Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-03-09
STRANGE NOISES IN JAPAN


iy,-Ting-a-ling, Cirg,a.ling, tng-a-ling!
The measured clang of q bell floats up
through the trees to my veranda,
which almost overhangS one OF the
busiest streets in conglomerate Yoke
hama Tins-a.ling ting-a,ling, ting-a.
Inns three times again, and then a
voice, describing complete circle of
sound, walls the one work, SODA"
think 1t is religious ceremonial Of
some kind and listen thoughttully,
The still, small noises of the city
minsle strangely with the measured
wang Of the one bell. and the circling
voice seems to float away TO the un-
yelled splendor of the oriental star,
light think OF Ruddha, serene In
the highest heavenly abode, and whis.
per the milNou-tongued alteration, "Ho
ke-kyo-" THE Sutra of the I.otos of
the Good Law" ring-a.ling, ting-a.
ling, tiug.a ling, Again the measured
bellclaus in the night silence, and
again the musical circlig voice, 500
oha,a.a"
Long into the night hear this most
eastern sound When all the street
noises have been hushed and only the
might chorus Of small insects breaks
the soft silence at intervals the bell
rings. and the voice growing louder
in the increasing silence, cries, 500.
chaa,a" Many nights have listen.
ed until my ear grown used to the
sound, has ceased to listen and almost
ceased to hear Many a weird picture
has foated before my mental vision
drawn Into an iustant'S life by the
archinG cry, and many a bit of life
story | have idly woven about the hui.
man creature | have known was be-
hind it. but tonight all my dreams are
dispellcd The Ting.a.ling. tinga-
ling, "So-o.oba,a,a."
O Hida, my little round amah, was
standing beside my chair,
what is that, O Hilda, a begging
priest?''
"That? Oh, no; that's peddler He
sells sooa, kind of-what you CALI
macaroni 1t Is very good.
wonder what It IS, this soft. orien.
tai, mystic influence, alive in the air
of Japan, which turns all things into
fantastic poetry? One hears every.
thing so distinctly. From far across
the gray.roofed city comes sound,
lute-ile In its distance softened
sweetness, that | know is made by a
vegetable yender who swings along the
narrow streets under a great mush.
room hat or bright yellow umbrella Of
oiled paper naked to the waist and
straining under the weight of two
loaded baskets hung from the ends of
a long bamboo pole which he balances
upon his shoulders 1t Is Il strange
sweet music that he makes. u ques.
tioning strain. beginning at random
and ending nowhere. after the manner
Of oriental melody, and ! am sorry
when Ii floats away out of hearing or
is drowned by the less soothing sound
of the ever-present tom-tom. Oh the
tom-tom, The nerve-racking tom.
tom Does the mans arm never get
ired? And how does he manage to
N''p WI SUM an evenly lhNdNuI'u b'h''
ing? If he would but change the
tempo for an instant Ta.a-ta, tump,
lump, lump Ta.a.ta lump, tump,
lump at is a public nuisance" |
say TO my andlady, Cant It be
stopped?'
"Yor cannot stop a man from max.
ing his living That is music to
Japanese ears and he Is selling re.
freshments at a little decorated booth
on the corner
| go down into the street myself To
see. and. sure enough, here is the
brilliant little restaurant on wheels
standing In the shadow Of the china
i shop on the corner There are rows
Upon rows Of brightly.colored, many
shaped little sugar cakes ranged upon
ne long polished board, Then there
Is the ice shaving machine and the Ice
all temptingly arrayed in clinginR fern
leaves. A pedestrian suddenly turns In
from til" crowded street and, with
4 long apologize indrawing Of his
breath, demands something | wait
10 see Wnht IL may Ne anu dIl EidN w
cause the little kiddy in the chrysan
themum hmono who is beating the
tom-tom gets interested, also, and
stops the rackc for a moment. The
old gentleman carefully lays aside
the fern leaves, machine, and In a mo
ment has heaped II full Of soft snow
fakes. He sprlnkes the top with
sugar and with the usual noisy intalS
ing Of his breath. hands II to the Gus
toner, who receives It with a Ike ex
preston Of Japanese appreciation. II
doesn't look good to me, but the
thirsty man seems to enjoy 1t, and the
kildy, evidently satisfied with the
transaction begins the taa.ta, lump
lump. lump! again and another Gus.
toner comes 10 occupy the attention
OF the olu one. How many such little
refreshment booths there are in the
streets Of all Japanese cities, and how
nearly alike they are, all decorated
with bright lantern8-of the flag pat
tern mostly now, during these patriotic