The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-01-28

Every nation has its customs, its
way Of doing things, and nations
customs and ways are likely to be Pc
culiar in proportion as the nation is
isolated In Japan, therefore, one
would expect to see many strange
things, and the expectation is more
than realized. In some things their
customs are exactly the opposite of
ours. In writing they place their char
acters in vertical lines and move from
right TO left, while our letters are ar
ranged on horizontal lines and read
from left to right. Their books begin
where ours end, and end where ours
begin. The Japanese carpenters pull
the saw and plane toward them, while
ours push them from them. The Jap
anese mounts his steed from the right,
while the American mounts from the
left; Japanese turn to the left. Aneri-
cans 10 the right. Japanese write it
Smith John Mr., while we say Mr.. John
Smith At dinners in Japan wine is
served hot and soup cold, and the yard
Is generally at the back OF the house
instead of the front
The japanese wear. white for mourn
ing, and often bury their dead in a
sitting posture. The death is some
times announced as occurring at the
house when it actually occurred else
where, and the date Of the death is
fixed to suit the convenience of the
family. This is partly due to the fact
that the japanese like to have the
death appear as occurring at home.
Sometimes funeral services are held
over a part of the body. An Amer
lean lady whose japanese maid died
while attending her mistress in the
United States, reports an incident
worth relating. The lady cabled her
husband, asking instructions in regard
to the disposition of the body. He con-
ferred with the family of the deceased
and cabled back directing the wife to
bring a lock Of the hair and the false
teeth of the departed. The instructions
were followed, and upon the delivery
of these precious relics they were in
tered with the usual ceremonies.
The handshake is uncommon even
among Japanese politicians, except in
their intercourse with foreigners. When
Baron Komura returned from the
peace conference in which he played
so important a part I was anxious to
be present at his arrival, partly out of
respect to the man and partly out OF
curiosity to see whether the threatened
manifestations Of disapproval would be
rltnored that thousands Of death Ian
terms were being prepared for hostile
parade. ct is needless to say that the
threats did not materialiZe and that no
expressions of disapprovai were heard
after his arriVa13 / found it impos-
sible TO learn either the hour or the
landing place. and, despairing Of being
present, started to visit furniture
factory to inspect some wood carving
Consul General Jones, of Dalney (neaI
Port Arthur, then visiting IN Yoke
hama, was my escort. and, as good
fortune would have it, we passed mean
the Detached Palace. DR.. Joness, hear
Ing that the landing might be made
there, obtained permission for US tC
await the peace commissioners com
ing. We found there Marquis Ito anc
a half-dOzen other officials. AS Baror
Komura did not arrive for half ar
hour, it gave me the best opportunity
that I could have had to become ac
quainted with the marquis, who is thu
most influential man in Japan a
present. He is president of the privy
council OF elder statesmen and il
credited with being the most. poten
factor in the shaping of Japans de-
n.ands at Portsmouth.
When Baron Komura stepped from
the launch upon the soil of his native
lard, he WAS met by Marquis Ito and
each greeted the other with a Low
bow. The baron then saIuted the
other officials in the same manner and
turning, bowed to a group of Japanes'
ladies representing the Womans Pa
triotic association. DR.. Jones and
stood some feet in the rear of the Of
ficiaIs and we're greeted by the baro1
after he had saluted his own country
men. He-extended his hand to US Tn
incident is sRnentioned as illustrating
the difference in the manner of greet
ing. For who would be more apt t
clasp hands, if that were customary
than these two distinguished states
rren, whose personalities are indissolu
bly, linked together in the conclusion
OF a worId-renowned treaty?
A brief acco INT of the reception Q
Admiral Togo may be interesting {
those who read this article. While a
Toxic I visited the city hail, at the in
vitation of the mayor and city coun