The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-02-06

AAS W SWISH you 10 mOQeTn O0CelS
where there are slant-eyed bell-boys
as eager for q tip AZ any Of their
American brethren. :.
= .
Beyond the great cities the scene
changes. Old Japan-the Japan that
Commodore Perry found in 1853-still
lives in the hinterland.
In these quaint villages that cling
to the mountainsides and dot the
fertile valleys, the old order remains.
Men and women In queer parasol-like
bamboo hats toll knee deep in the
waters Of the rice fields; the people
live largely on diet Of rice; they
sleep on thick mattresses on the mat
ting covered floor, notched wooden
headrest serving as . pillow.
The water buffalo pulls the wooden
plow, the handloom comes out after
the days work In the rice field Is
done. little wooded places with sacred
shrines beckon the japanese to the
gods Of his ancestors.
The charm of the ancient seems
to linger. Even q rich Toxic manu-
facturer, after being driven to his
suburban home In his limousine, may
exchange his Americanized attire for
silk kimono and wooden sandals and
squat upon the floor with his family
for cup Of tea.
r. y 4 4
The average japanese Is civil, po-
lite, secretive. intelligent. Lacking q
sense Of humor, he Is as dumb as an
Englishman when 1t comes to under
standing the point Of q Joke. Never
theless, he Is usually Nghthearted and
buoyant.
Centuries Of rigid mental training
have masked his feelings, making him
imperturable In trouble, stoical in
pain or death. He looks upon cow
ardice as the most despicable Of vices,
and loyalty-particularly to his en-
peror and his country-as the SUI
preme virtue. Thus he gets his pride
OF race and his near-fanantical pat
riotisrn.
He is cocky, confident and quite
satisfied with himself He Is usually
truthful except when the truth
hurts.
y 4
When q young couple marry. It Is
all arranged for them by family coun-
ellis. Usually, the girl is Is.
Marriages average about S.3l per
thousand units Of population. Divor-
ces are less than one divorce to every
10 marriages, and occur usually In the
lower classes.
Babies are frequent: every year
there are 100000 more births than
deaths.
Education IS compulsory from six
to 10. After that, the boys who de-
sire to become army officers-they
might as well, for they will be con-
scripted-can enter q middle school
and then pass to q military school.
Higher education is encouraged by
the government, which has several
big universities.
From II to 40 every man Is liable
for military duty.
\ y y
The Jap lives in the most dense
ly populated country on the globe.
but there are great arabic areas
therein open to him II he would go.
However, he doesn't like the cold
climate Of the northern islands, which
corresponds to that Of New England.
He prefers the warmth, the sunshine
and the cherry blossoms Of his GLOW
cry Kingdom" even though that area
is crowded.
: AS an emigrant, the japanese
thrives In countries where the STAN
dard Of living IS higher than his own,
but he doesn't do 50 well where the
standard is lower. He is 4 hard
worker, careful spender.
He has never forgotten the blow
to his pride caused by the exclusion
of his race FROM America. Nor IS It
likely that he ever will.
And that Is food for thought.