Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-05-26
Interesting sisetohes Of the Japanese.

pIFssy Tor lhelr accommodation. The writer
says
From the moment that the Embassy
reached the hotel, the vicinity hes been
crowded with all sorts Of people anxious to
get a sight Of these Eastern curiosities. Tn
vain are notices posted that none but
guests Of the house are admitted and n
crusty cerbcrus posted at each of the doors.
The crowd rushcs in, aud, strange to say.
comprises, | might say, an undue proper
tion Of ladies'
They crowded, the reception rooms peer
ed into the strangers faces. fingered their
garments and in all ways exhibited far more
curiosity and astonishment than the imper-
turbable objects Of their interest. Indeed
the Japanese made themselves at home i'm
medately, and as soon as they could reach
private rooms, availed themselves nstaptly
Of the beds and lounges 70 all the impor.
tunate inquistivcness evinced by those
around them, they appeared quite impervions
and stoicaI as it they could not see, or be
jostled, or suffocated in u crowd, or incom.
moded in any Of the numerous ways persist.
ed in by their tormcntors At least dozen
Of the lower officials soon spread abont the
hall, and soon made themselves at home.
Around each a little knot would collect,
trying to exchange languages, learning the
names Of knives, cards, watches, features
and various objects The signs and motions,
the loud talking, as if one or the other was
deaf the baby talk, and attempts at Dutch,
French and japanese were exceedingly en-.
tertaining Three or four Of the japanese
very obigingly consented to write cards
for the ladies and gentlemen, who present.
ed their own in return. How long this
would have continued, and the good nature
OF the scribes endured, it is difficult to say.
Certainly they were kept writing until the
ink in their portable inkstands had nearly
ron dry. The artist meanwhile was busy
with his sketck-boOk, recording all sorts Of
things for the eye Of the Emperor. A few
took stroll about the lower part Of the
hotel, in the lobbies-looked at the cigars
and newspapers, smoked a puff or two,
gave ont samples of their tobacco, shook
hands with everybody including the walters,
and altogether made themselves quite CON-
Portable. 1t was amusing to hear the com
ments of the crowd. "Aint they like
women P "What do they wear two swords
for 2" "They look like Chinese" Look
at his head shaved" "Ie's got trowsers
like a Turk )" "See his white sandals :"
Guess he's one of the cooks :" wonder
if he's Prince ;" "Can he eat rats :" and
a thousand similar remarks and inquiries
About o'clock the principal members of
the Embassy, together with number of
naval officers sat down to dinner prepar-
ed by the Hotel, and differing but very lit
tie from an ordinary dinner for member Of
Congress. Ia the use of wine, particularly,
they proved quite as apt as the best Christ
anS present, and it may be believed, there
were some salamander throats present with
the Navy so well represented. The Japan.
ese used their knives and forks with great
skill, considering that those implements
were new to them, and generally evinccd
great aptitude in learning. They did not
however exhibit any embarrassment at the
peculiar manners of those around them, but
with the utmost sang froid, do Just what
inclination dictates, including sitting on the
floor smoking in the parlor, and was in
formed by an intensely distinguished New
York Councilman, even splitting on the car
pet. One Of them created little consterna-
tion among the ladies by Suddenly drawing
up his loose pants and crossing his legs
under him, exhibiting a pair OF calves that
attracted some attention. AS he kept per-
fectIy quiet, the ladies giggled, and pretend.
cd to turn their heads.
One of the first things done after their
arrival was to place their money--some $780,
900, in hands of the Messrs Willards for safe
keeping What a sensation would barbar
ian burglars create if he could put his paws
on their treasure Daring the entire voy-
age the treaty-box, containing the treaty,
the ratification of which is to take place,
and the treasure, has been vigilantly guard
ed 1t was this that created so much curl
osity at the landing, on being carted
through the city perched on top Of an
omnibus. Think of the much boasted
treaty between America and Japan travel
ing into Washington on the top of fve-
cent omnibus Shade of Mikado-Dairi,
think of that
In his anxiety to show his gratitude one
of the japanese bestowed handful Of Jap
anese coin upon an Irish porter who had
handled his baggage Pat was at first at
loss to know what to do with the money,
but in an instant the curiosity-seekers who
witnessed the incident, were buying him
out with quarters and half dollars until he
was showered with enough to pay his next
months rent.
A number of the japanese eyinced great
interest in the different styles of cigars.
They would take one offered them, aud,
after breaking OFF the end and smoking a
little, would break off more and hand it
back-lterally requesting the giyer to
smoke their own "Sogers." They also pass
ed around their pipes to be tried by those
who wshed-rSkng condition of the
tube similar to that of the instrument up
on which the boys "try the strength of
their lungs" The bowl of their pipes are
very small, and contain but enough "ta-ba-
ko" for few whiils.
An incident occurred in the reading,room
which would seem to indicate that John
Bull is not much in their favor One of
the interpreters said, with a very good
English accent, "San Francisco fne city /;
Washington fine city. We like America,
Russia, France-not like English p aud,
with significant shrug of the shoulders,
and an expression Of contempt for the Eng