Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-03-20

uent OF this county:
YEDpo, 1874.
My Dear Friends II dined to-day with
Prince Nagagawa, who owns block OF
stores $500 feet front, near the railway sta
ton. He is very wealthy, and has three
"godowns," or fire-proof warehouses, each
2Ox24 feet, two stories, filed with nice
things. Every merchant has "godown,"
where he keeps his valuable goods, to pro-
tect them from the conhagrations so nu-
merous here. On the 9th inst. an immense
fire occurred in the heart of the city, COW
ering large area Of ground loss estima-
ted at 100000, and no insurance. Yes
terday dined with Prince Yoto, one of the
great men Of Japan. He lives just in the
outskirts Of the city, seven miles from the
centre, the intervening distance one vast
city, with streets and buildings in all di-
rectons. A half mile beyond Prince Yo-
to's commence the farms, the rice all cut
now pulling "dikon," or japanese turnips,
which are the length and size of a mans
arm they are the cheapest food in Japan,
and dug every day in the year, and brought
into Toker tYeddo) market in large guam
titles. find these farmers all we'll off and
happy. Being near large city, they OBJ
tain good prices for their vegetables, poul-
try and eggs. In company with Prince
Yoto, and two English merchant princes, a
Portuguese gentleman and a japanese, we
went hunting and brought home wild
geese, snipe and pheasants. 1 have visited
"Hamagotin," the castle, where the Mika-
do and the Japanese government entertain
all foreign persons of rank and distinction.
Duke Alexis and suite were recent guests.
1t has immense walls, except where bound
ed by the sea, and could be easily defend
ed by few soldiers against a large army.
The enclosure is about 800 acres, and con-
tains five different fish ponds, with bridges
crossing the same, and handsome summer
houses on the borders, all carpeted and fur
nished in foreign style. There is model,
thirty feet high, of the celebrated Fusigami
mountain. Every kind oftree in japan is
TO be seen here, and all kinds of flowers
and fruits. American grass Is introduced
and grows finely. The caurelius are in
full bloom, and oranges growing, even at
Christmas time. The American grapes
have been done up in straw. The place is
some 400 years old, and contains trees Of
very great age. After entering the great
gate we approach, on a granite cut pave
ment, twenty feet wide, the new buildings
made for the entertainment of foreigners.
There is first the reception, or cloak room,
then the tea, or smoking room, when we
stop TO take a sip of tea, or smoke jap
anese pipe, which is the custom on enter
ing all japanese houses; then the parlor,
richly furnished as the best in America,
and with expensive Japanese bronze vases
filled with flowers, picked in the open
grounds in mid-winter. There were many
large albums with 1000 different views Of
japanese scenery and objects of interest.
The dining-room and chambers are all
large and magnificent. The walls are dec
GRATED with Japanese scenery one called
the 'Fan-room,' covered with paintings Of
fans, and in fact everything is to be found
in the house that money would buy, for
elegance and luxury. The Mikado and the
Mikadess, y often spend several days here at
time. "Hamagoten" compares favorably
with Central Park, New York, but still
more Interesting did find the palace and
grounds of Prince Insagawa, the uncle OF
the Mikado, who, at the death of the pres
ent ruler, dying without male issue, would
come in possession of the Imperial scepter
On invitation of the prince, had the hon.
or OF dining with him and his family. The
Princess is a second wife only nineteen
years old, and very handsome, polite and
accomplished, who speaks just enough
English 10 be decidedly interesting. She
was dressed most regally in a white silk,
and over that q rich Grape material of di-
vers colors, with an "Obi," made by hand,
of silver and gold thread, alike on both
sides, which must have cost a cool thous-
and dollars in Mexican silver, the current
coin Of the realm. Her head was dressed
in the greatest style, with tortoise shell
hair pins and combs, perfectly splendid in
their way. She wore white silk japanese
stockings, and when we took a stroll
through the grounds, put on woode n shoes.
Nine servants followed to wait upon us,
the fair Princess requiring three for her
special service. Japenese ladies never
wear bonnets-that Is a foolish habit OF
more civilized countries; they lake pride
in displaying their jet black hair, which is
always well oiled. To heighten their beau
liSS luSy ueeul ~ quio uSSoSSaiJ " uSO
paint, but the more natural the beauty, the
less of the artificial required. The Prince
has a son by his first wife, bright lad of
| ten years, who speaks, in addition TO his
native tongue, English and German. The
japanese love for the antique is very great.
Prince Insagawa in his garden has four
immense granite gate posts, which he had
taken from an old temple and brought
thither, distance of fifty miles, and set up
as relics of the past. On our arrival we
were ushored into the Tea room, and par
took after the customs of the country, the
Prince at the same time being engaged in
burning incense, in a handsome gold and
silver incense burner; for in houses as well
as in temples, they burn incense to their
gods. Before dinner we were invited to
take a sip of clear Holland gin. This GUS
tom must have been introduced by the
Dutch when they monopolized the Jap
anese trade some centuries ago. The din-
ner was in most splendid japanese style,
served with all kinds of wine. My imper-
feet vocabulary OF the japanese language
must be my excuse for not giving a more
detailed account OF the inuumerable dish
es-especldlIy Vi hSh anu Noso'aDio' 'n0
great diet OF the country. Afterwards the
fair Princess, with true feminine delight,
showed us her Jewelry, watches, diamonds
aud even her dresses, which were very
beautiful. The Fan room" was also an
object of interest, with its many coloreo
paintings of fans, no two alikei but IN tne
grounds nature outdoes all things. On one
sida the lofty. snow-eapped "Fasigami," I"
the holy and venerated mountain OF japan,
while at your feet the green ioiiage ana
bright blossoms of summer ana yonuer