Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-11-23
THE HUMOR OF JAPAN
Jokes THAT AMUsE THE NATIVES
OF OAI NIPPON.

Some samples OF Their Character
fsttc Funny stories = Tbs Doctor
Who Didn't Fear BurElar- The
writing Critic who CouiJnt write.
In review OF a collection OF funny
stories called "KokkeI Hyaku Showa''
by Mr.. Kubo Tendzui the Japan
Weekly Nail quotes the following as
being peculiarly characteristic OF Japa-
nese humor:
a certain government official who IN
olden times used 70 be called n "daik-
wan" but now IS known as q gun
cho' (head OF a district, having been
recently appointed TO a certain district.
was engaged in a tour OF inspection
when his notice was attracted by the
approach of an old man who was too
tipsy TO walk straight
Wondering who the intoxicated man
could be. the district officer accosted
him and after much difficulty ascer-
tanned that he was the head Of the
village which he had come 70 inspect
Thinking It TO be his duty to make use
Of the occasion for obtaining reliable
information. the district officer asked
A~@N we INV many ADn0EN 0u4 MVW
many people there were I'm the village.
There are 100 houses and. males and
females Included. CO persons I'm the
village" replied the man Puzzled. the
officer asked. How can that BET"
There is nothing wrong about that
replied the head OF the village. BE
sides these sixty there are any amount
OF people in the village. but since they
are creatures who know not what it is
to drink they are not. l take it, worthy
OF being mentioned
Once upon a time it happened that
FIVE or six burglars. armed with
swords and shouting like men attack
ing an enemy on the battlefield. came
bouncing into the house Of a certain
doctor. The whole household. with the
exception OF the master. were para
lyzed. They felt as though iron chains
had been placed around them. and not
one OF them moved hand or foot They
watched I'm terror 20 see what would
happen. when, 10 and behold. the rob
bers took their departure without
stealing a thing Though they could
not tell what was the meaning Of this
strange proceeding. certain IL was that
the family was safe. But where was
the head OF the housef After search
ing through the rooms they found him
ia his dispensary. There he stood in
the midst Of the drugs. medicine spoon
IN hand. looking fierce and triumphant.
What are you doing here;' inquired
one OF the members OF his household.
Smiling. he replied. Those robbers
were perhaps as noted as Kumasaka
Chohon. but they may thank their
stars that they have got of with their
lives, Had they pushed matters lit
tie further and entered this diSpenSary
not one OF them would have left Ii
alive Amused 10y this remark. one u
the members OF the family rejoluel:
Without a sword or pistol how
could YOU have killed these robbers 2
Can you Kill robbers with a spoon go
Whereupon the doctor. with lue self
assurance. replied: How many thou
sands OF lives have I taken uy means
/ OF this spoon. What 10 me are the
lives OF Eve or six robberss Lucky
chaps 10 get OF as they did
The son OF an extremely iuiterate
/ peasant was IN the habit OF bringing
bis copies home day after day. lis
hands and face covered with the Ink
/ that should have gone on his copy
/ Thinking II well TO exercise his pater
/ nal authority over the lad even IN re
| gard 10 his school lessons. the father
one day commanded the boy 10 show
him his writing Looking Il over with
/ the air OF an expert penman, he criti
cised various strokesi This stroke Is
too long; this one too short. These two
strokes are too far apart" observ et
the father
But" said the boy, the writns
master tells US 10 write them as I hav,
done" SHOW me the copy" jerket
out the father The boy produced III,
copy. which his father began To eN
anime closely upside down why
You are holding IL upside down. ex
claimed the lad. Not 10 be beaten. The
I father replied: Don't be 50 conceited
I am holding il FOR you 70 look at. OF
/ course. You could not read lt were
\ ii turned the other way Listen q
what is said 10 you and don't fancy
/ yOu know everything"
The above reminds Us OF a story that
concerns Tara Kiyomori 1t Is TO
l lated that IN the time Of the HeiU re
I bellion the rebels attacked Kiyomori'
| camp very suddenly one day. Losing
HIS presence OF mind, Kiyomori put
on his armOr I'm q great hurry. the bacl
part front. Some persons near pointed
I out the mistake he had made "YoJ
have put your armor on the wronl
way" they exclaimed. 1t is not So
calmly answered KiyomOri. AS IN,
emperor Is coming behind I have pu
on the armor 80 as 10 have the from
part facing him. IL would be impOlit,
10 have The back part of ones armo
facing an emperor" Without alterin.
IL he went out 10 battle
The term ''yabu" is applied to doc
tors who prescribe wrong medicines
Now, il happened once that a quacl
/ having been the means OF killing IN,
only son OF certain house. the par
entS determined TO have their revenC
on him. so they sued him at cOur
of law The affair was EVENTUAL,
patched up 10y the worthy Qu0ck giv!n.
the bereaved parents his own son Fl
return FOR the one he had killed No
long after this event the said quacl
heard n loud knocking at his door on
night. ON going To the door he wa
Informed that one of his neighbor'
wives was dangerously iil and tina
his presence was required 0t once
Turning 20 his wife. he said. "Thi
requires consideration. my dear Their
IS no knowing but that Il may end q