New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-09
LIFE In JAPAN.
Dir. Douglas Sladens Entertaining
Book-The Comic Spirit.
London. December 20.

Giplomacy. Such book Mr.. Douglas Sladen has
written out of the fuiness of palnstakihs
travellers experience; and, since 1t is not pup
lished in America. and bears the London I'M
print of Alessrs. Anthony Treherne & Co, Ltd.
1 am tempted to look between the covers and TO
commend it to readers over the sea. 1t Is a
highly entertaining volume, with the evidence
of close observation and sympathetic apprec1a-
ton Of the bizarre effects and subtle charm OF
Japanese life: and there IS a lightness or touch
in the style which is in accord with the subject.
Mr. Sladen does not lack admiration for the
unique history the beautiful art and the national
aspirations OF the great people. who have, with
out any parallel in the annals of Asia, made
themselves one of the eight civilized powers.
So rapidly has history been made. hand over
hand, during the last decade that ne considers
it necessary to make another journey 10 Japan
before attempting to write serious DOCK ABOUT
the sudden evolution Of civilization In the aren't
peIago. He is content IN this instance with the
privilege Of describing the street scenes, the gro
tesoue elements and the unaffected humors OF
Japanese life; and since he does his work Win
animation and brightness of spirits the reader
has no cause for complaint If serious discussion
OF changes in the political order be omitted. He
reuroduces the old fashioned view OF Japan as a
kind of dolls house or at the best as feast OF
girls where thew had wooden images in gor-
reou. medieval Oriental dresses. and wonder
full miniature sets Of every kind OF curious fur
niture and utensils in odd country He also
explains the conditions of topsyturvydom pro-
duced by the sudden introduction and imperfect
assimilation of Western ideas. With quiet real
ism and an abundance Of garish local color, ne
portrays the comedies Of every day life. the &c
centrlcities OF the rickisha man. the byplay OF
the shops. the charms OF the geisha girls. the
customs OF the theatres. the beauties of the gar
dans and the varied destinations OF a wonderful
country.
"oueer Things About Japan" is admirably IL
Illustrated by Hokusai the japanese Phil May.
as Mr.. Sladen aptly describes him There are
seven pages OF colored pictures and thirty pages
of drawings: and these illustrations by a native
artist in sympathy with the spirit OF every day
life irupart a unique charm TO the book. There Is
a dainty frontispiece in delicate tones of pink
and blue entitled In Cherry Blossom Time; and
there is a double page illustration OF the New
Year Festival. with seven fantastic figures ana
soft effects of pale color The most character
istic picture in colors is the representation or the
feast of dolls with the little images IN ancient
court dress. arranged with their furniture and
TOYS on shelves covered with red. at the top
are the Emperor and the Empress. with two
archers and five court musicians. and IN the
tea and sweets. and pair OF women enjoying
an afternoon call. In the intermediate spaces
are the furniture OF the dolls houses-travelling
palanquins with bookshelves: wardrobes and
writing tables OF black lacquer; mirrors and
chow boxes with sets Of close fitting trays;
square tables for holding tea trays flower
stands baskets OF fruit bowls and tiny glass
ware. This quaint picture brings before the
spectator. eyes the chief Joy OF japanese girl
hood-the preparation of feasts OF the choicest
viands and liqueurs for the costly carved and
daintily dressed images. OF which there are hun
dreds In a we'll managed household Another
picture IN colors represents a banquet In a tea
house; and the uncolored Illustrations by Ho-
kusai are sketches OF street scenes and Interiors
with toy sellers nsh hawkers. flower girls.
schoolmasters, wrestlers and other characteristics
figures These drawings full OF spirit and
humor and are admirable examples OF japanese
draughtsmanship.
One of the Hveliest chapters IN Mr.. Sladen's
book relates the vagaries OF smart set which
does not know its own mind. 1t accepts the
fashions OF the hated West because II Is intelli-
gent enough TO that no nation can be
first class power which does not wear breeche5;
but 1t is arrogant enough to prefer national
costumes and to revert TO them, after making
a public parade of European clothes and styles.
breeched. and IS not ashamed OF It's lack OF
consistency. Ambassadors. Cabinet ministers,
politicians and civil servants wear trousers in
pubic but five minutes after the field marshal
or the pompous courtier reaches his home he
has flung aside breeches and is comfortably en-
veloped In a kimono. and Is squatttns COM
fortably on the floor The Japanese fiaunt Eu-
ropean dress in public. ard are as anxious TO
be shelled as a stout woman in her corsets.
The status Of woman varies with the costume
When she Is arrayed like European. and wears
bonnet and boots. her husband walks beside
her, pays her compliments and treats her with
distinction; but once back in kimonos and clogs
she is the Asatio wife. following the lord OF
creation in the street. serving him with tea be-
fore he leaves his bed IN the morning, mending
and washing his clothes, and waiting as de-
voted slave. not only upon him, but upon his
parents, and any elder brothers that may be
in the house. The smart set is recruited from
three classes of NOTES.-The daimios. or feudal
princes with foreign titles; the court mobiles or
oldtme rank. and the new governing class suita-
bly, decorated. 1t lives in town houses In which
furniture is a vanishing quantity, unless an
aristocrat chooses to be extremely European and
to crowd his rooms. AS merchants are theo-
retically lower in the social scale than laborers.
success in commerce does not secure admission
into smart society. The great noblemen and the
politicians give dinner parties in the foreign
style. sit in chairs and eat with knives and
forks. There cannot be afternoon teas In a
country where tea drinking goes on all day. but
smart people with European pretensons are
wonderfully quick in picking up etiquette. and
give dinner parties in perfect form y favorite
form of entertaining company is the exhibition
of the artistic treasures OF the household, which