The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-10-29
JAPAN's DOLL FESTIVAL
From Friends Peace Committee.

To little girls in Japan, the
Festival of Dolls is the most i'm
portant holiday of the year. 1t
comes on the third day of the third
month (March) and lasts for three
days. This is the time of cherry
blossoms, and every home is dec
GRATED with them.
Almost every family in Japan, no
matter how poor, has set of
Ancestral Dolls" and shares in the
Festival of Dolls. For these festi-
val days bring some happy sugges-
ton to the girls of Japan, the most
important being that they grow into
ideal housekeepers and homemakers
Every little girl must be the
hostess of her doll family on this
annual visit. She entertains them
during the three days with the
respect due the most honored guests;
ind in their presence she receives,
with great courtesy and dignity, her
father and mother, her brothers, and
aer relatives. She also exchanges
visits and presents with her friends.
Some times a new doll is added to-
the family.
On one side of the principal
Dom in the house is arranged a set ,
of five steps, covered with red cloth.
IN the highest step are two elab-
orately dressed dolls, the master
and the mistress in ancient Imperial
nctI
IN miniature, every important detail
faithfully copied.
On the second step, on either side
Of ladder-like stairway, stands a
square flower pot of implanted white
wood. These hold artificial trees. a
cherry on the right, an orange on
he left. These tiny trees are in
poetic imitation of the two historic
-rees on either side of the garden
teps of the palace at Kyoto.
On the third step are three
adies-in-waiting. They are dressed
n red and white trailing costumes.
md are very busy serving their
honored lord and mistress ON the
step above.
On fourth step are a group of five
musicians seated before their in
5truments and quite ready to enter
cain with their music
The remaining step holds the
different house hold articles; beauti-
full floor lanterns of gold lacquer and
rice paper, small cabinets and chests,
mirrow stands, screens, slender racks
Tor hanging clothing, vaces, writing
desks, all the things needed for the
tea-ceremony and fower-arranging,
oW eating tables with every dish in
place, kitchen utensils and every
article OF. well ordered home.
These things are always cleaned
and cared for by the little mistress
herself, and she learns how to handle (
she most delicate china, how toh
polish lacquer, how properly to was
rice kettle and how to care fol-
every household utensil.
During this season every fish
market is stocked with tiny fish;
every bake shop has a wonderful
display of wee cakes of every kind;
vegetable sellers bring, with their
Usual stock; the smallest vegetables
that can be grown by gardeners who
are specialists in this line. Through
out these early March days, all the
shops display their smallest articles,
and the streets look as if waiting for
race of fairies to come and begin
their buying.
Many American girls are planning
to share this year in the Festival
Of Dolls. Sunday school classes. and
girls clubs are dressing dolls to send
to little girls in Japan. So many
of these doll messengers OF friend
ship are expecting to go to Japan
that the Federal Council of Churches
has arranged for them to go to-
gether, sailing soon after December
goth. The Japanese Government is
cooperating by admitting the dolls to
Japan free of duty. There they will
join the carefully treasured families
of dolls, to remind the children OF
Japan that the children of Japan
Japan that the children of America
want to be friends.