New-York tribune., 1922-12-31


japan. - Al.
In the not so good, but old days OF the
shoeunate our august ancestors treated
themselves TO holidays ard festivals WITH
o,t number. But five Of them we're ma
tional. many eolored and gay, and s'ooa
ont head and shoulders above the rest
Tbev were New Years. the Third Day
q tho Third Moon, otherwise advertiseo
as Dolrs Festival. and devoted entirely 70
Btue ladies Of the empire; the rum
nav of the Fifth Moon, devoted TO tne
bovs when the skies Of japanese eiues'
towns and villages were people VII"
eountless paper carps Tapping their taiis
g. the passing winds; the Seventh Day
- tho seventh Moon, devoted 70 the stars
and the Ninth Day Of the Ninth Moon IN
honor Of the chrysanthemums. out oi 'ie
e,o GREAT national mcrrymaking days,
only one has proved strong enough ana
nonular enough to survive all the o'eSs-
ines and shocks Of imported CIVILIZATION
New Years. All the rest OF them are
largely embalmed in the museum Oi
charming memories now.
To the little folk Of Japan New Year
Is the haypiest day Of the year-a iest''ai
81 nure and unalloyed bliss; for them
,horo ;e no school, there is no end OF
presents streaming in on them for three
e. 6fteen days. And the whole world oi
crown.ups and a large portion Of the world
Of the gods as we'll are in high eoioreu
oonsniracv 10 turn that country into
voritable paradise Of children. But WIN
tho orown.ups. and more especially WIN
the masters Of families, and still more
especially with those whose worldly weaitn
is not great. il is one perfect financial
drain It's a double cross with them' IN
fact for the following reasons:
First and foremost, in Japan, as IN
most all the Oriental countries custom
DEGREES that all the good men should pay
tbo debts Of the year on December 81.
with the merchants especially to 80 ihto
now year with the milestone Of back
dcbts dangling down from his neck is the
ono black. unforgiyable disgrace. All
through the course Of a year japanese
creditors arc sweet tempered and papeh'
with debtors as a usual thing. On the
last day Of the year not all OF them are
barsh either. But their collectors call on
tbe debtors. They call five times in the
course Of a single morning They can
Ten times between noon and 6 o'clock IN
Tho afternoon-they don't stop with the
DAYTIME. They keep on calling into the
night. Neither do they stop at midnight
;f tho deb, is not paid. Indeed, it is an
old custom with a number Of old-fashioned
houses to keep the lantern out at the gate
LIGHTED until 2 o'clock in the morning OF
New Years Day. On the lantern Is
nainted the name Of the master OF the
house IN fat strokes Of the Japanese writ
ING brush. The lighted lantern says to all
the world passing by that the master OF
the house is within and waiting for all
his creditors 20 come in and get whatever
is coming to them.
On the last day Of the year there IS
about only one effective and comfortable
way 10 dodge ones creditors, and that way
leads TO Suicides grave. And some OF the
Japanese do take the only road every year.
The poorest and humblest Of household
ers 20 through the same mill. Pawnbrok-
ers do n laundering business in the clos
ing days Of the last month Of year.
Anything is better than going into the
New Year with debts. Thirty per cent