8 



HOME AND FLOWERS 



"GOOD MORNING, NOSHI SAN!' 

 From a Japanese engraving. 



put awa}^ when the room Is vacated. Small 

 tables, andirons, tobacco boxes, writing 

 desks, and all snch furniture are laid out of 

 sight except when in use. In fact, a Japanese 

 room is almost entirely empty. Neverthe- 

 less, the delicate lattice and paper screens 

 which serve as walls, the beam-work with 

 its paneled spaces, the unbroken floor ex- 

 panse with the soft, closely fitting mats 

 which serve as the flooring and fill every 

 inch of the floor — these make up an abode 

 in which there is no necessity for decora- 

 tion. 



In one room, however, the Japanese 

 "Okusama" reserves one place for decora- 

 tion in her house. This is in the zashiki 

 (parlor or guest room), and it is called 

 the Tokonona or place or honor. This 

 spot is fashioned of the finest and most 

 precious of woods. In this niche is hung 

 the Kakemona or scroll picture selected 

 for the time being from the storehouse of 

 the family and changed from time to time, 

 so that one might never become weary of 

 the spot. Beneath this blooms the flower 

 of the season, and in this land of flowers 

 there is no season that is barren of beau- 

 tiful flowers. 



It is the pride of the Japanese house- 

 keeper to keep this spot always fresh and 

 sweet. Upon the chance call of a visitor 

 it serves as a pleasant topic of conversa- 

 tion, taking the place of the weather so 

 repeatedly discussed by the western hostess 

 and her caller. Often the stone or partic- 

 ular curio in the Tokonona is of priceless 

 value and bears an interesting history. 

 The hostess is always flattered when asked 

 to speak of her Tokonona decoration, and 

 her visitor seldom sees the same one on 

 the occasion of other visits. 



Most of the Japanese families arise 

 with the sun, the birds and the flowers. 

 While the servant is preparing the break- 

 fast meal the Japanese mother and father 

 have taken their little brood either for a 

 short brisk walk or have given them the fresh 

 morning air in their little garden at the 

 back of the house. After breakfast there is 

 a short rest and then the family indulges in 

 a general bath. Often the whole family 

 bathe in the pond in the garden. After 

 the bath the father departs for his work, 

 the older children to school, while the 

 younger ones undergo their first schooling 

 at the hands of their mother. Even while 



