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

SKILL OF JAl'ANESE ARTISTS. 1U7
in bronzes, on costly paintings, eni1.)roidered on silk, printed on fans, and
on nearly every article of household nse. He has a sacred charactei-, and
it would not be easy to tind a Japanese who wonld willingly inflict an
injurj' upon one of these birds."
There are probably no other artists in the world who can equal the
Japanese in drawing the stork in all the ways and attitudes he assumes.
These are almost countless ; but, not satisfied with this, there are some of
the native artists who are accused of representing him in attitudes he was
never known to take. Admitting this to be the case, it cannot be disputed
that the Japanese are masters of their profession in delineating this bird,
and that one is never weary of looking at his portrait as they draw it.
They have nearly ecpial skill in drawing other birds, and a few strokes
of the brush or pencil will accomplish marvels in the way of pictorial
representation. A flock of geese, some on the ground and others in
flight, can be drawn in a few moments by a native designer, and the
most exacting critic will not find anything wanting.
FLOCK or GEESE.
The train sped onward, and in an hour from the time of leaving the
station at Yokohama it was nearing Tokio. It passed in full view of the
forts of Shinagawa, which were made memorable during the days of Perry
and Lord Elgin, as the foreign ships were not allowed to pass them, and