The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-01
THEIR SINGING INSECTS
IN QUAINT JAPAN INSECTS ARE
RAISED As sONGsTERs.
Could Such n Strange Industry
BE Followed.


been highly priced in all western lands. and
the breeding of feathered songsters has be-
come an important and successful industry.
giving employment to thousands OF people
and enjoyment to millions from king to
peasant. within the walls of the grandest
palace and the humblest cottage. But sing
ing insects, forsooth, the very thought is
enough to provoke incredulous amazement.
''who ever heard Of a singing insect? The
Idea is absurd. the thing is impossible" one
viii naturally say. That is, impossible be-
fore one has stepped foot in the fantastic,
dreamy little kingdom of Japan for one
does not have to remain long In the land OF
the chrysanthemum and cherry blossom to
be made aware OF the fact that within the
borders OF this quaint neighbor country Of
ours in the East nothing is impossible. And
the breeding OF singing insects and the
making Of insects TO sing is only one of the
seeming impossibiIities which the Japanese
have made absolutely possible.
From earliest legendary times the jap
anese have been a nature-loving people. 1t
Is trait that pervades all classes and Is
an integral part OF national life and char
acter. In his earnest and soulful love of
nature the japanese has shown many a
poetic and fanciful side OF his character,
but none more beautiful or none more
quantity fantastic than in the curious Gus
tom Of breeding singing insects. For many
years the Japanese have taken the live
lest interest I'm these minute songsters. One
can hardly enter a single native home
throughout the entire kingdom without see
ing the tiny cages in which they are kept
or hearing the resonant little chirrups and
trills and beIl-lil<e notes echoing from secret
nook and Granny like fairy orchestras in a
fairy land. In addition, aside from its
poetic quaintness the business of procuring
and breeding singing insects has steadily
grown from year 10 year until now it forms
considerable industry, furnishing a lveli-
hood for many people In the market place
or every town and village, and on the oc-
casion Of every festival nothing attracts
the eye more than the curious stalls Of the
'mushi-ya," or insect fancier which can
generally be picked out without trouble
by the delighted crowds who hang about it
and the confused medley of sounds which
greet the ear as Che draws near.
/ shall not forget my first acquaintance
with these little songsters-a pleasant men,
ory Of a pleasant sojourn in a pleasant
land was sitting in the restful twilight
OF such day as can be found nowhere
else in the world than in Japan, among
the sylvan delights of the garden of
Japanese friend with whom / was staying
The last red glow of the sun still tinctured
the crests of the distant mountain ranges.
the cool, soothing first zephyrs of evening
touched the cheek; not a sound arose to
disturb the almost ethereal stiffness. save
the ghostly rustling of the summers breeze
led nrrcrh fha pof-z 1el1i ING
groves of evergreen and filed the air with
delicious fragrance until every nerve
tingled with ecstacy. The solemn hush that
comes at twilight was on all the world,
and nature in her most restfuI. comforting
mood invited the delicious repose of subtle
fancy-wandering. Suddenly from about the
silence rose the sweet slivery tinkIing of
little bell. and then without warning the
whole of the garden-grove was filled with
the most pleasing melody. as if each shrub
and leaf and stem had been hung with
fairy bells and these merry little folk were
sounding the evening call to all the denizens
OF elfland to gather for the nights revels
For several minutes 1 remained SPELL
bound and entranced at the sound, while
the whole garden was filled with a tinkling
disapason of inexpressible harmony, deli
cate and clear, like an etherealized birds
song, and yet of much smaller volume than
birds note. 1 did not dare to move for
fear that the pleasing illusion would vanish,
wondering If. after ALL this was other than
some subtle fancy of my mind in it's day.
dreaming. or If. by the magic touch of
come fairy's wand, 1 had been transported
10 the kingdom of elfland At this moment
j was joined by my Japanese host, and the
gaerniner rY1vSferv exDIained
LIKE FAIRY BELLS.
''Ah, You are listening to the song of
my little pets. Hark, there is the 'Suzu-
mushi'' singing now. Is his voice not beau
tifully clear and cool?" AS he spoke once
again throughout the garden echoed the
silvery chimes OF little bell, like those
from some convent miles away, and, as if
by preconcerted signal. once more the whole
vicinity was filed with the harmony of
sound which had first attracted my ear
Reading the inquiring look in my eyes
he FASTENED to explain: "I forgot that
you were a stranger in Japan; the sounds
which you hear come from my pet singing
Insects; il Is too late now to find their
cages, but in the morning we will come out
and will tell you more about them"
For fully an hour the tiny concert con-
tinued. and then stopped as suddenly as it
had begun.
Come" said my host, I'VE shall hear no
more tonight, for 1t is only during the
twilight that they sing. but you will hear
them tomorrow al dawn"
True enough. long before the sun had
risen on the following morning, my wax
ing dreams were interrupted by the dis
tant tones once more OF the fairy orches-
ira, which. in the early morning stiffness,
fiOated through the garden below my win
dow and came family to my eagerly-listen-
ing ears.
was presently joined by my japanese
friend. and descending TO the garden he
led the way through the understanding
tessellated paths 10 a little summer house
in the midst of a grove OF ferns from
which countless springs and spraying foun-
tains issued forth.
There is the solution of the mystery
which puzzled you so last evening"" he
exclaimed, pointing. as he spoke TO a small
wicker cage which hung suspended from
one corner Of the summer house. THAT
Is the 'Suzu-mushi;' he is the best of all
our singing insects, although there are
many Others" indicating numerous other