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


branch Of the bamboo tree with its leavaa and
twigs to symbolic good fortune, is used as a.
buster In completing the thorough sweepInR AT
this time the soft rice mats Of which the floor.
ing In Japanese homes Is made are renewed in
order that the callers at the New Year may be
received where they can enjoy a spotless footing.
At this time. too. all matrons and maids are
busy getting ready for wear on New Years day
kimonos that shall have no trace in them Of the
vanished past. To old and young the daily theme
OF thought and talk is the coming New Year"
full as much as christmas" Is to u.s.
Outside the houses symbolic decoration has
full sway, and transforms the thoroughfares into
gayly colored and evergreen avenues. The tree
less streets are turned, for the time being, into
vstas OF swaying bamboo and pine trees. Before
each house entrance, according to the tenants
purses and taste, stands kind Of archway IT'S
pine branches, supposedly male and female, on
the right and left, and the tall triple bamboo
shafts (both trees symbolic of longevity that Is
Of hardness that has borne the storms and
struggles Of long life into a rugged old age) vel.
come the visitor. Over head, spanning the space
between these uprights Of the arch, Is a decorat-
ed rope always of rice straw having on II various
pendants arranged in series Of seven, I'VE and
three lucky numbers). The rope recalls one Of
the most revered and poetic traditions Of the jap
anese past. The sun goddess, the ancestregs Of
the imperial house Of the empire, was angered
with her brother in the ancient days, and in re-
venge hid herself IN cave. Darkness then pre-
vailed in heaven and over the earth. The gods
In their perplexity tried to induce her to come
out of her hiding place But In vain did they
appear, until, in dance they had arranged, she
was induced by taunt that touched her vanity
to open the door Of her selfchosen dungeon One
Of the gods then drew her forth, and, to prevent
her running back into the cave, stretched q straw
rope across the entrance. The perpetual shining
Of the sun, secured thereby remains memorial
lied in the garlanded barrier hanging above each
japanese portal at New Years time.
Among the most noticeable and significant cb-
jects oFnamenting these doorway arches is q scar
let lobster, embedded among some branches Of q
bush whose old leaves remain unshed until after
the young leaves have budded. The Holsters
crooked body tells Of old age bent with years,
while the bush branches around It show how
parents remain even while children and chill.
dren's children may come into being. In the
same decoration fronds Of fern are placed whose
pairs Of leaves symbolic welded life. The or
ange. whose color brightens the clustered sym.
bols, bears q name which, as pun, means gen
erations." and tells Of family perpetuity. Sea-
weed is there, too as a memorial Of good fortune,
concentrating also the prehistoric conquest Of
Korea by the Empress Jingo. Her troops we're in
danger Of defeat because their horses on the Ko-
rean seashOre were starving from lack Of food.
But. by inspiration, she ordered seaweed to be
pucked from the waters Of the beach and given
to the horses, who then were 30 invigorated that
they carried their riders 10 glorious victory.
Gohel white bands Of paper wave over the gar
lands Of the doorway arches symbolic Of the an
Client offerings that have won the favor Of "thO
myriad gods"
After busy weeks Of preparation at last The
closing day Of the year comes. On New Years
eve the whole country Is aStir and every place
that needs light for use o. beauty e frightened
All through that night the people stay out Of bed
to zee the old year pass and 70 welcome the new
Merchants do not 50 TO bed mtn the dawn Of
New Years day An ne business accounts Of
the closing year must Be settled that night and
b every sense ol he word The yor Be bsEun
alrssh among those Japansse Nho ere guided ~
ne ola social ordor. Az lhInrr rIs msdo noN.
Bad lu1k bad iee'|1E r11.i|ca 01ln ua ~
Io b done srtl via m 1e F 3 I|e