The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

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THE BOY TKAVELLEltS.
what more particular about their houses than they used to be ; at any
rate, it is said so by those wlio ought to know. Tlie weather is so warm
in summer that the natives do not need to wear mucli clothing, and I sup-
pose that is the reason why they are so careless about their appearance.
In the last few years the government has become very particular about
having the people properly dressed, and has issued orders compelling
them to put on sufficient clothing to cover them whenever they go out of
doors. They enforce these orders very rigidly in the cities and large
towns ; but in the country the people go around pretty much as they used
to. Of course, you understand I am sjjeaking of the lower classes only,
and not of the aristocracy. The latter are as careful about their garments
as the best people in any other part of the world, and they often spend
hours over their toilets. A Japanese noble gotten up in fine old style is a
sight worth going a long distance to see, and he knows it too. lie has a
lot of stiff silks and heavy i-obes that cost a gi-eat deal of money, and they
must be arranged with the greatest care, as the least displacement is a
serious affair. I haven't seen one of them yet, and Doctor Bronson says
we may not see any during our stay in Japan, as the government has
abolished the old dress, and adopted that of Western Europe. It is too
bad that they have done so, as the Japanese dress is very becoming to the
people—ever so much more so than the new one they have taken. JapaTi
A .JAPANESK AT IMS TOILET FOU A VISIT OF CI-MtEMONY.