The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-01
artisans, Mechanics, Labor
ers, fill Uho DO Things
in Japan, AlUdys Happy
in the Doing of Them


~ III i I'LL
head coverings. Among them are
innovation, the importance of which,
because OF the freedom our women
have always had, we can scarcely APP
preciate. To come upon these by the
thousand in their snowy robes gives
a poetic aspect TO toll regardless of
hours and wages, which are, doubtless,
long and poor enough. These en-
ployees, after working hours, go for
their hot water plunge in the pools
which the company provides, and then
put on their kimonas for the street.
In Japan, as elsewhere, the employ
ment of girls has introduced a num-
Der of ameliorating features. Such are
the mill boarding houses, the night
schools, the hospital. and the mill doc
tor of the great cotton plants of Toxic
and Osaka.
The Dignifed Nature of the Jap Po-
liceman.
The Japanese are a serious people
in public. The most dignified object
in the world is a little Japanese police
man. He belongs TO the 'samurai"
class. The "samurai" were the SOL
diers, priests, scholars of the old re-
gime. He still has a reputation to
maintain The coolie has no such
burden. He earns and spends jovially,
and IS not afraid to. laugh. Like all
the Orientals, he sings at his work.
This is not any song to his mind.
Rather, il resembles the sailors
"shanty," without the sailors humor.
1t infers comradeship, organization, a
community of interest. "Heave no!
All hands at the roper When the
right word is reached up goes the
beam, down goes the bag. But it
does not go up until the right word
comes along. The words have no
more meaning than the letters of the
alphabet, or Fred Stones verse in
The Wizard of o." when words and
ideas are exhausted.
1t Is as impossible for us to think
of the American housesmiths or der
rick holsters singing at their work and
waiting for the right word to swing
the beam or bucket of stone out OF
the Subway as it is to think of these
clad IN the same cut and color as the
~melodious .Japs; as difficult, also, as
TO find picturesqueness in the motley
crowd of employees in a New Eng
land cotton mill. The Occidental
boss" certainly doe. not encourage
music as an aid to labor. A nine-hour
day, Saturday half holiday and a sew
enth day of rest in the heart-breakine
race for wealth do not admit of wait
ing for the harmonious word to place
the beam.
l., To,,. N1a~ H.. -
which to work. Sunday has no special
privileges. The Japanese workman
takes his holiday when his village has
a "matsuri' or feast TO its patron God
or in the cherry viewing time, or the
birthday of the boys and girls. NJ
person in Japan is rich enough to have
a birthday of his own. One for ths
girls and one for the boys and the
matter is over for the year.
Where Poverty Shows It's Most De
cent Aspect.
In no other country has povert,
such a decent aspect. This is du,
partly to the harmonious costuming
and to that artistic instinct which i
the heritage of this people. Whel
, o Yen, our maid, put a few flowers il
a bamboo stalk, which served as
vase, we gazed upon them with de
spair of V e being able to emulat
her skill.
One can also venture the assertion
that no other country can produc
I such understanding crowds. TIL
{ Slight frame house, its adjustable par
{ %titions, its paper windows, its matte
floors and the universal custom @
leaving the shoes out of doors max
for cleanliness.
Moreover, there is no man so poo
e that he has not his hot daily batl
y This is his luxury and his medicin,
The bath is the poor mans club. Her
] he parboils in company at the cost {
a part of a cent. In the bath it
n against etiquette to use soap, whic