Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-01


TO- the peace of the cities and
hamlets of Japan is blasphemed
with laundering noise which makes think of Port
Arthur and Mukden. The tremendous noise is per-
fecty harmless, though it is edfying, 1t is men
and beating their old mats, nothing
The thick padded mats that cover the floors of all
Japanese houses get the severest beating of the year.
for it is exceedingly impolite to welcome born
year into house covered with old mats. The harder
the beating the greater will be the reputation of the
house for cleanliness. Such reputation is pre-
cous than gold in the eyes of Japanese housewives.
Same way in hunting down the fantest and humblest
speck of dust that through impossible miracle had
managed to escape the daily industry of cleanliness.
Of course the wooden verandas always polished
mirrors so also pillars sho grooves and cell
kept shining in all the gores of their natural grains.
This perhaps. is why the mirror not invented early
in Japan and the ladies did not complain much about
it) But before the coming of New Years. every piece
of wood and furniture in the house is given shine.
Part the Maids Play
RESIDES the beating there another sound that
enters into the melody of New Year s,-the ringing,
heart free laughter of maids and servants. l do not
know from what ancient house of philosophers Japanese
have descended but do know that the hardest
house cleaning in the world is the funniest thing in life
to them. Listen to their merry laughter and you will
be convinced. The maids seem to have knack of
sweetening the downright drudgery with many touch
of fun. For example:
In sections of the country, in old Samurai
family it is the custom with the maids of the house
gather at the close of New Years house cleaning and
amid tremendous gggings and explosions of laughter.
the oldest male child of the house. the honorable first
born the heir. You may be that the first born
making himself rather just about that time. 1t
calls for the diplomatic talent of Talleyrand to asso
him; for everything must be done in FORM perfect
harmony with the most rigorous standard of good de-
pertinent.
The maids never fail to nab hm-a pointed tribute
to the keenness of maids wits. After the capture the
heir is carried alot the shoulders and of the
maids in solemn mock dignity, the maids nearly dying
of unexploded laughter meanwhile. And to the young
master is given Japanese writing brush soaked in pure
water, ink, of and he is told to trace with
it the Chinese character for the ceiling of every
room in the house. This is supposed to prevent the
possibility of fire for the whole ensuing year. 1t is
cheaper than paying fire insurance it gives the
greatest fun in the world to the maids.
Entire Nation of Shoppers
I HAVE been told that humorists and cartoonsts of
America have made deal of money by painting
to life New Jersey commuter about two days before
Christmas Eve. / know that Christmas shoppers in
America general thing laden with bundles; but
still you woman carrying the load. 1t
isn't so with shopping Japan just before New Years.
In the streets of Nippon all that is endless
stream of proud, pulled up assortments of bundles
struttng pair of clogs and sandals; there is
human view of them at all.
At the close of every year the entire Empire of Nippon
turns itself into toystore full of shuttlecocks (gay
DARN ducks, of everyday domestic geese, and of chick
ens) and of battledores of tops kites of aogarnta
(cards with classic couplets printed upon them and