The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-04-26
JAPAN'S JOY IN GIVING.
Whole Nation Contributing to
the War Funds.
AMUSEMENT HOUSES DESERTED.

Both Rich and Poor Are stiutsng
Themselves In Every Possible Way
For the sake Of the Men 1T che
Front and Their Famiiies-women
Of Every class Eeonomizing In All
Directions-R remarkable Cases Of
self sacrinee
Japan is stlnting itself as America
did during the civil war and for the
same double purpose that the armies
may be kept in the field and the bur
dens Of those dependent ON the nations
defenders lessened if not altogether re-
moved. says the Tokyo correspondent
Of the Washington Star There is
pressing need Of national and lndiyid-
ual self sacrifice at this time. Already
over 1000 families Of soldiers in TO
kyo alone are dependent upon the ma
tons charity for their daily bread-or
rice, rather-and what Is true in the
capital is true throughout Nippon.
Japan Is stinting from top to bot,
tom. The high officials, peers and arts
tocrats have declared off all social en-
gagements. The geisha houses are de-
serted and many Of them have closed
from lack OF patronage SO it is with
the restaurants. Feasts there and in
private houses the japanese are ordl-
narily great indulgers in feasts ARE
now the uncommon happening In
deed, there has been no public feast Of
any sort and, | dare say, scarcely a
private one since the second day after
the first battle at Port Arthur when
the emperor entertained the high Off
Gals in celebration Of the victory
That has been the single indulgence Of
the war.
The public school teachers have vol
UNFAIRLY agreed to give over to the va
rious soldiers aid societies one tenth Of
their salaries as long as the war lasts.
The housewives in many precincts Of
Tokyo are giving their pin money. In
one precinct they recently contributed
200 ven Every actor Is giving 80 sen
a month The messenger boys have
banded together and so far contributed
go yen, at the rate Of 70 to so sen a
month apiece, for caring for wounded
soldiers. The carpenters wives are
forming associations in every precinct
and giving according to their means,
cutting down on the family table that
they may do 50.
In Shitaya precinet-a precinct CORE
spends to an American ward the jani-
tors in the Office buildings have agreed
to cut down on their living expenses
and give 20 sen 90 cents per head a
week till peace comes again, In the
precinct of Shimbashi the Geisha asso-
citation Of 10 odd houses is contribute
ing 200 ven a month, most of this CONE
ing from savings, for the income Of
these houses. as already remarked, has
fallen Off greatly
The women, irrespective Of class, are
economizing in all directions The La
dies one Heart society the F'ujiu
Isshiuaki--is representative Of their or
carnations. This society embraces the
women Of the middle class, and its
members are saving on their food and
their hairdressing and bath money
They visit the baths only once a week
now instead of daily. Indeed, every
member must make It a point to save
something daily for "a bandage for a
soldiers leg or rice Tor his mothers
mouth"
Those who cannot pare their ex-
penses because they are down to the
bone already are stinting themselves Of
their leisure time. The errand boys Of
the wholesale and retail districts have
formed an association to make straw
sandals for the soldiers after working
hours. Each boy manufactures about
fifty pairs a week Some Of the boys,
not content with this sacrifice, beg
waste paper from the stores and 90
around peddling it, getting . cents for
every ten pounds Of paper and turn
ing the proceeds into common fund.
The doctors. masseurs and midwiyes
are giving their services free of charge
to the families of soldiers, and the rick
shaw man, Mukubata Jisaburo, who
saved the cars life when the latter,
as czarowitz. was travelling in Japan,
is contributing the pension which the
Russian government granted him for
his act He says it is the only way
by which be can ease his conscience
for receiving money from the nations
enemy at such a time.
indeed, Nippon is SO imbued with the
spirit OF self sacrifice that it gets well
nigh hysterical at times to give This
was illustrated a few days ago when
sonoda Koklchi, formerly president Of
the Yokohama Specie bank OF Japan,
during the course Of lecture before
the Koknmin Kouyenkai (the Mutual
Aid Society For Citizensl, called upon
the assembled mobiles, merchants and
bankers to give their jewelry for the
ameiioration Of the conditions among
the poor.
Instantly the audience was in an up
roar-gold watches, rings, pins. all
sorts Of personal ornaments. were liter
ally being torn from their fastenipgs
and thrown at the speaker. Several
hundred pieces Of 5ewelry, valued at a
good many thousand yen, were com
tributed in a few minutes, and when
the meeting was over hardly person
left the hall with a bit Of jewelry