St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-10-04

read the history of Japan for near
" two thousand years in the vast
collection of arms, accoutrements,
coins and medals, vehicles of travel,
domestic utensils, etc.; here also lis
the large Geological Garden, where
may be seen great many Gagged an
finals, birds, fishes and reptiles. It
also has a fine art school, an acad-
envy of music, and library of four
hundred thousand books. The I'M
perial University and hospital are
near this park. Shiba is also large
park in Toxic, which contains one
of the most famous of Buddhist
temples, very rich in gold and bril-
liant colorings. Near this park is
the largest bazar in the empire,
where articles of all kinds may be
purchased at marked fixed price.
The Arsenal garden within the mill
itary arsenal grounds is well worth
a visit. Here are to be seen many
of the military trophies of the Jap
anese war with Russia.
Advertises Industries.
There is in the heart of Toxic
large bazaar where are represented
the manufactured products of near
ly every mandatory in the empire
of Japan. Here small admission is
charged to cover actual expense of
conducting the business. A visit
to this place is a good way to learn
what the country is doing in this
line. Here are represented the var
ious products of the cotton, wooden,
silk, iron, steel and copper works;
Locomotive and steamship works;
engineering and electrical plants,
and nearly every other branch of
manufactured goods and wares to
be found elsewhere throughout the
civilized world. OF the class of
goods they excel in producing we
mention Damascene, or inlaid BRASS
work, which is rich, and enameling
upon metal known as cloisonne,
which is very handsome. This lat
ter is largely produced in Toxic,
Kioto and Nagoya. In embroidery
remarkable taste is displayed in
both design and workmanship. This
work is all done by men. OF their
wood carving visitors are wonder
fully impressed by the shrines seen
at Nikko and elsewhere. The col
OringS of their figures is remark
able exhibition of the painters art.
In the arrangement of flowers and
in landscape gardening these people
excel, and in their hands it becomes
indeed a fine art. Lacquer ware is
remarkable for it's beauty, it's
strength and durability, and theirs
eXcels that of any other makers.
Pottery forms a profitable study in
which much artistic skill is display
ed. Bronze work is highly esteem
ed and striking figures of the Dia-
butsu, at Hamakura and Nara are
much admired. Metal workers are
81 to ,1ax
metal upon another, in working the
toughest iron which they carve and
chase as though it were wax. Their
swords excel those of the famous
Damascus and Toledo blades.
Very Poor Roads.
The roads of Japan are very few
and poor, and in many places canals
are made use of to convey the pro-
ducts of the farm to the seashore.
These canals are handsomely con-
structed and in many places are
overhung with Towering trees. Tea
houses are everywhere to be found
and in the mountain regions they
serve as resting places where one
may not only secure tea but other
light drinks and food as well.
The Christians of Japan number
about 10000, and there are about
1000 Sabbath schools. There are al
so hundreds of Christian churches
of various denominations, and while
old Japan opposed Christianity new
Japan encourages it. The Sabbath is
more of a holiday than holy day
throughout the empire, yet the gov
erment and the officials connected
Herewith observe it as a day of
rest from labor, even if they do not
believe in it's observance as day of
Christian worship.
GEORGE H. COLBY.