Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-22
A Night in a Japanese Inn.

A Night in japanese Inn.
An American traveller writes from ia
pan: We entered the village which
was once a city containing over a mil
lion inhabitants, and put up at native
hotel kept in native style. Again OBJ
serving the custom of undressing the
feet, we passed many guests sitting up
on mats and making their chopsticks fly
in way that would make a Yankee en-
vious even in railroad eating house.
Up stairs we went, and were shown in
to a room whose walls consisted
merely of paper, partitioning one room
from the other, but which were scrupu
lously clean. Ordering supper and some
native wine, we were quickly served by
a rather good looking maid.
While awaiting the result Of our order
we were served with "tidbid" pastry
and with some suckee, also bowl con-
tanning live Goals, together with pipes;
after which, giving us time for smoke,
the courses began with fish, not cooked
enough for our taste, then eggs, chicken,
sweet potatoes, rice and tea. No bread
was served us nor butter. but as the tea
was remarkably fine, and the eggs, tho
small, were FUZZY seasoned with rock
salt, we made a good meal, rendered
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-
tons and giggling at our frantic efforts
to eat gracefully.
While eating supper, the governor OF
the place sent constable to obtain our
names and residence, that we might be
under police protection, we being the
| first white men that ever spent night
in the place. Supper being over we
took short walk through the town,
and as there were many pilgrims in the
place who had never seen q Caucasian
before, we were the observed of all OBJ
servers" especially our friend, an Eng
lishman, who is six feet two inchss in
his stocking feet, making him a giant
among them.
Going back to the hotel, our friend
asked us if we wished bath and sham
poo. Answering in the affirmative, he
gave the order, and hearing long, low,
and somewhat sad whistle, which we
had heard both by day and by night in
YOkohama-and which, though it had
| CACluCu Jul Cu1lOS1ty, VIC udO ldllCu "
| inquire the reason Of-he went into the
street and brought in a blind man, who
he sid was to do the shampooing. The
bath being ready, we went down stairs,
and were shown into room, whose wet
floor proved it to be in constant use.
After finishing our bath we donned
our gowns and returned to our room,
where the 'bllnd man" took us in
charge. Commencing with our feet, he
knuckled as all over, prying in between
ey cry joint and muscle of our back and
limbs, excepting the region of the chest,
and which, after he was through, made
us feel as timber as an acrobat. These
shampooers, it is said, are made blind in
their childhood, that they may ply their
vocation without injuring the suscepti-
bilities of any one. The sun rose I'M
clouded on the following morning, and
after breakfast served On the floor, SINH
lar in quality to supper of the evening
before, we paid our bill, which amount
ed to one dollar and seventy five cents
this for both of us, including our wine.
The reliable nan is a man of good
judgment. He does not jump at conclu
sions. He is not a frivolous man. He
is thoughtful. He turns over subject
: in his mind and looks at it all around
He is not partial or one sided man.
, He sees through a thing. He is apt te
be very reticent man. He does not
have to talk great deal. He is mod
crate man, not only in habits of body,
but also of mind. He is not passionate
man, if SO by nature, he has overcome il
. by grace. He is sincere man, not q
plotter or schemer. He does not prom.
ise rashly. What he says may be relied
, on. He is trust worthy man. You
, feel safe with your property or the ad
ministration of affairs in his hands. He
is watchful, vigilant man. You fee
secure within his protection. He is 8
. brave man. for his conclusions are log
ically deduced from the sure basis Of
truth, and he does not fear to maintain
+ them. He is good man, for no one
can be thoroughly honest and truthful
without being good. Is such quail
! ty attainable? Most assuredly SO. II
, is not born, it is made. Character may
be formed, of course, then its component
) parts may be moulded to that formation
, -ECchdnge.