The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-07-14
ODDITIES OF THE JAPANESE
extremely Hot Baths Are Much In
dulged In, and Health and
Strength Carefully Cultivated.

In 1899 a commission was appointed
oy the japanese government ito con-
sider whether by meat diet or by other
means" the race could be made taller,
out It came to the conclusion that as the
Japanese exceeded taller races in
strength and endurance the wise plan
was to disregard stature. The Japanese
are fond of bathing and use baths heated
to degree that would be intolerable to
the average American, but they also use
cold bathing. Water, indeed, is freely
used, both internally and externally.
Rheumatism is almost unknown and
the British Medical Journal considers 1t
probable that the absence of meat from
the diet, combined with the use of plenty
81 water, accounts for this immunity.
The diet OF the Japanese is frugal and
some of the record marches of their soil
diers have been made on little rice.
The value of fruit and vegetables is more
fully recognized than with western ma
tons. Milk is scarce and tea, beer, spir-
its and tobacco are very sparingly en-
ployed. Windows are kept open day
and night and the value of fresh air and
physical exercise is fully realized.
Nothing" says medical authority,
short of this perfection of health and
strength, with its accompaniment of
good mental balance and happiness,
could have caused the Japanese to &C.
complish in 80 years what it has taken
other nations centuries to achieve"
When the late Sir Edwin Arnold went
to Japan he met the Countess Kuroda,
who had come Gin lovely Japanese
dress to have her portrait painted" by
Walter Savage Lander. Her eyes were
dancing with excitement and she had a
round spot of brilliant rouge on her low
er lip. She was delighted to find that
Sir Edwin could speak her own language
little, but did not look at all pleased
when he admired her hands-fine and
small as child's. From the japanese
point of view such personal compliments
constitute a breach of etiquette. Very
dirty; very dirty" she said, laughing,
as she tucked them away under her long
sleeves. The phrase is merely one of
polite depreciation when anything of the
speakers is admired. Mrs. Hugh Fraser,
who tells the story in her recent book
on Japan, adds: II have heard it ap-
piled to peoples houses, clothes and,
think, their dinners; II one has CHANGED
to praise feast, If one admires child,
it is at once said to be ugly, and any
thing so intimately mans own as his
wife is invariably called stupid. l re-
member the Chinese word is much the
same, the stupid person in the inner
chamber being the ordinary name in
Picking If a wife has to be mentioned
at ALL
As an example of the humble attitude
Of the japanese wife, Mrs. Hugh Fraser
relates this incident: "a middle aged
man on the upper floor was suffering
terribly from heat and his little wife
seemed greatly distressed about him.
All the screens had been opened, but 1t
was breathless day and no breeze
came to ring the little glass bells on the
hanging fern wreath on the veranda.
The man had laid aside almost all his
garments and sat with his head in his
hands groaning, while madame, kneel-
ing on the mats behind him, famed his
back and from time to time rubbed him
down with a blue towel, an expression
of the deepest respect and sympathy on
her face. When>he seemed little bet
ter she busted herself with preparing
tea, which he drank eagerly, and, OF
course. made himself frightfully hot
again, when she went back patiently to
her tanning and rubbing"