The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-28

~ ton s customs and ways are like
lyt to be peculiar in proportions as the
nation is isolated.
In Japan, therefore, one would expect
to see many strange things, and the ex-
pectation is more than realized. In
some things their customs are exactly
the opposite of ours. In writing they
place their characters in vertical lines
and move from right to left, while our
letters are arranged on horizontal lines
and read from left to right. Their
books begin where ours end and end
where ours begin. The Japanese car
penters pull the saw and plane toward
them, while ours push them from them.
The Japanese mounts his steed from
the right, while the American mounts
from the left; Japanese turn to the left,
Americans to 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
handshake is uncommon even among
japanese politicians, except in their in
tereourse with foreigners -.
The Japanese wear white for mourn
Ing and often bury their dead in a sit
ting posture. The death is sometimes
announced as occurring at the house
when it actually occurred elsewhere,
and the date Of the death is fixed to
suit the convenience of the family. This
is partly due to the fact that the jap
anese like to have the death appear as
occurring at home. Sometimes funeral
services are held over a part Of the
body. An Americar lady whose jap
anese 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.
lie conferred with the family Of the de-
ceased 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 nrecio,s
reilcs they were inferred with the usual
ceremonies.
g yaS A Half-H with Ito. .
When Baron Komura returned fro,,
e Peoo0 conference In which he PLAYED
30 important part, was anxious to
oe present at his arrival, partly out of
respect TO- the man and partly out of
Gu. curiosity to see whether the threatened
nlIestations Of disapproval would be
lnaae1 'ny the populace, it having been
f itLL1ored that thousands of death Ian.
terms were being prepared for hostile
parade. 1t is needless to say that the
threats did not materialize and that mr.
+ expressions Of disapproval were heard
: after his arriyall
- found it impossible to learn eithe,
! the hour or the landing place, and. de-
spairing of being present, Started +,
Z visit a furniture factory to inspect
some wood carving. Consul Genera
Jones of Dalny (near Port Arthur1
then visiting in Yokohama, was nv es
eort, and, as good fortune would have
IT., we passed near the Detached palace
Dr. Jones, hearing that the landin,
might be made there, obtained permits
sion for us to await the peace commits
sloner g coming.
We found there MARQUIS Ito and 9
half-dozen other officials. AS Baro,
Komura, did not arrive for half a.
hour, 1t gave me the best opportunity
That could have had to become &C
qualnted with the marquis, who is thu
most influential man in Japan at pres
ent He is president Of the privy coun
Gil OF elder statesmen, and is credited
with being the most potent factor il
the The, shaping of Japan's demands a
Portsmouth.
Baron Komura's Return.
When Baron Komura stepped fron
the launch upon the soil Of his nativ,
: land, he was met by Marquis Ito ant
each greeted the other with low bow
The baron then saluted the other off
Gals in the same manner, and, turning
bowed to a group Of Japanese ladie
representing the Woman s Patriotic as
ISOLATION. DR.. Jones and stood som,
feet in the rear Of the officials. an(
were greeted by the baron after he hat
saluted his own conutrymen. He ex
tended his hand to us. The incident i
mentioned as illustrating the differenc,
IN the manner Of greeting. For VIII,
would be more apt to clasp hands, i
That were customary, than these tw,
distinguished statesmen whose person
in the conclusion of world-renowne,
treaty?
The Togo Reception.
AT Toxic I visited the city hall, a
the invitation of the mayor and cit,
council. While there Mayor Ozaki in
formed me that he, in company witt
the mayors of the other cities, woul,
tender Admiral Togo a reception o,
the following Tuesday, and invited M
to#b be present. Of course I accepted
because it afforded a rare opportunit,
to- observe Japanese customs as wei
as to see large concourse of people.
As witnessed the naval review il
Yokohama the day before and the illu
nlination at night, I did not reach To
kio until the morning Of the reception
and this led me into considerable EN-
barrassment. On the train I met
japanese gentleman who could spea]
English He was kind enough to fin,
meza 'rikisha with pusher and to in
struct them to take me at once +
Uyeno park. He then left me and tn
'rikishas men followed his instruction
to the letter
Forced to the Front.
y They had not proceeded far when
discovered that Admiral Togo had al
g rived on the same train and that lon
a procession had formed to conduct hir
s to the park. Before / knew it, I wa
whisked past an escort of Distinguish