Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-30
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
THE JAPANESE IN WASHINGTON.

They rise in the morning between FIVE and
six, when they commence their ablutlons,
having first scraped their tongues with a
white cinnamon scented stick, about six
inches long, sharpened like the keel OF toy
boat on one side. This they also. by a sharp
rubbing between the palms OF the hands,
unraval at the ends, so as to form tuft with
which they rub their teeth. using also for the
latter light pink powder, which is about
equally tasteless and scentless. This they
keep in small round wooden boxes, which
are placed near their pieces of naive soap
on the respective wooden washStands, one,
two or three of which latter are allowed to
each bedroom, according as the number OF
occupants varies from seven downward
They next fill their small brass headed, cone
barrelled, brass mouth-pieced pipes, that hold
few grains weight only of their tobacco.
which very much resembles the Turkish
both in favor, fibre and color, and having
filed them, they strike the small pieces of
flint and steel which they all carry suspend
ed by cords from their side, and European
looking "ta-bak-a" pouches, and so produce
a spark which ignites q piece of prepared
cotton, held between the fingers for the pur-
pose, from which they light their pipes in
the ordinary way. If, however, one man on
filing his pipe sees another smoking. he OBJ
tains a liz ghr from him by bringing the head
of his own pipe in contact with the other,
and taking Il long draw to assist the ignition.
At seven o'clock they breakfast; the highest
in rank taking their meals in aroom separate
from the rest; the intermediate officers in the
large dining or 'tea room," and few OF the
lowest class in the kitchen. They all live
pretty much alike, high aud low, and never
tire of the plain kind of food to which they
have been accustomed in the land of their
nativity.
At breakfast each one invariably eats
three or four hard boiled eggs, some plain
boiled rice bread and butter and tea. the
latter both sugared and MIXED. To these are
sometimes added slice of boiled ham and
glass of cold water or milk.
At twelve o clock they dine, the meal con-
sisting of rice, chicken salad, boiled ham.
hard boiled eggs, fresh fish, champagne and
American ale. OF the last named beverage,
some of them will drink two or three glasses,
and they all appear to like it. They have
both the champagne and ale ad hbitum.
Au sCNcu v CloCh lhSJ ho'osoS, snS'1 SAH -
and last meal. Itconsists of ''the cup which
cheers but not intoxicates," and Of which
they partake only twice day, preserved
fruits, an assortment of fancy cakes, a glass
of cold milk and hard boiled eggs-the latter
they eat to the number Of three or four each,
as before stated, at every meal. They are
not partial to potatoes or green vegetables,
and they never eat beef or mutton, veal or
lamb. Those who mess in the ''tea room"
are waited ON by the hotel walters, and they
sit and eat like Christians. On the first night
of their arrival, they were, ! think, awed by
the presence of one of the Naval Commission
ers, then stranger to them. who sat at the
head of the table; but now, when left to
themselves, they converse and crack jokes as
gaiy as ever they did in their lives.
At ten, OF soon afterwards they retire to
their own rooms and lie about in disorder
until morning. One recreant. however. on
Monday night went into drug store next
door to the hotel, and drank effervesing fluids
till near midnight, and then sent for brandy.
which, am sorry to say, he got, after which
he went to bed, not with brick in his hat.
for he never wears one, but with an equiva-
lent weight elsewhere.-N y Herald.