the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第21节
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succeeds half in duping himself； half in deceiving other people。 But with
Far Orientals the case is different。 Their love has all the unostentatious
assurance of what has received the sanction of public opinion。 Nor is it
still at that doubtful； hesitating stage when； by the instrumentality of a
third； its soul…harmony can suddenly be changed from the jubilant major
key into the despairing minor。 No trace of sadness tinges his delight。 He
has long since passed this melancholy phase of erotic misery； if so be that
the course of his true love did not always run smooth； and is now well on
in matrimonial bliss。 The very look of the land is enough to betray the
fact。 In Japan the landscape has an air of domesticity about it； patent
even to the most casual observer。 Wherever the Japanese has come in
contact with the country he has made her unmistakably his own。 He has
touched her to caress； not injure； and it seems as if Nature accepted his
fondness as a matter of course； and yielded him a wifely submission in
return。 His garden is more human； even； than his house。 Not only is
everything exquisitely in keeping with man； but natural features are
actually changed； plastic to the imprint of their lord and master's mind。
Bushes； shrubs； trees； forget to follow their original intent； and grow as he
wills them to； now expanding in wanton luxuriance； now contracting into
dwarf designs of their former selves； all to obey his caprice and please his
eye。 Even stubborn rocks lose their wildness； and come to seem a part of
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the almost sentient life around them。 If the description of such
dutifulness seems fanciful； the thing itself surpasses all supposition。
Hedges and shrubbery； clipped into the most fantastic shapes； accept the
suggestion of the pruning…knife as if man's wishes were their own whims。
Manikin maples； Tom Thumb trees； a foot high and thirty years old； with
all the gnarls and knots and knuckles of their fellows of the forest； grow in
his parterres； their native vitality not a whit diminished。 And they are not
regarded as monstrosities but only as the most natural of artificialities； for
they are a part of a horticultural whole。 To walk into a Japanese garden
is like wandering of a sudden into one of those strange worlds we see
reflected in the polished surface of a concave mirror； where all but the
observer himself is transformed into a fantastic miniature of the reality。
In that quaint fairyland diminutive rivers flow gracefully under tiny trees；
past mole…hill mountains； till they fall at last into lilliputian lakes； almost
smothered for the flowers that grow upon their banks； while in the extreme
distance of a couple of rods the cone of a Fuji ten feet high looks
approvingly down upon a scene which would be nationally incomplete
without it。
But besides the delights of domesticity which the Japanese enjoys
daily in Nature's company； he has his acces de tendresse； too。 When he
feels thus specially stirred； he invites a chosen few of his friends； equally
infatuated； and together they repair to some spot noted for its scenery。 It
may be a waterfall； or some dreamy pond overhung by trees； or the distant
glimpse of a mountain peak framed in picture…wise between the nearer
hills； or； at their appropriate seasons； the blossoming of the many tree
flowers； which in eastern Asia are beautiful beyond description。 For he
appreciates not only places； but times。 One spot is to be seen at sunrise；
another by moonlight； one to be visited in the spring…time； another in the
fall。 But wherever or whenever it be； a tea…house； placed to command the
best view of the sight； stands ready to receive him。 For nature's beauties
are too well recognized to remain the exclusive property of the first chance
lover。 People flock to view nature as we do to see a play； and privacy is
as impossible as it is unsought。 Indeed； the aversion to publicity is
simply a result of the sense of self； and therefore necessarily not a feature
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of so impersonal a civilization。 Aesthetic guidebooks are written for the
nature…enamoured； descriptive of these views which the Japanese
translator quaintly calls 〃Sceneries；〃 and which visitors come not only
from near but from far to gaze upon。 In front of the tea…house proper are
rows of summer pavilions； in one of which the party make themselves at
home； while gentle little tea…house girls toddle forth to serve them the
invariable preliminary tea and confections。 Each man then produces
from up his sleeve； or from out his girdle； paper； ink； and brush； and
proceeds to compose a poem on the beauty of the spot and the feelings it
calls up； which he subsequently reads to his admiring companions。 Hot
sake is next served； which is to them what beer is to a German or absinthe
to a blouse； and there they sit； sip； and poetize； passing their couplets； as
they do their cups； in honor to one another。 At last； after drinking in an
hour or two of scenery and sake combined； the symposium of poets breaks
up。
Sometimes； instead of a company of friends； a man will take his
family； wife； babies； and all； on such an outing； but the details of his
holiday are much the same as before。 For the scenery is still the centre of
attraction； and in the attendant creature comforts Far Eastern etiquette
permits an equal enjoyment to man； woman； and child。
This love of nature is quite irrespective of social condition。 All classes
feel its force； and freely indulge the feeling。 Poor as well as rich； low as
well as high； contrive to gratify their poetic instincts for natural scenery。
As for flowers； especially tree flowers； or those of the larger plants； like
the lotus or the iris； the Japanese appreciation of their beauty is as
phenomenal as is that beauty itself。 Those who can afford the luxury
possess the shrubs in private； those who cannot； feast their eyes on the
public specimens。 From a sprig in a vase to a park planted on purpose；
there is no part of them too small or too great to be excluded from Far
Oriental affection。 And of the two 〃drawing…rooms〃 of the Mikado held
every year； in April and November； both are garden…parties： the one given
at the time and with the title of 〃the cherry blossoms；〃 and the other of
〃the chrysanthemum。〃
These same tree flowers deserve more than a passing notice； not
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simply because of their amazing beauty； which would arrest attention
anywhere； but for the national attitude toward them。 For no better
example of the Japanese passion for nature could well be cited。 If the
anniversaries of people are slightingly treated in the land of the sunrise；
the same cannot be said of plants。 The yearly birthdays of the vegetable
world are observed with more than botanic enthusiasm。 The regard in
which they are held is truly emotional； and it not actually individual in its
object； at least personal to the species。 Each kind of tree as its season
brings it into flower is made the occasion of a festival。 For the beauty of
the blossoming receives the tribute of a national admiration。 From peers to
populace mankind turns out to witness it。 Nor are these occasions few。
Spring in the Far East
