Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1886 — Celestial Oddities. [ARTICLE]

Celestial Oddities.

The Chinese wear white during periods of mourning, never black. The old men playfully fly kites, while the boys look on, as in Japan. They whiten their ahees with chalk, instead of blacking them, and mount their horses from the off side. The men in China wear the petticoats, while women invariably wear pantaloons. Men run the dressmaking and millinery stores, and every man carries a fan, either in his hand or tucked in the collar of his dress, behind the neck. Women smoke on all occasions. When a man has _snffered an injury at the hands of another, and desires revenge, instead of killing his offender he kills himself, believing that the man whom he hates will be held accountable for his death, and will be fearfully tormented by demons in this world and in the next. If a Chinaman wishes to especially honor any one, he assigns him to a standing or sitting position on his left hand. Instead of a Japanese woman compressing her feet as her Chinese sister does, she has a custom far more disgusting. They naturally have fine teeth, but when a woman marries she is compelled by custom to dye her teeth black, which process is repeated every few years. The effect is hideous in the extreme. The most important article of a native woman’s dress is the obi, or sash. This is usually of a costly material, and is tied behind in a huge bow with the strict st care. When a Japanese woman becomes a widow asd signifies her determination never to marry again, she ties the obi in front, 't hey seem to smoke all the time. Tlie tiny Japanese pipe contains but two or three whiffs, and as the tobacco is rolled up j tightly in the fingers before it is in- ] serted, the ash when shaken out is a 1 small tire-ball, from which a second pipe is lighted. At a Japanese feast | the same cup is passed from hand to j hand, each person rinsing it in a bowl ! of water after using and before offering it to another. The lowest classes of Japanese are buried in a s uatfcing posi- , tion, in a sort of barrel. It is a mistake , to suppose that the burying of the dead , is universal in Japan. The rich and | noble are buried in square coffins, J the bodies being partially preserved j from decay by filling the nose, ears, | and mouth with vermilion. After death i the person receives a new name. This I name is “Okwuna,” or the accompany- | ing name. It is customary on the occa- ; sionof the first visit to a house to carry i a present to the owner, who gi es j something of equal value on returning i the visit. Cats in Japan are found with stumps where there should be j tails. Sometimes this is the result of art,and sometimes the result of shorten- " ing. All the temples of Japan, as well as of China, ha e guests’ apartments, ] which may be secured for a consideration, either for a short or long period of time. It is wrong to suppose that ; there is any desecration of a,,, sacred i shrine for the purpose of using it as a hostelry; it is the custom of the country. 'lhe practice of suicide by dis- | emboweling js of great antiquity. On entering a Japanese house tlie native removes bis sword, leaving only his dirk. The rooms of the house are divided by paper screens, which form partitions, and they may be made into .) one room at will. —Hong Kong letter. I It Was an Accommodation Train. j It was on a Chicago, Burlington & ' Quincy accommodation train that a passenger got mad at the conductor for i compelling him to pay his fare. "Tlie passenger was trying to ride on the strength of his having held an anuual pass the year before, hut the conductor scouted the idea, and said something about last year’s bird’s nests. As the official was about to leave the car the passenger, in the style of cowardly men when the objects of their wrath are out of hearing, muttered: “If this wasnTon "a Train Tiff lick'that thievish rascal out of boots. ” - —lk—happened in this case that +l«q conductor was not quite out of nearing/ His quick ears overheard the remark, and he turned with a savage: “What’s that?” “I say if we were not on board a train I’d make it hot for you. I’d ask you outside and do you up.” “You would?” “Yes. I would?” “How long would it take you to get ready to do a job like that?” “About a minute.” “Well, then,” replied the conductor, pulling off his coat and giving a vicious yank at the bell-rope, “peel off your duds; there’s a nige bit of prairie along the track, here, and I'll give you all the I satisfaction you want. This is an accommodation train, put on by the company on purpose to suit the convenience of passengers, and orders on the C., B. & Q. are to treat all travelers wi h reBpect and pay attention to all of their wants. Are you ready ?” But the passenger concluded he’d , rather Pave the train hurry on. He was afraid he’d miss his connection. —Chicago Herald.