The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1906-05-10

Genius and Talents. This learned
and venerable doctor is usually repre-
sented as a grave and amiable old
man, clad in ample robes with large
flowing sleeves, and stole, attended
by faun, and carrying in his hand
a long staff on which are suspended
his manuscripts. He is said to be
very accessible to little children, cast
ing aside all his dignity and conde-
sceuding to inspire them in all SEN
sible amusements which require
thinking heads and skillful fingers.
His wonderful learning is expressed
by the enormously developed upper
part of his head, and his :quickness of
PERCEPTION by his large ears and sharp
eyes. He is a perpetual wanderer,
distributing as he goes his precious
gift of knowledge. He is especially
worshipped at the New Year, when
his voteries earnestly beseech him to
grant them wisdom and foresight, to
guide them in all their undertakings
during the year.
Most of the curious and fascinating
myths, legends, and fanciful conceits
of the Japanese can be found portrayed
in their objects OF art. For instance
there is to be seen here an attractive
little ornament in metal work of a
cock on drum. 1t is made of sheet
metal, chased and colored. A rooster
stands perched on a drum, the shell
of which has rotted away, allowing
the hen cosy place in which to build
her nest. Vines of ivy grow over and
around the drum. Four beet leaves
act as feet. 1t typifes good govern
ment and peaceful state of affairs.
When we know that it was an ancient
custom in China and Japan to place
drum before magistrate Office, and
that anyone maltreated or oppressed
could come, and by beating upon the
drum call attention to his complaint,
and receive redress, we can appreciate
!, the cleverness of the artists design as
} we'll as it's execution, for in time of
, misrule and public disturbances the
drum would often sound, soaring
away the birds and beasts, but when
the drum was neglected, and years
went by in peace and quietness, vines
grew up and encircled it, the shell
became rotten, large piece fell from
its side, and a mother hen with her
little chickens took peaceful posses
sion of the great drum.
A group of Hoho's is both graceful
and beautiful. 1t is made of sheet
metal repoused, the rock is OF copper,
silver plated, and oxordized, the base
J and birds of silver, and the leaves and
foliage of Shakudo bronze. OF the
metallurgic triumphs of art which the
, Japanese may justly claim over
J all competitors, China, Indian OF
European, perhaps the greatest is the
perfection to which they have brought
J the designs in "Shakudo," an
: anamalgam of which are usually made
, the brooches or buttons used to fasten
their tobacco pouches and pocket
, books-the "Netsuka'' or toggle. 1t
J is also used to ornament the handles
of their swords. 1t is composed
mainly of iron, relieved by partial
, OVERLAPPING of gold, silver and bronze.
To return to the group of Hoho's
, mentioned, it consists of two mythical
birdr, one on a rock, the other at the
base of rock surrounded by bronze
shrubbery all resting on fancy base
of FURNISHED silver.
The Hobo is the Japanese phoenix,
fabulous bird of the Chinese myth
mythology, whose visits on the earth
, are as rare as those of the angels. Ac-
cording to Prof. Grifis, the Chinese
describe it as the essence of water. 1t
was born in the vermillion cave. 1t
roosts only on the most beautiful
trees, it eats only the seeds of the
bamboo, it drinks only OF. the sweetest
springs, its body is adorned with five
! colors, its song contains five notes.
: AS it walks it looks around; as it flies
other birds follow it. Virtue, obedi-
ence. justice, fidelity, and benevolence
; are symbolized in the decoration OF
its head, wings, body and breast. Its
appearances are awaited with great
eagerness as annunciation of some
great event, or the appearance of some
great leader. It is embroidered on
J the Mikado's robes.
An interesting little figure is that OF
Hotel riding on an OK. Hotel is the
Japanese St. Nicholas. He is also
one of the seven household gods. He
; is supposed to be a priest famed for
his fatness and love of children.
A fiure of Yebis is to be found in
almost every house reverently placed
on the Kamidana (God shelly He is
the Neptune of the country, and pro-
tector of the fisherman and among
this collection at the National Museum
there is figurine of Yebis riding on
| a oorn