Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-01-25
An Augusta Missionary IN Japan
vIRGINIANs IN JAPAN-THE TRIP OUT
sTORM-sCHoOL TEACHING,


from Miss Mamie Fletcher of this county
who, after graduating at the Augusta Fe-
male Seminary. has gone to Japan as
Missionary. The letter though written to
a member Of her family here will be found
full of matter interesting to the public.
Miss Fletcher is daughter of the Rev.
Patterson Fletcher Of Lexington Presby
terry
YOKOHAMA, -
AS seat myself at my beautiful writing
desk, (the parting gift of our beloved
teacher) to reply to the first instalment OF
letters frou home. time and space seem for
the moment to be annlhllated, and l am
again among the dear friends in America,
whose presence seems to be all that is want
ing to complete my happiness.
HOME REMINDERS.
Yes-strange and 1ncomprehensible as
it may appear to some, am very happy IN
my new home, with all its social and intel
lectual advantages, aid its prospects of
usef illness. AS L turn my eyes from the
dusky little forms around me, they rest
upon the programme of a concert to be
gwen in tAis far away land, which keeps
up the illusion of letters and desk. Read
ing the names of old familiar pieces from
Beethoven, Mendelsohn, Chopin and 9TH
ers, with solos and DUETS by "Misses VIM,
Brown and Fletcher can you wonder
that [ fancy myself once more in the old
chapel and find it difficult to realize that
50 many thousand miles intervene between
me and those well remem bered scenes Miss
VIM is niece of Rev. VIM. e. Baker
and Miss Brown is from New Jersey. l
| have been constantly meeting with persons
yhnCn tnn dnr A. no
of home There are several here from Vir-
ginia. Besides Mrs. Ballagh who is from
| Rockingham co, have met with step
| daughter of Rev. Mr.. lyle, Miss Wash
| ington and her mother, who was Mrs
! Tom WashE gton of jefferson CO.. of whom
| have often heard from friends in Virgil
| ia.
LOSING A BIRTHDAY.
Although so short time has elapsed
since L lett Staunton, 1 have had quite a
varied experience. and scarcely know
| where to begin. You have probably heard
that lost a birthday on the voyage. Nav
igators usually settle their reckoning
with the earth and sun, upon reaching
1S0th degree, and it is a curious fact, that
in going to Japan. one day is lost, while
on the return, day is gained. 1t is not
every one however who loses a birthday
|
| birthdays, becomes one year younger. The
Getty of Tokio'' is said to be one of the
| finest steamers in the world, costing the
company with ''City of Pekin' So ,000, 600
The commander is Virginian, relative
OF Commodore M. f. Maury, and the Pur-
ser, DeLagnell, is also Virginian, and
was a soldier in the Confederate army
Among the passengers was Rev. W. r.
Stevenson of the Irish church, on tour
| out the East. We found him to be a cul
and his charming wife. we spent an honl
each day in pleasant Bible readings. He
| had met with MIR. Simpson in Philadel
| phia, and gave iutimation of call he
would probably receive from church in
| that city.
A TYPHoON.
About two days before reaching Toxic
hama, we encountered fearful typhoon
[ had been out all the afternoon and even.
ing enjoying the magnificent sunset and
| lovely moonlight that flooded the atmos
phere and water with radiance and beauty
This same sunset was set off by a peculiar
cloud that spread from the south and west
Of sulphurous blue color, that augered il
| to our Captain and crew. The Commodore
was up all night, and while We were slum
berlng in blissful unconsciousness, he was
preparing for the fearful storm that broke
over US at o'clock next morning. [ made
a vain attempt to rise and dress early, but
| familiar faintness came over me and
went to my berth to spend the day alone,
| for the motion OF the vessel, as she rolled
| almost over on her beam ends, made it
dangerous if not impossible for any one to
come below. The Stewardess came in
| several times and $; oke of our having
| been turned out of our course, but never
once limited that we We're battling with a
| typhoon, such as few vessels could encoun-
| ter with safety to herself and crew. 1t was
a great disappointment not to be able to
| enjoy the magnificent warning of the ele-
ments, as the sea was lashed into fury by the
| circular winds that came from every point
Of the compass at once, but when [ saw
| the bruised and limping set that had been
most uncermoniously tossed about in the
deck cabin, / felt that had reason TO con-
graduate myself that had been confined
against my will. Oh! it was fearful. The
glare that spread over sea and sky at times
seemed like reflection of pandemonium.
Sunday afternoon we looked out on newly
swept and garnished skies, and with two
other invaldS was carried out into the
passage way running through the centre
of the cabin from the dining room aft,
where at O'Clock the service was read
with sermon from Mr.. Stevenson, and
we retired with hearts full of thanksgiving
and praise ''for the Lord had brought us
through"
THE NEW COUNTRY.
While we were at dinner, on the twenty
first day out, just as the last course was
coming in, the cry was heard, "Fusigama!'
and the tables we're deserted. Shall [ ev-
er experience such sensations again? Right
up from the level below, it rose, trunca-
ted cone IA 600 feet in height, at its base
mass of snowy clouds floating in ever
changing forms Of wonderful beauty. Just
to the rig ht the dazzling rays of the set
ting sun lit up the water, while far away
bank of grey clouds appeared like a long
mountain range, its peaks like Fugi, lit up
with golden splendor and marvellous beau
ty. Such stiffness was over all the land
scape that it seemed like picture of some
master artist, till we went back to apple
dumpings again. | sat On deck until
nearly one o'clock, and was Weakened at
six by clatter Of tongues in a strange I'M
ineligible jargon right under me. We
were anchored three quarters of q mile
from the shore, and all morning were sur
rounded by set of chattering, bowling,
strengthening creatures in the queerest
looking boats and water craft. There
were little children, most of them in a
state of nature, hauling at a tow line, or
pulling an oar, and hideOus men with a
piece of cloth about the loins. aud a Golf
fure of stiff straight hair, with a blue or
white rag twisted round and tied in a big
knot on the forehead Now and then a
picturesque looking object would appear
in white trousers ard shirt, with white
hat or cap of indescribable soup bowl shape
and all around wa this continual shrek
ing and mumbling of voices, for the Japa-
nese do not seem to talk in an ordinary
tone of voice.
SCHOOL TEACHING IN JAPAN.
For more than week after my arrival,
I was in a state Of enforced idleness, from
a peculiar result of sea sicknets am told
For several DAYS | could see nothing with