Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 6.djvu/59

 central point of the rope a lobster, some fern fronds, and some yuzuriha leaves are usually tied, the fronds and leaves serving, in this instance, to suggest hardy verdure. A piece of charcoal is added to the assembly, tradition assigning to it the power of warding off evil influences. Theoretically no work of any kind should be done on New Year's day. Even the usual business of sweeping the house is forbidden, lest some element of the "male principle" should be inadvertently removed with the rubbish. But this idleness is merely nominal, for there devolves upon every one the inevitable duty of paying congratulatory visits to friends and relatives,—a duty which is gradually losing many of its old-time graces and assuming the character of a corvée. From the tiniest child to the most ancient grand-father, each dons the best and newest garments that the family wardrobe can furnish, and while the grown-up folk make their round of calls, lads, lassies, and children devote themselves to appropriate pastimes. The visits paid by the small fry of society to the great fish involve nothing more than inscription of one's name in a book or the deposit of one's card in a basket. It is impossible to conceive anything colder and more conventional. Often even the formality of a servant to receive the names of the callers is dispensed with: the visitor finds an untenanted vestibule, a receptacle for cards, and a name-book. But where friendship is concerned, and