The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-09-07
AT A JAPANESE INN.
Children Deprived uf Vision TINT they May
Become Acceptable Shampoocrs.

Children deprived ell vision TINT they Niny
Become Acceptable Shnmpoocrs.
The Kama Kura correspondent of the
San Francisco Chronicle writes as fol-
lows: We entered the village, which
was once city containing over mil
lion inhabitants. and put up at native
hotel kept in native style. Again obey
ing the custom of undressing the feet,
we passed many guests sitting upon
mats and making their chopsticks fly in
q way that would make a Yankee en-
vious even in railroad eating house.
Up stairs we went, and were shown into
room whose walls consisted merely of
paper, partitioning one room from the
other, but which were scrupulously clean.
Ordering supper and some native wine,
we were quickly served by rather good
looking maid.
While awaiting the result of our order
we were served with "tidbid pastry
and with some sack-ee, also q bowl con-
tanning live Goals, together with pipes;
after which, giving us time for a smoke,
the courses began with fsh, not cooked
enough for our taste, then eggs, chicken,
sweet potatoes, rice, and tea. No bread
was served us, nor butter, but rs the tea
was remarkably fine, and the eggs,
though small, were duly seasoned with
rock salt, we made good meal, ren.
dered awkward by lack of experience in
using the chopsticks, which were pencil
shaped and used by holding or pressing
the food between the ends, the guests
meanwhile peeping through the parti.
tions and giggling at our frantic efforts
to eat gracefully.
While eating supper the governor oI
the place sent a constable to obtain ou1
names and residence, that we might be
under police protection, VIC being the
first white men that ever spent night
in the place. Supper being over, W,
took short walk through the town, and
as there were many pilgrims in the place
who had never Sc Caucasian before
we were the "observed of all observ
ers," especially our friend, an English
man, who is siZ feet two inches in hi'
stocking feet, making him giantamone
them.
Going back to the hotel, our friert
asked us if we wished q bath and sham
poo; answering in the affirmative, h,
gave the order, and hearing long, Low
and somewhat sad whistle, which we hat
heard both by day and by night il
Yokohama-and which, though it ha,
excited our curiosity, we had failed tt
inquire the reason of-he went into tn,
street and brought in blind man, Thc
he said was to do the shampooing. Th
bath being ready, we W ent down stair
and were shown into a room, whose we
floor proved it to be in constant use.
After finishing our bath we donuet
our gowns and returned to our room
where the "blind man" took us il
charge. Commencing with our feet, b
knuckled us all over, prying in betweel
every joint and muscle of our back an,
limbs, excepting tho region of the chest
ana which, after he was through, mad
us feel as timber as an acrobat. Thes
shampooers, it is said, are made blin
in their childhood, that they may pl
their vocation without injuring the sus
capabilities of any one. The sun ros
unclouded on the following morning
and after breakfast served on tho floor
similar in quality to the supper OF til
evening b, fore, we paid our bill, whic
amounted to S1.75-this for both of us