JAPANESE CHILDHOOD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 2, 27 December 1912, Page 6

JAPANESE CHILDHOOD.

1 In ins recently published book, ■ “When 1 Was a Child,” Mr \osliio Mavkino, the well-known Japanese artist, gives an entertaining picture of child life in the Land of tae Cherry Blossom. He is a Samurai, and though his father was poor, lie was imbued with all the fine traditions of his class, and the little Yoshio was brought up in a dainty atmosphere of courtesy and consideration. When 'he was naughty, he was not smacked. Instead, his parents produced a look-ing-glass, ana bade nim look at trie reflection of bis oWn face, “so ugly with tear marks,” with the result that he immediately began to laugh. Very often, when ne desired to cry a little longer, lie used to scream, “Oh, don’t show me the glass for a few moments!” He was never scolded severely. His parents, when he tried their patience by 'naughtiness, would say, “You are a very nice hoy, but just at this moment some evil is trying to dwell in yon. What a pity the evil is making you a bad boy and giving trouble to your poor parents!” Yoshio was early taught that a Samurai should never complain, no matter how much he suffered. His first day at school was a very unpleasant experience, but when Ins family and the neighbours asked him if he liked school ho concealed his tears and said he did. He was never spanked. His father and mother believed the saying of Confucious: “You can teach and load any human being who has a sold. Only the wild beasts may you beat.” His father though a Samurai, was a thorough democrat. “I think,” says Mr Markino, “that this idea was not to make all Samurais into labourers, but certainly he wished all labourers to become Samurais.” He learned English at a mission school, and was half converted tr, Christianity. His comments on the Bible were interesting. “I liked the Book of Job immensely,” he says, “but we Japanese boys enjoyed Ecclesiastes most, because it is very like our philosophy, and from a literary point of view nearest to our own style.” Mr Markino cannot understand Western peoples criticising their rulers. No one, he says, would dare to criticise the Mikado in Japan.