and begin as follows:
II have not had the pleasure of
hanging myself upon your honorable
eyes for long time"
~ was exceedingly rude the last
time | saw you
No, it was surely | who was rude,
Please excuse me"
"How is your august health?'
Very good, thanks to your kind
ASST stance"
is the august lady, your wife
welI?"
Eyes, thank you. the lazy old
woman is quite WE'LL
And how are your princely
children?'
'rhe noisy, dirty little brats are
well, two"
II am no W living on a little back
street, and my house is awfully
dirty, but you can endure it, please
honor me by visit"
II am overcome with thanks, and
will! early ascend to your honorable
residence and impose my uninterest-
ing self upon your hospitality"
II will now be very impollte, and
leave yOn.'
If that is so, excuse me, Sayo-
nara"