CHAPTER XXII.

The Japanese at Home

Their Peculiar Expressions and Their Wise Sayings-Mikado's Subjects Are Philosophers-Fond of Argument-They Enjoy the Simple Life-Trees and Flowers-Japanese Picnics.

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AN yori stroko," are three words which were attached to some of the war dispatches received by the Japanese papers. What do they signify? Simply that the dispatch to which they are appended may be depended on as verifiable. "Ran yori stroko" means literally, "Proof beyond dispute." It is a Japanese proverb. The Japanese are a nation of philosophers, and exceedingly fond of argument. This not infrequently becomes exceedingly verbose, and it becomes necessary to subscribe this indorsement. Hence, in sending a telegram, the operator is accustomed to cite his acquaintance with the fact of the contents of the message by adding the three words.

The Japanese are a proverb-loving, communistic people. Their language delights in a multitude of pithy and picturesque expressions, and it is their great pleasure to exchange proverbial philosophy among themselves in their conversation. And a proverb, aptly used, is held to carry emphasis and put an end to all that is controversial.

Some of these proverbs are very original. Thus, they speak of a diligent person, and particularly a diligent soldier, as "one who breaks one's bones." A vain person is "the creature with a high nose." If a soldier has distinguished himself by his bravery-and, for that matter, if such acts

have signalized the exertions of any one--he is said to have "a large spleen," while one who is lacking in courage is described as "a creature with no stomach." After a battle "How did the

the question uppermost in the minds of all is: soldiers carry their stomachs?" If one sets himself up as a critic, and makes a specialty of finding fault with others, he is said to be "one who is looking for the holes." If one undertakes to relate a story-and, just at this time, a war incident-and is slow and crippled of speech, he is said to be "the heavy-mouthed," while, on the other hand, if his auditors are obtuse and tardy of comprehension, they are said to possess "far-away ears.

Although colored by their Oriental imagery, many of their proverbs convey much the same line of thought that is familiar to us. The kernel is the same, but the shell is greatly different. We say, for instance, "Too many cooks spoil the broth." The Japanese are a nation of boatmen, and so they say, "Too many boatmen will run the boat on the mountain." In a country where irrigation is a necessary part of agriculture, "He is trying to draw water to his own rice-field," takes the place of our own familiar "He has an axe to grind," or "He feathers his own nest." If we say, "Like pouring water on a duck's back," the Japanese transform it into "Like an east wind blowing into the ear of a horse," or "Like throwing water into the face of a frog." A similar idea is conveyed in the proverb, "Like spitting into the sky."

How often we seck to comfort ourselves with repeating that "Accidents will happen in the best regulated families." The Japanese is as philosophical and as comforting, and a great deal more expressive, when he says, "Even a monkey will sometimes tumble from a tree." Somewhat akin to our rude "Go the whole hog or nothing," is their saying, "If you eat poison, lick the platter."

A narrow-minded person is spoken of as "The creature who looks at the heavens through a tube." A miser is described as "The man who grasps millet with a wet hand. The "poor relation" is a common visitor in the Land of the Rising Sun, and there is, therefore, a natural origin for the proverb, "Like our visiting friend, who sends us his plate the third time, stealthily." There is an inborn disposition in the mind of the Japanese to poke fun at poor relations and country cousins; but at the same time no one is quicker to recognize merit. And to such recognition it is considered a pleasantry to tie a proverb. Thus, if you were in Tokio at this time and were discussing some army or naval officer of distinction, the height of praise that could be extended to him. would be in saying, "He is one who, if you ask him for a chisel, will bring a mallet also," or "His hammer always has a handle fitted to it.

Perhaps the person under discussion may be young. In such case your Japanese friend will dryly remark, "Even a demon is in his prime at eighteen." Venture to discuss the Russian soldiers, or any other persons to whose welfare the islander is indifferent, and he will say with his expressive "Ha!" "Ha! that is like a fire on the other side of the river." Repeat to him some current St. Petersburg or Peking gossip, and if he does not put any stock in it and is skeptical, he gives tone to his idea of the weakness of human nature by using this familiar proverb: "The decisions of hell are according to a man's money, you know!" It may be that you are seeking information, and make an apology for asking for it. The retort is a sharp reproof that one is slow to forget. "Ha!" is the reply. "You know to ask a question is the shame of a moment, and not to ask is the shame of a whole lifetime." The Jap enjoys answering questions, but he has a habit all his own of remodeling and tampering with his reply, and then of making it proverbial.

For instance, an American once asked a Japanese if a Philadelphia-made locomotive was intended for a certain railroad. He answered by saying that the engine was made in Philadelphia; that it was brought over on such and such a steamer, that its gauge was so many inches, and that the gauge of the road was the same. Then he added: "It will be like a cat locked in a cellar." In fine, all this verbosity signified the affirmative. Instead of saying "Yes," the man delighted in the circumlocution.

As they have modified Buddhism until it stands as an inextricable muddle in consequence of repeated innovations, so they enjoy "making over" the Bible and its doctrines, or Western political ideas and their applications. It is really bewildering as to the number of amendments that the native intellect suggested to our missionaries when they taught the Ten Commandments. The Japanese indorsed the commandments respecting idolatry, profanity, theft, homicide, and filial respect without a question or a quibble. But in regard to the Sabbath, they thought that it ought to be "a jolly good holiday," and insisted that the strictures on carnal pleasures should be "eased up to the circumstances." In regard to speaking the truth, they were happy and free in rendering our proverb that "Truth is a jewel" by "A falsehood is black mud.” But, after that, they modestly intimated that the capacity of "taking in" a man denoted mental acumen of a high order, rather than any evidence of moral degeneration. And when it came to the tenth commandment, all, with one accord, agreed that it must be considered as a moral curiosity, theoretical in the extreme, but altogether too high-flown for human nature. Then, aptly, the listeners quoted the text about "coveting earnestly the best gifts," and naively remarked that they did not care for the wife, servants, or cattle of their neighbors, but thought that port privileges and concessions on the coast were of the character of "the best gifts!"

And yet the people of Japan are the gayest in the world, for all that they ignore completely the greater portion of European amusements and sports. The Buddhist respect for life denies to them the pleasure of hunting. They have no concert saloons. Society life and the little enjoyments that tickle the vanity are utterly unknown to the vast majority of the Japanese.

Their recreations are traditional. By the rich the classic dances of the Geishas are preferred, and by all other classes the national theatre is the favorite, while the circus, where wrestling matches go on, is also largely patronized.

But the Japanese recreation par excellence is walking. To take a walk in the Japanese style is to go ahead and be delighted with the ever-changing scenery, to become attached to creatures and things, to the throngs, to the buildings, to the temples, to the forests, to the animals, to the flowers, the rocks, and the clouds.

The Japanese walk first of all through the streets of their cities, especially Tokio, Nagoya and Kioto. They seem to take extreme pleasure in the spectacles presented before their eyes. The greater portion of them travel with their families. The old people are treated with the greatest consideration. The little children, dressed in bright colors, are carried on the backs of the fathers and mothers. Kurumas (little pushcarts) are steered through the crowds. The Geishas (dancing girls) appear in the gay costumes which indicate their profession. They move along with a joyous air, and everybody admires them. On both sides of the streets there are some great bazaars and many little shops. Their paper lanterns give out a strange light, like that of an impressionist picture. The women examine the stuffs for sale, and bargain just for fun. In the illuminated gardens the visitors take ice-cream made of crushed ice, fine sugar and soda.

But Japanese gayety is especially manifested at popular