Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-08-25

II
burners, IN excellent order. tell of STRAIT,
wen nghted with gas at pight. Alone fbo
1 tPiI PIE avenue, the sidewalks for several
oloeKS are planted with eve-oraar- -
mowers IL IN Main street, the BTosdJTav ~
Yokohama, you pass fine stores With 49,
fronts, banks, hotels, and restsnrs1,ts M.
magnificent show windows and sbundanoe
OF plate glass suggest solid wealth w;fbi1
The variety Of feminine paraphernalia il .
wonder to behold. Craftsmen of tbe fino-
arts also grow rich in Yokohama. Several
jewelers. ply brisk trade in their tempting
wares. Thousands Of watches are sold
yearly to the jeHnessc 9Oree Of Japan. Bar
bers poles salute us on several streets, and
one may be shaved in French, English OF
japanese. Tasteful albums of japanese
costume and scenery are displayed in the
Photographic establishments. First-olass
eatlng saloons await the calls of hungry
crowds The auction rooms are well filed
WIN native and foreign purchasers. The
eI. eeISniectioners 7 bait the dainty palate with
Cnelr Ooothsome cakes. On every corner
~ tne signs OF lawyers, doctors and den
elses: Inc streets are gay with splendid
~ c~dLIlases ano farmers, pilgrims and new
eomerS from the provinces stand and gaze
at the strange spectacle. French Cat6oIic
and Russian Greek priests in their esssocI-s
nuns in their black robes, weIl-dreesed Chi.
nese, Jews from every quarter of the earth.
French soldiers in blue, and British soldiers
in red. everybody talking in a different Ian
guage, help to give the scene a cosmopoli-
tan character.
The street occupied by the hongs or
great business establishments, exhibits an
other aspect. In Japan the distinction be-
tween merchant, and 3 shOpkeeper is Vi
tai. A great gulf, socially and CONNER
elaily, IS placed between the two eastes.
The street in which the hongs are situated
is gloomy compared with the lively Main
street. Most Of the buildings are Of stone,
many Of them fre-proof. From the win
dows Of the storehouses where the tea is
dried issues the fragrant aroma Of the new
crop, which is prepared for packing and ex-
port by native girls and women. Most of
the largest hongs are owned by merchants
who were among the first eOmers to Japan.
Many of them are branches Of houses in
China. From five to twenty young men
form their clerical staff, backed by a small
army Of native porters, coolies, packers,
boatmen, and 90 forth. These wealthy
firms control nearly al the export trade Of
Japan. The tea, silk, copper and rice are
brought from all parts Of the country, and
ulStlOScQ u sDl ll5 UdElTe merchants LlrO
the brokers. In most cases, the producer
nor even the broker ever sees the foreigner
with WHOM he deals. The most important
man is the compradore. This power be-
hind the throne is Chinaman who under
stands japanese sufficiently to enable
him to deal with The native merchant pro-
ducer, and broker. els the provider and
paymaster Of the firm II, its dealings with
the natives. He is ereatl.-re Of immense
pretentions, with great fac 'htles for
" squeezing his clients, which he does not
fail to use to the best advantage. This
arlstocratic mode of doing business is A
inheritance from the foreign merchants in
the ports Of China. The foreign popula-
Llon OF Yokohama is estimated at twelve
hundred, mostly Chinese. As a class ltbeY o.
.orm the most industrious nationality Of
Japan. They have their temple. cemetery,
guilds and benevolent associations, but no
counsel or mandarin. An financial bust
ness IS in their hands, Those who are not
brokers', agents, clerks, or useful artisans,
The Chlnaman is well dressed, eleanly, and
II good physique, forming remarkable
contrast with the Japanese.