Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-06-24

Al Eire DriIl Iney ferIOrm OymnaStIc
Fcats. Instead Of Maneuvers for Extinfuish-
ment Of the Flames-Te ca house Resorts
Prevailing Religions. Buddhism and Shun-
toism, the Latter being Based Upon Love
Of Ancestry and Fidelity to Mikado-Fine
Temples--A Rope of Human Hair 900 Fe ct
Long and Three Inches in Diameter Jap
anese Commercial Rating Railroads,
Telephones and Street Cars Public Utilities
MANAGED by Government--The Red Cross
Nurses Kept in Traininf-Blds q Reluct-
ant Adieu to the Almond Eyed Goddesses.
BY FRANK N. KENNEY.
JAPAN-IH.
Japan has been called Topsy
Turvey Land" and in a great many
ways the title is peculiarly appli-
cable. They do not wear black. but
white as the mourning color, and the
friends bring gifts. when there is a
funeral. The bodies are generally
burned and often large quantities Of
sake are consumed by the mourners
during the process. When the Ia
dies go visiting. they are given pres
ents by those on whom they call. If
that custom prevailed in this coun-
try, calling might be even more pop
ular among the ladies than it is at
present. Some amusing things hap
pen, however. and it not infrequent-
ly occurs that the visitor will be
given the same gift which she had
previously given to some OF her Wis.,
itors.
In this country, the watchnen 60
about their rounds with as little
noise as possible, but in Japan the
nightwatchman carries staff with
bells on it and at every step he takes
they jingle. His object is not to
catch the robbers but to scare them
away.
Although Japan has some modern
fire apparatus in the large cities,
their operation of it is very far below
our standard. In Toxic, while we
were there, the tiremen gave pub
lie exhibition. This consisted prin-
sipally of climbing a ladder, balanc-
ing themselves on the top. and going
through other gymnastic feats. A
small structure had been erected on
frame work about sixty feet above
ground and this was to be set on fire
and then extinguished. About an
hour before the structure was ignit.
ed, three modern fire engines were
steamed up, but regardless Of the
fact that the engines had been in
course of readiness for so long a
time, it took about thirty minutes
work to put out the little fire. Any
modern fire department. with like
apparatus, in our country. would
have taken about as many seconds as
they did minutes. In Yokohama, the
fire department went through the va.
rious streets of the city. especially
the residence section. and gave their
gymnastic exercises for the benefit
Of an. admiring populace. To me 1t
was verv amusing, US failed to see
where the balancing on top of q lad
der had anything to do with the
speedy extinguishing of fire. That
some OF the papers also realized this,
was evident from comments made at
the time of the Toxic review. One
Of the peculiarities of the japanese
fireman is that he carries a lighted
lantern with him to fire and during
the progress OF it, regardless of how
bright the blaze may be. or of the
fact that they are worse than USE
less at such times, because it gives
the fireman but one hand with
which to work.
Visitors to Japan, as rule, find
the tea houses very interesting spots
to visit. They are scattered along
side the roads from time to time. as
we'll as being present in larger num-
bers in the cities. Here you can 60
In, sit down on the floor and have
tea and rice cakes brought to you by
the dainty Japanese maidens. Some
of them speak English quite Huently,
and almost without exception they
are attractive in person.
The prevailing religions are Budd-
hism and Shintoism. The same
priest in great many instances pre-
sides over both temples, and the lat
ter are generally found side by side.
There is no conflict as Shintoism Is
based upon the love of ancestry and
country and Of respect for the Mi
kado, so the Government is strongly
in favor of the spread OF Shintoism.
There is much discussion just now as
to the benefits or otherwise of for.
eign missions, therefore, it might