The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-04-06
rooroeAa or The JAPANESE
They Mako the Feet Hard sad the
AnkIes etrong.


they are called. are on OF the singu
larry distinctive features OF JapaDes>
life which VIII strike the observer with
wondermeDt as soon as be sees then
looming along the roadway or hear
them scraping the gravel with an ir
ritabie squeak thar makes his very
nerves shudder. says the London
Chronicle. Nevertheless. awkward
though the shoes appear. they are OF
a kind constituted 10 make feet M
lard Ms sheet iron and ankles as strong
as steel glrders.
The shoes are divided into two varie-
ties; the low shoe Is called the 'koma.
seta" and is only used when the roads
are In good condition. The high shoes,
named 'ashida." are worn when the
weather is rainy aud the roads are
muddy Both kinds have a thin thong
attached 10 the surface 10 secure them
10 the feel. which are therefore not
covered as II they were in shoes. but
are left exposed 10 atmospheric con-
ditions. The 'k0mageia" resembles
somewhat the Lancashire clog. and
their construction merely entails the
carving OF block OF wood 20 the prop
er size. The "asbida." however. are OF
more complicated design. They have
two thin pieces OF wood about three
inches high at right angles 10 the
soles. and occasionally. in the case Of
priests or pilgrims. only one bar at
t4chod.
Some OF the "geta" worn by little
girls are painted In many eolors. and
others have a tny bell hanging from a
hollow place AZ the back. which. as IL
tnkies In a mystic way. heralds the
approach OF children. The superior
makes are covered with mats. made Of
panama. The highest price amounts
10 about 10 yen. or 81. while the
cheapest is less than 10 sen. or a few
cents: but the ''geia" viii not last
longer than a month. and once out OF
repair can never be mended.
Learning 10 walk on a "getn" Is an
exceedingly dif;icnit process Indeed.
IL Is far easier 10 acquire skating or
silt walking. The average child in
Japan takes about two months before
being able 10 move along on the ma
tionai fooigesr and the little ones re-
peatediy slip from the wooden blocks,
falling 10 the ground. which seems 10
their miniature lmasinatlons q consld-
cradle distance beneath them. Al
though foreigners usually take with
readiness 10 the customs OF Japan.
they are absolutely unable TO manlpu-
late the perilons -gefa."
A curious story is told OF a San
Francisco merchant who was invited /
10 attend fancy dress ball. lie |
thought IL would be quite the correct /
thing 10 attend In Japanese costume.
and wrote 10 friend IN Yokohama 10 !
send complete suit OF the costume OF /
= gentleman OF high class on receipt /
Of the costume he was immensely sur
prised at Its extensive variety. He 4
all the intricacies OF the Cow
ins robes. but when he unearfhed the
geta" he WAS completely at a loss 20
understand its use. Having only lust
arrived Ia the country and not being
over obscreant. he had omitted 20 no.
dee the foot Arrangements Of the peo-
pie. After much earnest consideration
be was suddenly seized with a brilliant
dez. All" he exclaimed In bis desire
10 extol every Japanese, this
wooden block has got very lovely
shape. II l. very beautifully carved
Ind artistic. Therefore. II must be a
Kind OF decoration 10 be worn on the
shoulders like cpaniets- And - the
merchant went TO the bah with a
'geia' on each shoulder lasiesd Of on
ach FOOT
Some parents allow their children to
Hay barefoot In the streets bus when
'oing out with their elders or paving
'islts u IL essential that every Que.
rom the smallest 10 the taliest. must
Mount the wooden clog and pro9el :
themselves in this odd fashion. The /.
isllkc OF the Japanese children for the J
ciyity OF outdoor games is 10 be
aainiy attributed to the awkward In |"
with which their little :
Get are loaded. For instance. one sell :
ON secs japanese children gambollng .
open piaygrounjs-;hey have yet TO !
arm the fcversh pleasures OF hide !
nd geek" or "rounders.- while such :,
hing as top spinning or football never J,
bS,ructs she roadwsys. !
Singular supersti;ions are associated !
'ith the 'gcsa." which at times are I
useful. When a host desires !,
vat a too attentive caller should dc.
art he induces somebody to burn :,
oxa. which has peculiar odor. upon !,
IS shoes. which are outside the door. :,
he guest win Immediately take the :.
mt and simultaneously his leave. !,
hen thong Of "gcia" is accident :,
ly severed on the return from the !,
sit 10 a sick person firm belief cx- :,
Is that the patient must die. The :,
Ipanese. however. dearly love the i,
,eta" snd although civilization may =,
ach them 10 win battles Il viii never ~
duce them 10 wear leather boots. a,