New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-29
The Vacation OF
a Jap nese Family

Once upon time, that IL before Japan
became WesterniZed, the people of Nippon
took 10 the mountains during July, Au-
gust and September to escape the oppres-
sive heat of the large cities. With other
Western customs. they have been ADOPT
ing more and more the beach habit, and,
while the lower classes do not care much
az yet for sea bathing, the japanese
-four hundred" have forsaken the noun
tains for fashionable seaside resorts. The
pastlmes In which they indulge seem ex-
tremely tame to one accustomed at least
to reading about Newport diversions.
Every one rises al or in the morn
Ing. After breakfast the family takes
short walk and then returns to the hotel
where the time is 4eyOted according 10
the tastes Of the f3mily-to singing, read
ing the classics or meditating. The prac-
tjcc OF singing. taken up by a whoie
family. and continued for hours al
time. is a source OF continuous wonder
ment for the tourist Father, mother ana
children, whether gifted or not spend the
forenoon singing the "uiaf' found IN tne
classic lyrical dramas. This is not ohIy
considered as a sign of refinement OUT
recommended as healthful exercise
which stimulates the respiratory organs.
Those who prefer less noisy modes OF
relaxation read aloud the japanese anu
Chinese classics or the books or the Zen
sect which are supposed 10 have sooth-
inc influence on body and mind. \ part
of the day, sometimes the greater part
~ ones vacation, Is spent in practising
.gf ling on "a
,,.ditative posture This is usually done
under the direction Of some BuddHis'
briest A whole family can be thus seen
sitting In silence for several hours incur
tating over a question propouhueu 10y
tho priest. As "Zazen' Is very popular
,,i,b ,he wealthy. the number or seasi'e
,oronles is almost as large now as that oi
seaside hotels.
A,other favorlte means OF relaxation
,crsists in sitting before an esPeSIaly
attractive bit of landscape ana "iltiHe
ABSORPTION OF II In verse; .uo,o
After the midday meal a deep s nenoo
roigns over the seaside settlements
ISyerybody takes sicsta until CLOCK;
Tben the gong rings In all the hoteis anu
the guests make for the peach' "h'i'
they take their daily dip .,,,n, hut
After dinner there Is more sins.ns' vus
tina fact that much sake Is drunk Win
Inc meals causes singers 10 render seIec-
lions OF a less classical character. Inc
childrens playthings are pIousu' out W
The servants, and ABOUT 3 o'clock. when II
is quite dark. father and the boys plant
the}r fireworks on the beach ana set them
off No Japanese evening ~ou'u ehu S"'
,sfactorily without fireworks.
Unfortunately a discordant note Is now
and then interjected into that oeauuLui
sinnuuclty hy the "noveaux riche, VINO
6 6nd such pastimes TOO Eastern" TIE
wealthy vulgal ian of Japan seneraiiy
iesves his family Al home and goes 70
the beach accompanied by Gelsha. JOY
rides, sht reyels, gam nS st DGsh ars
parties In more or less approved sly h, az
Inuho or Hayama. the favorite seaside
resorts of Japan. Such display OF wealth.
is severely condemned BY the real arlsto,
crafts among whom there IL whimsical
saving enent bejewelled SNOWY, persons
Automobiles, diamonds and other iuAu-
ries," they say, do not prove that man
has money; they merely show that no had
money