The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-05-25
THE JAPANESE HOME.
Houses Arc Built So .: % Withsfan
Earthquake Shocks.

Houses Arc Built So .: % Withstand
Earthquake Shocks.
Ida Tigner Hodnett writes of ''The
Little Japanese at Home" in st. Nicho-
las. The author says:
The climate, of course, varies in
different 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 f9pit, and at the
same time icicles Offering 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 IS will
not be readily shaken tothe ground in
an earthquake, for japan is 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 a
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, thu
building moves to and fro, and settles
down again after the vibration hal
ceased. 1t is believed that most o
the damage from earthquakes in ia
panese cities has occurred with houses
having tiled roofs, as the tiles ar
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 tile
roofs arose from the dread of fire. AL
though many roofs are made OF ston
tiles, the majority are of wood, BAN
boo, or thatch. Thatch is much use'
in the poorest villages; but even tenn
Piles, as we'll as dwellings,, have bee
known to be matched. On the ridg
of this matched roof the iris is fire
quently planted; and when in bloom
its velvety-purple blossoms and ligh
green leaves give the house pie
turesque appearance. Seen from
distance, the village looks as if ther
were little gardens on the tops of th
: houses.
, Most dwellings are but one stor
high. When the roof and FRAMEWORK
, are made, it remains to arrange IL
, the outside walls and the partition
, of the rooms. Most foreigners regar
, the outside walls as huge windows, fc
! they are merely light wooden lattice
. work frames covered with stiff
. semi-transparent paper. These frame
, slide in grooves. SO that they can b
taken out at pleasure, leaving tn
: whole house open to the cool breeze'
At night they are covered with amadt
or wooden shutters, which also slid
in grooves along the edge OF the veral
, da or o projection of the floor, and
. shut in the house. In the daytin
: the shutters are pushed back 30 as
: form ornamental side-pieces. TIL
. kind of wall and window in one is al
other of the needs Of building in a
8 earthquake land, where the use
o glass would be dangerous and cost.
The rooms are made by means
e sliding partitions of woven bamboo
h else of per-covered latticework sim
i lar to the outside wallis, fitted in
q grooves in the ceiling. The ceilir
\ and all the frames for outside and i
q side walls are of implanted wood, al
\ all parts of the house are general
. kept perfectly clean.