New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-04-26

,.s- - z-e-v nice TO BE q little child in Japan.
90 rnsuv things are done Il arause the children
there OF course. there are delightful holidays IN
.re-ioa-Easter. St Valentines Day. Christmas
,,6 the Fourth OF July. But. after all none Of
ras made for the children: the children have
rreut into them. il were
Ru+ -hirk q having Dol Festival That is
Hhat little japanese girls have every year. and il
WIS invented for them. and never belonged 10
az me else Il Is held or March 3 and great are
the rreuarations. In q temporary theatre PrettilE
deco-ared with banners and little girls gather
"a do honor the richly dressed dolls waiting 10
-eretve them Then quantities OF the incest things
y eat sweet r1ce cakes and preserved sTFeerneats
snd rbe like are placed before the dolls. Dolls are
mr. fond q eating as all little girls know. hut they
sr5ov seeing their small mothers eat 50 the Jap
s-.se girls eat and eat. and then they play games
Ysrv japanese boys take part in the Doll Festival
Jspanese boys don't care much for dolls. any more
ma American boys 90. but Ike American boys
ny love sveetreats- 50 they 90 TO the Doll Fes-
rzzl
On Msrch comes the boys great day. the FISH
rsrival and for this they often appropriate the
tiea--e that was used for the Doll Festival, dec
e-ztions and al. The japanese. most Of the
Ls,-le Men and Little Women know. worship cour-
sre and daring and this festival is meant TO in
czcate these qualities in boys. Now. nothing Is
Drawer than the Kio fish. o. japanese carp IL
E1n Climb z cataract i VIII swim against rush-
i-s current and when cap1ured-which only hap
pens after hard fght-it viii lie upon the sand
eud play dead awaiting q chance 10 escape 50
Il is straregisr as well fighter and thai Is
enothe- quality the japanese love 4 great big
rodel Of the Kio fish therefore. has very ProInl-
net place n the theatre where this boys festival
is held All around TIE wall banners are hung. the
k-gest one adorned with picture Of the spirit OF
BATTLES and the Others with stirring marital
eoenes 4 -aannkiu dressed IN arrno- sits on 2
throne upon q dais. and II front Of the dais are
e-ouped the swords Of the tOrefaIhers OF the boys
vao are there Some Of the swords-those which
beonsed 70 the Sarnuraj-are considered sacred,
and flowers are arranged about them as about a
shrine and the boys bend down before them and
Do them homage.
Dolls figure il this festival but for this they
dressed Ike warriors. And the boys are dressed
& warriors TOO. and swords; and perhaps
they are not proud, And perhaps they 90 not
Erw about,
Not only the modern weapons adorn the stage
r tbs Fish festival but the weapons Of old Japan
ere -sere TOO. The triple pronged rntsunlaIa. the
long. pointed ya-i. long bow and richly wrought
cUive-s filed with arroEs-su are there, and the
japanese boy Is immensely interested in them al
because they have part in his country's history
However. this festival is lot all made up Of
thoughts % war and history and serious things
Ike that Some % II is just good times During
a. that week fl March children 80 from house 10
house-slHsys removing their shoes before they
enter holse-and everywhere they are welcomed
invited 70 come in AXE part in the games
sattledore and shuttleoock is the favorite game