Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1910-12-29

sv,nholIpu, and NJ oood wishes The New Years
wine ton IA passed around, with the wish that
everyone may drink along with the cup q iOns'
long life. soup containing peculiar rice PASTE
mochi, Is eaten by all. each one wishing tne
others ten thousand years Of pleasure ana pros
perity Then the household prepare Tor DAY
of festivity. The busy broom and bamboo dpster
are left idle all the day. for fear that they might
sweep out of the house the divine freshness that
has come into It. All the shops remain closed
from dawn until the next day. It Is the day Oh
the home and Of social happiness. There Is no
christmas tree" as the center Of the Japanese
New Year celebration inside the house, but there
is the Kagami mochI or mirror rice cakes" that
are made as conspicuous as the tree. These
cakes represent the round mirror In which the
sight of her face enticed the sun goddess out Of
her cave in the olden time. For eleven days these
cakes remain decorated with fruits and flowers,
elevated on wildwood trays. Then they form
part Of family feasting.
Throughout Japan the New Years day is the
one complete holiday of the year. Soon after
breakfast all the members Of the families, dressed
in their newest Clothes take to the gardens. parks
and streets for characteristic pleasur1ngs. UNI
versal visiting Is social law-calhng on friends
and relatives in person or by card. Universal
gift making Is INDUCED in messengers being
sent bearing presents all around the household
and friendly circles. Distinctive and exclusive
games also belong to the New Year time Battle
dore and shuttlecock is probably chief among
them. In certain parts Of Tokyo. for example.
streets are almost impossible because of the
hosts Of the players of this game, As far as one
can see, the scene is one Of bewildering color
from the stir Of the dresses of the girls who are
a. active In their sport as 30 many Of our tennis
players Gayly ornamented battledores fash ev-
erywhere and the air Ii full Of the bright, hutter
ing toys that are struck from one to another
player. Penalty for defeat usually means gro
tesque markings Of the face with strokes Of char
coal ink. One may see thousands Of children
merry under the comical markings imposed upon
their foreheads and cheeks.
Kite flying is another peculiar New Year pas
time And kite flying In Japan Is q sight well
worth going far to see. The variety Of shape, the
gorgeousness Of coloring. the extraordinary size
of many Of these toys Is something peculiar to
the Japanese. Then the skin shown In maneu-
vering the kites Is marvellous. They hum a. they
sway IN the January breeze with sort Of organ
pipe volume Of sound and at times, they swoop
down upon antagonist aiers. like hawks, and.
with their glassduatcovered cords cut their enc
miles free. thus making them. the property Of
their own masters. There Is hardly q more fas-
cinating spectacle than one Of these friendly bat
ties In The air Of japanese kites under the guild
ancs Of the skilled men who manage them.
Another distinctive entertainment for the New
Year celebration is furnished by groups OF masked
performers who 50 about the streets led By .
curious animallIke creature, whose grotesQue
llon-head excites much mock terror among chill
dren. The antics Of these motley crowds are
supposed 70 exercise evil spirits from the Japan
ese homes as well e. 70 add gayety 70 the do
ings Of the day. Many other unique ceremonies
take place on the first day; too many for an At
tempt 70 describe them here.
But We may not pass By the old card parties
Of the New Year evenings; me matchingB Of the
beginnings and ends Of the Hundred songs Of .
hundred Blnssrb" From one January to another
this same Il not INDUCED n; but q the opening
Of the year 4 Il the chief sport kept for the even
Ings, whole families becoming absorbed IN T. Il
b contost Of mHmoFy and Of guiclmoss q dis
covering n cards lnld ont before 3 group o. PLAY.
Oh ne end Of poem whose opening lines have
ben reed ~ ltifef Il g 11ioul1h,rg e. -
al .lnl lf0t nrfy rl the hare