Page 4 Advertisements Column 1

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5504, 3 March 1896, Page 4

Where there's a wiU there's a way ! smoke away at Indian Chief Cigarettes. Japan and the Japanese have never so completely monopolised the attention of the world as at the present time. The stories told of them — the people and the country — have hitherto been of the •*' pretty-pretty " type, and they have been indulgently considered as interesting, -though pitiful burlesques of Western •civilisation. But, as the French proverb ■says, "we have changed all that," and "the determined character of the Japanese !has been forcibly illustrated in the course •of the memorable struggle between the great races of the Orient. So near and yet so different, and with all their difference, how absurdly alike. - Japan has been aptly named the "land of opposites" and truly, if we except the " mimicry of the Occident," one could hardly have gone astray (a few years back) in reversing in Japan the best established codes of etiquette of England and France. Pierre Loti, the French novelist, has given in his little book, "Madame Crysantherae," an insight into Japanese customs. This story of life ashore during the visit of the French fleet is instructive as weE as interesting, especially in the light of later events, the Japanese war not being thought of at the time even of publication. Unfortunately the "opium habit "has to a certain extent established itself in this beautiful country, , It is not so prevalent as in China, and it is more than likely that jt will give place to a much more healthful and enjoyable pastime. Vanity Fair Cigarettes are establishing themselves--firmly here, as indeed the world over, and already promise to expel their predecessor. . SPBING BLOSSOM TEA..