Several Fish
for the pole to be placed in front of the little paper house; they look very comical, bobbing and swinging high in air with their wide-open mouths. Cut [Fig. 290] of white tissue-paper, also [Fig. 291], which is a trifle larger than the first and is slashed along three edges. Lay [Fig. 290] on top of [Fig. 291]; bend the flaps over and paste them on [Fig. 290]. Form a little hoop of a strip of stiff paper with the ends pasted together; blow the fish open, then paste the hoop on the inside of the open edge of the head to form its immense mouth. When dry mark the fish with red paint like [Fig. 292]. Tie a thread on the two opposite sides of the mouth and with another thread attach the loop to a slender stick on the end of which you have fastened a gold disk made of two pieces of gilt paper. This is intended to represent the rice ball with which the real fish are fed. The fish banners are hollow so that the wind may fill them, causing the fish to rise and fall as the breeze comes and goes. Push the end of your fish-pole through the centre of a small box-lid or button mould ([Fig. 293]) and stand the decoration outside the gate-way of the little house. The fish used on this eventful day are the famous carp, which the natives call koi, the unconquerable. The Japanese carp stands for good cheer, indomitable will, perseverance and fortitude, and it is used to impress these virtues upon the boys, but all the good qualities named are fully as necessary for girls even though the Japanese do not mention the fact, but girls are not forgotten. The nation gives them the third day of the third month for their festival. It is called the
Fig. [294]. Pattern of kago.
"Feast of Dolls,"
and is a gala day for little girls. Dolls and gorgeously dressed images, representing the Mikado, nobles, and ladies, are brought out and placed on exhibition, along with beautiful jars containing queer little trees and rare vases filled with flowers. The day is made a joyous one and a day long to be remembered by the little girls.
There are no sidewalks in Japan, the pavements being laid lengthwise through the centre of the streets, and on this path people stroll or hurry along. Mingled with the others are the Japanese laboring men, called coolies, carrying between them
The Kago,
which swings from a pole the ends of which rest on the men's shoulders. The kago is a sort of canopied hammock chair. You can easily fashion a tiny one from paper and straw. Cut [Fig. 294] of stiff paper, make it three inches long and at the broadest part an inch and a quarter wide. Paint the kago yellow, and to form the framework sew on each end a piece of heavy broom straw, jointed grass, or straw which has been limbered by soaking, and cut a piece six and three-quarter inches long for each side. Bring the side straws together beyond each end and bind them ([Fig. 295]). Then hunt up a slender round stick six inches long and sew the kago on it by means of thread loops at each end ([Fig. 296]). Make the canopy of a piece of stiff paper three and one-half inches long and two and one-quarter inches wide, paint it yellow, and with stitches only at each end sew it firmly on the pole over the seat of the kago ([Fig. 297]).
