The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-30
JAPAN, THE LAND OF BEAUTY



through narrow gorges, form scenery
second only to the Alps.
Forests of camphor trees, magnolia,
jessamine, orange, mulberry maple and
wax trees. Here the glorious song OF the
yellew, soft-feathered aguisu, the mock
ing bird of Japan, fills the air At inter-
walls are low. matched farm houses on
small, well-lSept farms. Tea houses stand
high upon the bluffs. or nestle in the val
leys below. Now and then one comes
upon a magnificent Buddhist temple with
its private gardens and lakes. Here and
there along the highways or on noun
tain paths one finds shrines and statues
of Buddha, of Jezo, the children's God,
and others. Facing the sea, on the de-
serted site of Kamakara, an ancient cap
| ital of Japan, rests the colossal. bronze
statue of Buddha. Like our own statue
of Liberty In New York harbor, 1t stands
| in the open air, welcoming the traveller
from distant shores. 1t was built IN l2ol,
and, although the figure is seated with
| legs crossed, its height is so feet. The
eyes are of solid gold and about four feet
| in length Across the brow is an orna-
ment of solid silver thirty pounds In
| weight There Is a shrine in the in
terror of the statue.
| Osaka is the Paris of Japan. 1t is a
city of canals spanned by a multitude Of
exquisite silks, embroideries, antique
ware china, wood carving, etc There
are bridges everywhere in Japan, built
Of bamboo and of stone in many patterns
| and curves. Some are very artistic IN
| deed and one soon grows accustomed TO
the ceaseless elatter of geta upon the
/ bridges. AS most people know geta are
E, the funny little shoes set upon high pegs.
! The peasant class and many others wear
| a very comfortable sandle made of straw
/ Toxic, the capitol and largest city, is
! q city of gardens. In artistic arrange
ment these are indeed marvels of beauty.
! There are miniature lakes, cascades and
cherry trees, bending their fiowery limbs
over cool winding streams, crossed by
rustic bamboo bridges, over which the
| graceful wistesia trails its purple and
| white blossoms in water below Pretty
| tea houses are found here and there
underneath the fiower-ladened trees with
stepping stones and rockeries, clusters
of scarlet pomegranate, banks of white
! lilies and beds of purple iris. Silver trout
sparkle in the streams below.
! Dull gold trellises of carved laquer
work, bearing their burden of dropping
| blossoms or fruit, serve as background
| for the Haunted colors of the noisy pea
| cocks that strut about the green sward
| At eventide, when the narrow streets are
| lighted with miriads of gay lanterns IN
| long even rows we IoliOW the stiaihS u
| the saisan and enter one of these charm
ing tea houses The balmy air Is filled
| with faint perfume. The dainty geisha
/ maidens fit before us and soon we are
slipping a cup of sweet-scented kosen OF
a glass of sake which thrills and warns
the soul We wonder If this is not an
! enchanted land, If such fantastic beauty
! and repose reigns elsewhere on EARTH
Sake. made from rice is the strongest
drink in Japan, and while it is very ex-
hilarating does not intoxicate.
throughout the land homage to the
! beautiful seems instilled in the people.
Here we find the gentlest. most even
tempered people in the world. Seidom
indeed does one hear an angry voice
raised in protest. seldom ooes one ,1
eapital punishment inflicted upon emil
dren. Love and consideration for the
feeIines of others are the watchWorus.
And how strange and wonderful that IN
no other land do We find such Deaotii Ut
examples of obedience and respect toWaiu
elders as in Japan. Courtesy TO otneis
and politeness are taught to toddllng
babes Here one finds so little OF tne
sordid things of life; of the mad rush tor
| money simply for the glory ana snow
/ H. will bring. so little of falsity ana de-
ceit; so little unhind gossip ana olcher
ing and strife. One may come anu go
as he peases catering to, his own tastes,
and living life in MS own way Nie"oNs
fear of being talked about or ihoushC
! Queer so long as he lives WITHIN the
bounds of propriety and breaks no law
Flower vendors are daily sigh' IN INC
streets These flowers are carried III
huge baskets swung from a pole across
the shoulders Everyone-the laoorer ana
working woman, even-gives a portion VI
his spare time to the study OF POWERS.
There are many schools in japan lol
reaching the art of arranging flowers ana
IT becomes quite a science. They nave
many kinds of vases or dishes with TUBES
of different lengths and sizes IN the IN
terror each to hold a single stem. very
few flowers are put into a vase mere
Is no massing of a lot of flowers OF one
color or many eolors-an Irregular SYM
metrv rather is sought.
One of the marvellous sights OF the land
! is the great number of flrehies IN summer
| They are there nsuch numbers That the
natives have found many uses to whicn
TO nut them They are sold in tiny net
cages in the shops. Ladies giving even
ing parties buy quantity, and after the
| guests have arrived they are loosened IN
| the private garden to assist In oeautily-
ing the scenery. On the Ujikawa river
there is an annual swarm of fireiiies' ana