To look down upon one from a superior elevation is considered very impolite. Thus if the emperor or any one of especial distinction passes through a city, all the upper stories of the houses must be vacated. Under no circumstances are any permitted to observe the procession from an upper window. I was out walking one day in our good city of Saga with a foreign friend who was leading his little boy by the hand. It happened that a countess was passing through the city. The policemen had cleared the street for the procession, and a large crowd was standing at the corner. We joined this crowd. The little boy could not see, so his father held him up that {87} he might look over the people's heads. At once the police forbade it and made him put the child down. In many instances forms of politeness are carried to a ridiculous extreme. When you give a present, no matter how nice, you must apologize by saying that it is so _cheap_ and _insignificant_ that you are ashamed to _lift it up_ to the honorable person, but if he will _condescend_ to accept it he will make you very happy. If you receive a present you must elevate it toward the top of the head (as that is considered the most honorable part of the body) and at the same time say that it is the _most beautiful thing on earth_. When you are invited to a dinner the invitation will carefully state that no special preparation will be made for the occasion. At the beginning of the meal the hostess will apologize for presuming to set before you such mean, dirty food, and will declare that she has nothing whatever for you to eat, although she will doubtless have a feast fit for a king. Even if it should not be good, you must say that it is and praise it extravagantly. The greetings between friends are sometimes right funny. I have often overheard such conversations as the following. Two men meet in the street, and, taking off their hats, bow very low, and begin as follows: _A_. "I have not had the pleasure of {88} hanging myself in your honorable eyes for a long time." _B_. "I was exceedingly rude the last time I saw you." _A_. "No; it was surely I who was rude. Please excuse me." _B_. "How is your august health?" _A_. "Very good, thanks to your kind assistance." _B_. "Is the august lady, your honorable wife, well?" _A_. "Yes, thank you; the lazy old woman is quite well." _B_. "And how are your princely children?" _A_. "A thousand thanks for your kind interest. The noisy, dirty little brats are well too." _B_. "I am now living on a little back street, and my house is awfully small and dirty; but if you can endure it, please honor me by a visit." _A_. "I am overcome with thanks, and will early ascend to your honorable residence, and impose my uninteresting self upon your hospitality." _B_. "I will now be very impolite and leave you." _A_. "If that is so, excuse me. _Sayonara_." {89} V JAPANESE CIVILIZATION