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"The Mikado's Empire." Jarvis has published quite a 

 work, taking as his basis the Hoku-sai illustrated art 

 works. These works give some idea of the depth of 

 feeling of the artist. All these curious sketches and il- 

 lustrations have a meaning, though not apparent to us. 



The Japanese have learned to copy our way of making 

 cheap ware with peculiar legendary ornamentation. Old 

 lacquer objects are the bridal outfits of the daughters of 

 the nobles of Japan. 



Previous to 2300 years ago the Japanese writers treated 

 of mythological subjects, personification, etc., and several 

 specimens of these curious old legends were translated by 

 the lecturer and rehearsed to the audience. The lecturer 

 then gave the meaning of some of the old legends, as 

 about the sun goddess being on one occasion angry with 

 the gods. She hid herself in a cavern, and the gods sent 

 for dancers, etc. Female curiosity tempted her to peep 

 in through the chinks and she was caught and drawn forth 

 by the strong armed god. Of such incidents are these 

 legends made up. 



The next relates how the wicked step-brother was com- 

 pelled to slay the monsters. He heard weeping and 

 found a very ancient man and woman in distress because 

 their only grandchild was to be sacrificed. Proposing to 

 rescue her from the monster he procures some saki, and 

 places it in a tub. The monster, dipping each of his 

 heads into the tub, becomes tipsy. He then cuts the 

 monster to pieces all but the tail, which he preserves and 

 finds to be a wonderful charmed weapon. He takes the 

 maiden away and builds her a hut, etc., etc. Afterwards 

 he composes the poem which is the oldest Japanese poem. 

 It is in thirty-one syllables, a line of five, one of seven, 

 one of. five and two of seven. 



The son of one of the Emperors was sent to subdue 



