AS SEEN THROUGH WOMAN’S EYES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XVII, 23 April 1904, Page 62

AS SEEN THROUGH WOMAN’S EYES.

Little Known Things About Japan.

Viewed from tin* standpoint of Western civilisation. Japan is even more remarkable for what she is not than for what she is. In every respect she is the land of topsy-turveydom, and the traveller is quite as impressed by the multitude of familiar things he misses as by the equally numerous strange things he finds. Imagine a land where, to quote Mr. Douglas Sladen, they have “no bread, no beds, no tires, no boots and shoes no windows, no doors, no walls, no ceilings ... in the kitchen no range, no pots, no pans, no flour bins, to kitchen table*, and even in the draw-ing-room no tables or chairs.”

Neither have they—the Japanese—any forks or spoons, or tablecloths, sheets, wine-glasses, or even tumblers. A Japanese house, in fact, consists of four posts and a roof, the various rooms being formed by letting down paper walls, which divide the dwelling into as many rooms as may be necesStrict simplicity is the keynote of Japanese life, and except that his home is a little more gorgeously decorated, the rich Jap lives very much the same life as his poor compatriot. To us it may seem that life in Japan must be comfortless in the extreme; but this is far from being the ease. The little man’s wants are few, and his industry is great. Rice and eggs are the staple articles of diet, and on this scanty- fare he manages to preserve the sunniest

of natures, and to maintain a courtesy which makes even the most polite of Frenchmen seem a boor by comparison. Considering that Japan cannot by any means be called a flourishing nation, and is admittedly vastly over-po-pulated, it is an astonishing fact that there are no beggars or loafers to be

found in the entire kingdom. Weary M illie and his brilliant companion Tired Tim would find there an entirely- unexplored field for enterprise; but it is doubtful whether they would be encouraged. Down to the poorest of the poor everyone seems to have his other own affairs to attend to. and, in spite of their almost servile |*oliteness,

the Japanese are the most independent nation on the face of the globe. There are no more affectionate parents to be found anywhere. Jap fathers, as well as mothers, take the keenest interest and delight in the welfare of their children, and it is no uncommon sight to see a dozen men sitting in a row. each fondling a tiny replica of himself, and pointing out to his companions the various perfections of his own infant. But this, perhaps, may arise from I lie fuel that Japanese babies never cry, nor, when they get older, are they ever disobedient. ' Veneration for parentis carried to an extreme there: for. should either or both of them die, il.e children must go into deep mourning tor a year, or undergo the discomforts of twelve months’ penal servitude. Japanese soldiers and sailors have proved in the past, and are proving now, that, at any rate, they are not deficient in courage; but their spirits are not kept up by any artificial means, as is the case in Europe. They never have the advantage of music to cheer them on, for there are no military bands in the land of the chrysanthemum; ami whether victorious or otherwise, Japanese warriors never cheer. At the same time, they are doughty iud.ters, ami they can live in what they consider luxury on fare upon which the tlghtiug men of almost any other nation would°starve, is one of the factors which go a long way to explain then success. There are half a million less women in Japan than men; but, in spite of their comparative scarcity, they occupy a verv inferior position to their lords. When" she is married—an event which generally takes place when she is 16— a girl has to blacken her teeth and shave oil" her eyebrows. And when the short bonevmoon is over, to all intents and purposes she becomes little better than a servant in her husband's house. She must brush and mend his clothes, however rich he may be, wait on him, cook his food, and speak only when she is spoken to. When out with her husband she must walk a few paces behind him, and she must wait until her children are grown up before her patient care of I hem is rewarded. Thev have their curious customs, though, these gentle dames. It is considered aristocratic by them to hobble along with their toes turned in, and the more pigeon-toed they can become the better they’ are respected. The sleeve of a Japanese woman's kimono, or dress, is

a formidable affair. Very often it reaches the ground, and it is used for storing away everything in the shape of food, pocket-handkerchiefs, mirrors, and other aids to the toilet —everything, in fact, that she may be likely to need while away from home. The sleeve, too, is always used to wipe away tears; and the fact that it is of such large dimensions would seem to argue that even in sunny Japan women have their share of trouble. A visit to a theatre is no light matter in the Mikado’s empire. People who patronise the drama must go prepared to make a day of it, for plays there start at six o’clock in the morning, and continue for two or three days. The acting, too. is something to marvel at, for the Jap actor relies on his power of rolling his eyes in a most alarming fashion to get his effects. Should he represent a personage of more than ordinary importance—say, for instance, a Chinese Emperor—his entrance, however imposing it may appear to a native, is more ridiculous than anything else to a foreigner, for with every step he must raise his foot to a level with his chin, while his eyes roll in such a way that they seem as large as our five-shilling pieces. Smoking is allowed in all theatres; but this is not to be wondered at. con sidering that they allow it in their churches as well- Ami yet. although almost every Jap is a slave to tobacco, their pipes are only large enough to allow of two or three whiffs being taken. It may be said, without exaggeration, that Japs are the most wonderful gardeners in the world. To show the exact ness with which they cultivate the soil, one instance may be mentioned. One of the most valuable of these crops is ginseng, n plant which is used for purposes similar to those for which we utilist quinine. It is. grown in beds which each measure exactly 27ft long, by 2Jft broad, and Ift in height. In each bed there are always 438 holes, and in •meh hole three seeds—neither more nor less. The agriculturist is always at work; his week knows no Sunday’s rest: it is work. work, work with him. from seed time to harvest, and yet he is always cheerful. As a grower of flowers, of course, the Japanese hortieulturist is without a rival. Nevertheless, in spite of his many good points, the Jap has some bad habits. One of these is that he cannot by any means be described as cleanly -at least, in the lower classes. Hut. taken all in all. the Jap’s virtues far outnumber his vices; and the plucky little nation is well worthy of British sympathies in the present crisis, wherein he is striking a blow for freedom and independence—nav. for his verv national existence.

New Ideas for a Party.

**\\ hat new idea have you to suggest for entertaining thirty young people/'* asks a correspondent. Have a Sama* gtindi party. (Jive each guest a picture of some Mother (loose character; cut from a child's Mother Goose book and mounted on a card, which may be tied with a harmonizing colour of ribbon. After a time allowance of ten minutes everyone must rise and repeat the rhyme relating to his character or pay a forfeit. After this whisper into each person's ear the name Solomon Grundy and tell him to rise and repeat the rhyme when you shake your forelingei. but not before —implying that the others have different directions. Gr. the rout rary when you 4hake your forefinger the entire* company will rise tc jep<at ensemble as best it may: •Solomon Grundy, born on Monday: 2. at school on Tuesday; 3, in love on Wednesday: 4. married on Thursday; 5. a father on Friday: (i. sick on Saturday: 7. died on Sunday; and thus ends the life of Solo mon Grundy.” This serves to introduce the amusement proper of th.* even ing. Have arranged seven small tables as for progressive euchre, with four seats at each table, a table to each day of the week. The two Monday couples arc given cards decorated with baby heads or something pertaining to baby hood, ami then play jack -traws. Tr.es

day* four have cards decorated with sc mething suggestive of schooldays and play fish pond; Wednesday's earns are decorated with Cupids and other love tokens, and play “hearts,” or checkers. Thursday'- cards have marriage kadis, aim t iddledewinks art* played. Friday's cards have* pictures of children and old maid may be played. Satur day’:, cards are ornamented with medicine bottle's and the game of authors is played. Sunday’s cards arc* decora.rd with (lowers and parchesi is played. At tin- end of every fifteen minutes the* order changes, as in progressive eucJ’re. and prizes are given in the usual way. Foi refreshments serve* cold tongue and celery dressed with mayonnaise*, sand wiches. orange* jelly in orange* .skins served with whipped cream. cake*, sweets, and cot Tee. For the* orange jelly remove* the* pulp from a> many oranges as there will be* guests. rare fully scooping it. out from a hole ni.iu.* in the* top,so that the* skin* are* not bre*ken. The pulp is strained and add rd to the* melted gelatine, some -ugar and lemon juice* added, and the whole* prepared as for ordinary je*ll\. the liepiid being pound into the ski;;- be fon it hardens. Put a tea-poon of ci cam on top of each orange*. e’larke’s \Ve»rld>Fa meel Blooel Mixture. ■‘'l’lie- most sc*arching Itlooel <'le*anse*r that science and inealicai skill have* brought to light.” SutYerers from Scrofula, Seurvej. Ih-zrina. Rael Legs. Skin ami Blood l>iscasvs. l’iniph*s ami Sorc*s of any kind are solicitee! to give it a trial to te*st its value. Thousands of w'onderful cures have been • tTecled by it. Sold every where*. Beware of worthless imitations and subst it ut «*s.