The news & observer., 1905-12-29
JAPAN s CHILDREN /
Interesting Talk by Rev.
Sakakibara.
Delightful Christmas Exercises Held
Yesterday by Three Sunday
Schools in This
City.

lnrGe CnrlSJllldS entertainments
| occurred yesterday, being given by
the Sunday Schools of the Good Shep-
herd church. the First Presbyterian
church. and EpWorth Methodist
church. The feature of the exercises
at the Good Shepherd church Sunday
School was the lecture on the children
of Japan by Rev. w. Sakakihara, d
graduate of the University of the
South and at present student Of
Columbia.
There was an interesting program
at the entertainment in the Good
Shepherd church, and the children
were all delighted. Mr.. Louis Pegra m
acted Santa Claus eXcellently. and the
young people were carried into ecsta-
cies of joy. There was a large Christ
mas tree, on which was a present for
every member of the Sabbath School,
and each class also had a christmas
tree. There were many gifts too for
the children at the Thompson Or
phanage at Charlotte.
Rev. Sakakihara's subject was
Child Life In Japan" and h spoke
in part as follows:
Every Japan mother is proud TO
have her boy child. boy is the pride
and idol of a Japanese father and
mother. Japanese mothers want their
boys all to be soldiers or sailors who
may fight for their country and the
Mikado. Therefore, whenever a boy
child is born in a family every one
rejoices at his birth. But not SO IN
case of girl child.
"As a rule, Japanese children have
rather rigid and stern discipline and
training. They do not enjoy all pleas
ures and good times which the chill
dren of America do. From the be-
ginning, their life is hard. Babies
there are not allowed to cry so freely
as those of Anne RIGA. In fact, child
nurses are rather cruel and whenever
their babies cry they pinch the little
things until they stop crying. Only
once or twice a year the children of
Japan really enjoy themselves. The
boys national birthday is celebrated
on May 5th. That is the greatest occa-
sion for boys. For girls birth day
March third is celebrated.
Besides the birth day festival, the
New Year is another happy time Tor
the japanese children. The children
on this occasion are dressed with new
things-new hats. shoes and kimCnos,
and are allowed to spend few cents
Each child from his birth has MS
own particular gods-gnardian gods
to whom his mother offers prayer
for her child. For instance. my guar
dian gods were the gods of Long Life
and Wisdom.
"The school life of the children
is very strict and trying. Only one
month of vacation is given to them
during the year, and every day from
s D. m to p m-.tthey are taught.
1.-THE children are exceedingly ODE
dent to their fathers ana
mothers aud loyal to their Mikado.
Every child is taught to pray for their
Emperor every morning before the
breakfast and say good morning to
his parents and brothers and sisters:
"The education. think, is superior
to all other nations. There IS not
much pleasure, but strict training ana
education is abundant for the little
boys and girls of the Mikado's king
DOM
Presbyterian Sunday School.
The Christmas q, exercises of the
PRESBYTERIAN Sunday School were held
Yesterday afternoon from $50 till
$3.50 O'Clock. A pleasant incident was
the presentation Sby all the teachers
to the Superintendent. Mr. Herbert
Jackson, of a handsome ebony heavily
gold mounted fountain pen. The musi-
cal entertainment was a rare treat.
and was highly appreciated by those
present.
Mr.. James F. Jordan was santa
Claus" and made every person pres
sent, child and ADULT, happy. having
presented each with box of candy,
nuts ard an orange.
The pastor. Rev. Alfred II. Moment
received beautiful present, and even
the sexton was remembered by the
Sunday School in bestowing gifts