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AROUND THE WORllD.
Interesting Description
Ceremonies and
JAPAN'S THOUGHT AND
These Changes Evinced In
Directly Traceable to
Contact With
Customs and Ceremonies
Nagasaki, Jaiwn, December i, 1902.
Statisticians follow people from the
cradle to the grave. Figures arc ory
rccoi'3. showing that a Japanese pJfn
'frw does liv'if'oir'ui outlay of ,tyd'nnd
one-half cents per "Ijiy. While living
is cheap it is also inexpensive to die.
Here are the figures showing the ex
pense of one funeral:
Son l. S. Money
t'0-.tof wnin ' Jo 11 .vo
Cost of orunmticm 76 0
FIowoi-, 6
Phy-iiolans curtlBcHte... 10.0
Kue lo Hmhlllost I'rlimt, fl.O
iYi'tucnffiiii tiettrcrs.,.. 14.0
.37ft
.ooft
,06
.uir.
.OT
Total, H2 t .7125
A first-class funeral for less than
seventy-five cents Becms preposterous,
but hero the most unexpected is always
in evidence.
When piesentiiiR a friend with a
present whether cheai or very ex
pensive, the donor must apologize by
saying: "It is so cheap and insignifi
cant that I am ashamed to lift it before
vour honorable vision but if you will
condescend lo accept it, it will make
mc very happy." He (or she) lifts it
up saying: "It is the most beautiful
present on caith." The other day a
lady presented a neighbor with some
eggs and said: "I assure you that these
eggs are had, o,uith had, but I hope
1hey will be of service to you." A stu
dent at Tokyo was requested' to pre
pare an essay on
the subject, The
copy two sentences
Englishman." I
as they appeared,. "Ho are not allowed
it to escape if he did siezed something.
Being spread, his dominion is dread
fully extensive so that his countryman
boastally say, 'the sun are never sets
on our dominions.' "
The English language is almost in
variably butchered when used by the
Japanese. Many signs are written in
both English and Japanese. The repre
sentative of the New York Life Insur
ance Co. assured me that there was not
a single sign in Tokyo correctly- writ
ten. After spending five days in Tokyo
I am ready to give several signs a pass
ing grade, but am also ready to register
my conviction that more ludicrous
specimens have not come to my notice.
Among those that may. be printed
without violating rules of propriety are
the following:
"MoDIFIUD.MILK for tllC SCIENTIFIC
FECDISC Of INFANTS." "FrUSII MILK
EXTRACTED IIBRE DAILY."
Among the many sights novel, quaint
and interesting, none were so fraught
with meaning to me as the spectacle
presented at each visit to the Buddhist
temple in Asakusa park. This park isl
situated near the center of Tokyo, the
largest city of the empire. The.tem
pie is' about 100 feet square and ap
proached on the three open sides by a
dozen steps running the entire length
and breadth of the temple, the nave
being supported by pilasters. I
changed my position as the interest
shifted from one side to the other so
that nothing might escape my notice.
The position most sought by the surg
ing crowds was immediately in front of
the altar, in front of which was the
large hopper, 10x12 feet and 3 feet
deep into which the worshipers threw
their cash. In front of the hopper is a
telegraph pole upon which some of the
most devout knelt as they prayed to
Buddha. This pole was worn as
smooth as finished mahogany by the
thousands who had touched it with
their knees. Not all could kneel, mak
ing it necessary for hundreds to stand.
I can still see that motley crowd as it
pushed into the temple. I look out and
see the people approaching in three di
rections. The sides of the temple are
all open to permit ingress. They ap
proach as near the altar as they can.
Every man, woman and child in the
rear then hurls coins over the heads of
those in front. I see many glistening
coins in the air at the same moment,
flying towards the hopper. They pro
duce a din as they fall upon the metal
lic lining much worn by many a show
er. The gift made, each person doffs
the hat if one is worn, the hands are
clapped to call the attention of Buddha,
the head is bowed with great polite
ness, the prayer is ofiered either in si
lence or audibly, a bow is made and
away goes the worshiper to his home
or business, having consumed scarcely
two minutes within the temple. In
this wav the temple is able to accom
modate tens of thousands daily. Oc
casionally the Buddhist priest opons
the lower part of the hopper and what
rattles like a bushel of money rolls
down before this Buddhist master of
of Buddhist
TcmplQ,
Worshipers.
CUSTtOn CHANGING.
77er Manner of Llilna, Literature, Etc.,
Are
Christian Nations Marriage
Ccllbafy Not Permitted.
cercD'ionies. Many votaries of this
heu'then worship, who do not know
nill itivt t-nfi tinutnit 4 1 tendril 11 til
priest who sits at the side of the altar.
They pay him a fow cunts to purchase
prayers written apparently by the
priest upon a mimeograph. A thou
sand arc printed from one copy and are
sold for cash to his miserable followers
who yearn knowledge of the true God,
but are fed with error instead of truth.
The chief aim of the Buddhists appears
to bo to destroy Christianity, for Chris
tianity destroys Heathenism in every
fair contest. Many who buy the
prayers and are unable to read them,
chew the paper to pulp and throw them
at the image, hoping that the prayers
will, in this way, reach their destina
tion. Others who are afflicted with
some disease not only go through the
performances just described but they
also go to the "God of Health" made
of stone, which stands on a pedestal on
the right of the altar, They rub thoir
hands over the part of the god corres
ponding with the part afflicted, then
quickly rub the parts of their bodies
diseased, expecting thereby to be cured
of their infirmities. A woman with a
raving toothache approaches for re
lief. She rubs the jaw of the image
with her right hand, then rubs her face
and chin with great exertion. Another
woman hastens to the image. She de
sires to nourish her child, and rubs the
urcast ot tlie gou, men runs Her own
breast till tired. She steps away and
my jinrickisha man, desiring toslength
en his limbs for fast running, rubs the
limbs of the god, then rubs his own
ankles aud limbs. And the procession
is endless during the day and dies out
only when night approaches.
Men and women of America, what
think you of heathen darkness?
I am of the opinion that no fair
minded man or wonftm can look upon
these scenes without saying, "God
helping me, I'll be a christian How and
forever."
Notwithstanding the many discour
agements besetting the reformer in
Japan, there are evidences of a great
awakening. A new Japan is develop
ing, and one enthusiast has said he
would not be surprised to hear of Japan
proclaiming herself christian in a day.
Such a sudden transformation would
not be best. Reformations require
time. New Japan will some day devel
op a Lincoln who win strike tnc suae-
kles from 500,000 female slaves now
under contract sale signed by them
selves and their parents. Every phase
of life is in slow transition. The gov
ernment is sending hundreds of her
best students to America and Europe
to stud' science, art, philosophy and
civil-government. Their return is ac
companied with the introduction of
western ideas, customs and manners.
Already some of them have really be
gun to love the coy butterflies former
ly regarded as soulless. Old Japan
looks upon this recognition of woman
as the forerunner of the direst calam
ity. All, except the few who have been
influenced by western ideas, believe
that woman has no soul and is not wor
thy the love of man. A Japanese poet
of the new school, has penned a little
jingle, presenting a story of two lovers
who, under the new influence, had
abandoned the old tandem form of
promenade and were actually strolling
hand in hand. It is valuable in that
it signals the dawn of a new era. I
present it in full:
l
Over tho witter the rising moon
Floated hor K"lli'ii liitlr.
That riinpli'd und curled in the luw-lilown
wind,
From tlie quays to her forehead fair.
II
And round each notch of tho leaden Miore,
Where the hlltu creeks softly bled
Their lives away In a strange wild sea,
8ho broldored u golden thread .
Ill
While down where tho lmiif white-lingered
pier
The waves with cool toiiKUiM lap,
Two lovern werestrayluKwhoi:rossed the Holds
Of the moon's roiu.d noUlon map.
IV
And midway tho Lunar-meadow's length
Their Inky shadows kissed,
Then passed like midguts, hand In hand,
Out in tho shade nud inKt.
V
Ah, If lover don't wuntthelrtrystluRS known,
Nor their Klssos to Bi"slp strown,
Tlioy mnst do their strolling In shady sx)ts,
And their Musing lcliliul tho moon !
The first four stanzas contain flash
es that would have added to the pages
of Tennyson while the fifth stanza is
loss open to criticism than many from
the pon of the laureate.
In my Tokyo article I referred to the
marriage customs of Japan, but further
contact with the Japanese leads me to
mako additional allusion to tho ftli-im-porlHut
topic of marriage.
Tho parents, if they have been unsuc
cessful in loading their children into
matrimony, secure the sorvicra of pro
fessionals called go-betweens or match
makers. An alliance is soon made and
tho ceremony follows, although in tho
province of Shima, it is customary for
the groom to take the bride on trial.
If she suits him she remains, otherwise
she returns to her own home to be sent
out on trial with the first applicant.
Those probationary periods seldom ex
tend over a greater period than three
years as every young Jnp is supposed
to know within three years whether his
wife is the girl for him. The people
of this province permit this custom on
the ground that it prevents divorce.
The principal part of tho marringe cer
emony called sansan-ki'Do, consists ol
the drinking of saku by bath parties.
Just nine times each person must drink
from the same cup alternately, followed
rV
tyM
bv a wedding repast accompsnied
by singing. The most iinpoitanl dish
served at tho wedding repast is clam
broth, the cnm being a true symbol of
married life because the linings of each
pair of sheMs ate so arranged that they
never fit any separate shell.
There ate as many customs as there
are provinces in Japan. In Awn pro
vince, if a young man, by Ihb own
oversight or that of his parents, allows
himself to become a bachelor and is
able to support a wife, his friends hold
a conference or primary regarding the
case. This conference docides that
the man in question must get married
and actually selects without his con
sent the lady who must become his
wife. Of course she is not consulted
for in heathen lands woman is not to
be considered. The young man and
lady arc both notified of the decision of
the conference and are requested to get
married at once. If the request is not
complied with, they proceed to carrj
the girl to the house of the man by
force. She is there asked to blacken
her teeth. If she refuses someone
holds her while another blows some
thing black like unto soot into her
mouth from his own mouth. This is
regarded as Tin unalterable form of en
gagement and both give up and get
married. A more unique antidote for
bachelordom never came to my notice.
While I sec enough here to call this
empire aland of freaks, the native,
looking to the land beyond the Pacific,
gives America the same appellation be
cause we tolerate old bachelors and"
maids without the semblance of prohi
bition. In Shinano province the program is
slightly different, the shoes of the bride
being thrown upon the roof of the house
and kept there during the ceremony.
In Joshu province, the bride, as she
approaches the door of her intended, is
compelled to leap over a bamboo pole
If it happens to be placed too high for
her athletic leap, she must try again
until success crowns her efforts. Such
a custom introduced in America would
draw people from the adjoining coun
ties as witnesses.
In Hiroshima the bride must send
every at tide of clothing she expects to
wear at tho ceremony to the home of
the groom the day before the wedding.
Here the articles are exhibited and
everyone is supposed to appear, in
spect the garments, and offer congrat
ulations.
In Kita Katsushika the wedding
dinner must consist of four courses of
soup. Between the courses the clothes
must be changed, pure white coming
first, then red, black and the choice of
the wearer last. This can be observed
only among the more wealthy unless
clothes are borrowed for the occasion.
Huds It Very Satisfactory.
Lincoln, Neb., June 21, 1902.
Mr. Landy Clark Agent.
Dear Sir In reply to your inquiry as to
how I regard Sheridan coal, I will say after
having tried it during the past winter in
furnace, kitchen range and in fire place, I
have found it satisfactory in all three.
Being almost smokeless and having the
property of holding fire for a long time in
fact, until every vestige of coal is con
sumed, I have found it very satisfactory
for use in a furnace designed for hard coal.
Its cleanliness together with its pioperty
of holding fire makes it desirable for use
in kitchen range and in grate.
Respectfully,
K. T. Hartley.
Half Hates to Lincoln.
On .January 18 to 34, 11K),., the Bur
lington will sell tickets from any point
in Nebraska to Lincoln and return at
one faro for the round trip. Tickets
tfood returning until February 3. Ask
the Burlington ngont.
FINE BOOTS and SHOES
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Lockwood's Art Display
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I
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nuke of Musical Insttumeuts.
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BUWMU3HSraXKEmBgSMra3aSBIMJg
V. M. ICnioiit, l'rus. C. II. Connbtt,
Alliance national fcjank,
ALLIANCE, NEBRASKA.
In.oorporo.tQcl. Safe. Oon.sor-va.ttv. 22
Capital Paid in $50,000.
.SURPLUS, 85,000.
MKKCTOHS; K. M. KnlKlit, II. l llottli'lmlra, W. H.Corliiu, Tlios. Neck. I'.W. Harris.
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W. A. Hamiton, President.
A. S. Rked, Vice President
'4226
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Capital, $50,000.
Directors: V. A. Hampton. A. S. Reed
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$
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SHIPPED OVER
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Who came here to
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)rmrm,-m;& s
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It. M. Hampton, Cashier
G. Hampton, Ass't Cashier,
NEBRASKA.
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Surplus and Profits, $20,000"
E. C. Hampton. K. M Hampton.
. bxW
THE BUR-
stay,
driven away,
His Customers
Up
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