St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-05-13
THE SIMPLE LIFE"
AS IT IS KNOWN IN THE LAND
OF THE MIKADO.
NOT A VISION OR THEORY

OE N1xhAOO.
NOT A VISION OR THEORY
Japanese Home Life an Idyl of Sim
.plicity - No Changes of Fashion
Affect National Costume-Pastrles
and Rich Candies Unknown -
chi1dlike Enjoyment of Flowers
Simplicity the Distinguishing Fea-
+,ra in Art-"Greatness in Small
Things"
~, Edward Buckley, Phi D. CThe Univer-
sitv of Oh. cago, formerly professor In
the Doshisha College. h&olo)
lcon,r;eht 1s5 by Joseph B. Bow.es)
The simple life in Japan is no vision
mr. theory or homily, but reallzeu
fact in every sphere OF LIE, lhousn
not unaccompanied, OF course Wy
much that is elaborate, artlhclal anu
otherwise opposed 10 the quality OF
simplicity. Certainly Japan IS hot Se1
Utopia, and writer's like SIT hu"in
Arnold and Lafcadio Hearn, nave
made it appear so only by gafpllns
their accounts. Yet. just as certainly
the people have in many respects ols-
tinc,,ished themselves above all 9TH
ers upon earth; and to this list OF
preeminences - inciucing cleahness'
artistry, adaptability, selt-conlfol'
courtesy and loyalty-must clearly De
added simplicity. Charles Wagner mas
no more to teach the japanese than
has William Morris, though both these
prophets are just now being preached
as the special need Of America. Ihls
being so, it may prove worth "hlle
to survey the japanese field lot SIM
plicity; and in any case, ne" III
sight will be gained into the NINA ol
people whose recent achievement Ill
warfare LAYS an obligation upon us to
reconsider in its light every previous
verdict upon the Sunrise people 1t is
not for moment n-eant that Amer
leans could we'll adopt all or even any
OF these Japanese simpllcitles just as
they are; but that they may we'll give
us pause" and may serve to indicate
direction towards which we can traFel
from our standpoint.
The japanese house is simplicity
itself, being a light wooden frame
work, covered with matched or tiled
roof, and supported on stones when
lie on the surface Of the ground. one
or two of the sides may be covered
with a plastered wolf, the others Will
be open to the air and light in sum-
mer, and protected by translucent pa
per sides in winter. Further protec-
ton at night. as also in violent storm,
is secured by sliding wooden doors.
Rooms are divided from each other by
opaque paper slides, removal OF which
converts several rooms into one.
Floors are covered, with rush mats,
always six by three feet in size, and
usually require from four and half
to eight of them. Furniture is con-
spicuous by its absence, despite the
fact that single room may serve as
parlor, dining-room and chamber IN
one No chairs or tables are needed
because Japanese sit with feet. under
them upon the soft mats; no bed
steads are in use because japanese
sleep upon thick quilts spread on the
mats at night and stored in closet
by day. Meals are served to each in
dividual on separate lacquer tray.
Additions are taken in some common
spot convenient to house and WELL
The best rooms usually have an al
cove raised few inches above the
floor, in which there stands one vase
of flowers and hangs one scroll bear
ing picture or legend.
Evidently it would prove impossible
to reduce human iabitation to sim
pier terms than these and at the same
time maintain the nigh culture that
exists in Japan and indeed reveals
itself in these very household arrange
ments; for, though all is simple, all
is also scrupulously clean, precisely
neat, exquisitely finished, well proper
toned, harmoniousiy colored and
restrainedly ornamented. The single
others as season CT celebration de-
mands; and these reserves with all
other family treasures of clothing,
toys, books, and the like, are kept in
a small fireproof storehouse made of
mud. The Japanese house, then, is
no hut, but shows a national style Of
architecture, cheap yet serviceable,
slight yet healthful. simple yet eIe-
CANT. The entire treatment of the
Japanese interior is intensive, that is,
little done to perfection, whereas
other peoples, except in their espe-
cially cultured circles, incline to an
extensive array of articles, chosen and
placed without keen discrimination of
fitness OF beauty. Especially do we
Americans litter our walls with prints,
and ornaments, and even photographs
OF our friends, most of which things
would serve us far better if OCCASION
ally brought out from the drawer,
book, portfolio or chest, where they
belong.
The simple life Of the Japanese
shows itself, furthermore, in their
clothing First and foremost, no in
cessant change of fashion diverts them
from a beautiful national costume,
which, like the size and shape of their
mats and floors and houses, can there
fore become standardized with a re-
sultant economy, as well as adapted
and refined with a resultant beauty.
Only one shirt is cut to fit the figure