Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-05-06
IPOLIS, OHIO, THURSDAY, MAY g, 1878.

one OF tnelr ancient groves, now sad
" fallen into decay, but still mar
velonsly imposing place. It's name,
Shiber, means grass plat. The origi-
nal enclosure contained not less than
900 acres adorned with grand for
ests. much of which remains walled
in with massive granite walls, in
closing temple of Buddha, erected
some two centuries or more ago, and
which was still standing in 1873 when
came. and which seemed to me q
most stately structure, but this is
gone by the act, it is said, of the in
cendiary, and its bell of many tons
weight is silent and no longer shakes
the graves with its deep solemn
sound. The tombs of the Tycoons,
or former rulers of Japan, are many
of them there, which in their inte-
rior, being really memorial temples,
are so rich in gold, lacquer, ETC., that
they dazzle by their splendor.
The castle grounds the castle hay
ing been destroyed by fire two years
ago) contain about 800 acres, inclos-
ed by broad deep moat, and also by
granite wall from 80 to so feet in
height, erected about $50 years ago.
These grounds are filed with stately
trees and beautiful shrubs, flowers al
most every month of the year. and
also adorned with mounds and lakes
and cascades and rocks from every
province of the Empire, and beauti-
full walks and grassy parks and ave-
nues and drives.
Kamakura. an ancient Capital of
Japan, some forty miles distant, where
in centuries past armies cOntended
for dominion, is now a desOlation,
where a few fishermen dwell, and
amid the ruins are some two or three
temples, and in its quiet wood sits
enthroned upon granite the bronze
statue of "Dai Boota," or the great
Buddha," with folded hands and
thoughtful countenance, looking calm
ly out upon the ocean, as he has
looked for centuries past, and may
look for centuries to come. This
statue is said to be rich in gold and
silver, and is colossal, being 45 feet in
height. The great image rests upon
lotus leaves, or flowers, esteemed sa-
cred, and held to be the symbol Of
creative power, as the flower springs
from the blooms upon and broods
over the waters as the earth sprung
from the waters of the great deep at
the word of Him who is from ever
lasting to everlasting God. The To-
tus is a grand flower, rs fragrant as
it is beautiful, larger than the rose of
Sharon, sometimes pure white, some
times colored with red, like the
clouds of the morning, and always
presenting stamens of gold and sill
yer luster.
These people are lotus eaters, that
is, they eat the root andialso the seed,
which are larger than our pea, and
eaten without being cooked, not I'M
like our chestnut, but pleasanter and
more delicate to the taste. Tenny-
sons fine poem entitled THE Lotus
eaters will describe the strange
land and its dusky, dreaming chill
dren. You remember the beautiful
words which Lander puts into the
mouth of the dying Greek when tax
ing farewell of his child: I'VE will
meet again, but you, my child, must
first 60 to the land of the lotus,
where famine never comes, and
where the works of man are immor-
tall 1t seems the lotus flower, or
shrub, or tree, as the Greek, the
Egyptian, and the Indian, was made
to svmbolize life. But | must stop,
lest my letter grow to he treatise.
j. A. BINGHAM.