The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-04

wood. about three inches high. at right
angles to the soles. and occasionally
in the case of priests OF pilgrims. only
one bar attached.
Some of the ''geta" worn by little
girls are painted in many colors, and
others have tiny bell hanging from
a hollow place at the back, which, as
it tinkles in a mystic way, heralds the
approach of children. The superior
makes are covered with mats made OF
panama. The highest price amounts
to about ten yen, or S., while the
cheapest is less than ten sen. or a
few cents; but then, the "geta" will
not last longer than month. and
once ont of repair can never be mend
ed
Learning to walk on "geta" is an
exceedingly difficult process. Indeed
it is far easier to acquire skating or
silt walking. The average child In
Japan takes about two months before
being able to move along on the ma
tional tootgear and the little ones
repeatedly slip from the wooden blocks,
falling to the ground, which seems to
their miniature imaginations a con-
siderable distance beneath them. AL
though foreigners usually take with
readiness to the customs of Japan.
they are absolutely unable to manipu-
late the perilous "geta."
A curious story is told of a San
Francisco merchant who was invited
TO attend a fancy dress ball He
thought it would be quite the correct
thing to attend in japanese costume,
and wrote to a friend in Yokohama to
send a complete suit of the costume of
a gentleman of high class On receipt
of the costume he was immensely sur
prised at its extensive variety. He
q 81 oil tho nitric ariaG IF
flowing robes, but when he unearthed
the "geta" he was completely at a loss
to understand its use. Having only
just arrived in the country and not
being overobservant, he had omitted
to notice the foot arrangements of the
people. After much earnest consid-
Grafton, he was suddenly seized with
a brilliant idea. All" he exclaimed,
in his desire to extol everything Jap
anese, this wooden block has got
very lovely shape, il is very beauu-
fully carved and artistic. Therefore,
it must be a kind of decoration to be
worn on the shoulders like epaulettes.
And so the merchant went to the ball
with a "geta" on each shoulder, in
stead of on each foot!
Some parents allow their children
to play barefoot in the streets, but
when going out with their elders on
paying VISITS IL is eSSSItldl ildI every
one, from the smallest to the tallest
must mount the wooden clog and pro-
pei themselves in this odd fashion.
The dislike of the Japanese children
for the activity of outdoor games is
to be mainly attributed to the awk-
ward membranes with which their
little feet are loaded. For instance
one seldom sees japanese children
gamboling in open playgrounds-they
have yet to learn the feverlsh pleas
ures of hide and seek or FOUNDERS"
while such a thing as top spinning or
football never obstructs the roadways
Singular superstitions are asso-
ciated with "geta," which at times are
decidedly useful. When host desires
that a too attentive caller should de-
part, he induces somebody to burn
moxa, which has a peculiar odor, up
on his shoes, which are outside the
door. The guest will Immediately
take the hint and simultaneously his
leave. When a thong of a "geta" is
accidentally severed on the return
from a visit to a sick person a firm
belief exists that the lpatient must die.
The Japanese, however, learly love the
"geta," and although civilization may
touch them to win battles 1t will new
er induce them to wear leather boots.