No one knows in what year or in what reign the custom of flying carp over the housetops originated in Japan though the habit of honouring} the sons df the family on the fifth day of the Afth month, lunar calendar, first came into use in Chin 'The picturesque manner, however, of fying the carp and displaying images of gallant persons undoubtedly found its origin in the Island Empire, Japan itself the day is known tango-no-Sekku and corresponds! to the Dolls' Festival for girls (Mfargh 3). The images referred to are really dolls though of a warlike character and no Japanese boy considers that it is effeminate to have truck with them on. Boys' Day. as they represent such stirring tales of daring-do of far-off times within a truly romantic setting.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.