Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-10-11
sUMMERING IN JAPAN.
PREPARING FOR THE TRIP-LOADING
THE HORSES--A SUMMER RESORT
CHANGING COOKS-THE SCENERY,

&C., w., &C.,
Correspondence of the Stanton VINDIcAToR.)
YOKOHAMA,
July 18th 1878,
School closed after the examinations
which were held on the 18th, 10Th and Goth
of May, and we are now about to start for
Hakone, our mountain retreat for the
summer. The greater part of our house
hold left last night on pack-horses, and if
you could have been present at the scene
which enlivened our back lawn, yester-
day evening, you would have some insight
into the mode of travelling in Japan. The
packmen, who were engaged to transport
our baggage, prefer, like ourselves, to take
night for it, and appeared early in the
evening to load, each leading by long
rope, an animal the size Of an ordinary
American riding horse. These were ex-
pected to carry 600 lbs ayoirdupois, and
anything within the compass of ordinary
housekeeping that could be masted on top
of the huge pack saddle. The saddle with
its appurtenances was as much as We
WOulO odlC DldCO vi cIlCOt Jul OWll GILL
but our packmen composedIy surveyed the
articles strewing the ground, and the AMI
mails, whatever mental conflict might have
ragged within, ware outwardly calm and
resigned. They seemed perfectly willing
to stand during the operation, but the men
proceeded to "tie them up,'' by twisting
the aforesaid ropes round the fore-legs,
and drawing them tightly up to the neck
of the horses, where they were made fast.
They then proceeded to proportion the
load, which consisted of two heavily pack
ed Japanese trunks, three large baskets,
$50, worth of canned provisions in store
boxes, small oven, baggage for the cook,
packages of books, with smaller things,
supplemented by three bamboo easy chairs.
This was finally adjusted to the satisfac,
ton of the men. l hope the animals were
equally satisfied, and tn ey moved off, pre-
senting the appearance of small four mas
ted vessels with the keeis uppermost
8. z. M. 1.-The best laid schemes O. mice
and men, Gang aft agley." And here we
are yet, when we thought to have been on
our way, tossed about between two basha
proprietors, [basha means horse vehicle in
distinction from the glnrikasha-man
power carriage, )and few ginrikasha men
and all because a native, true to his ma
ture failed to make his appearance a t the
appointed time. There is some prospect
Of our getting off by the last of next week.
but am little afraid that the butter g.,
sent off yesterday may be spoiled by that
time. and shall be somewhat inconven-
fenced by the absence of my trunk.
Yokohama, Aug. T.
We may live withoutbooks. WHAT'S knowledge but
We may live without hope. What is hope but de
We may. live without love. What is love butt
pining?
But where is the man that can live without dining?
We find this just as emphatic in our
wild life on Lake Kakone as it was in the
higher state of society on the borders OF
sunny France. Consequently, although
there are but tive of us in the household,
we take turns in presiding over the COOK
and kitchen. For the first three weeks we
had bright Toy, who managed things for
the table to his own and our satisfaction.
and who, when we ventured to inquire in
to meal before hand, would remark, 81
will have curry for dinner" or II will
make rice cakes for breakfast" his know
ledge of English being very much in charac
ter like that of the Frenchman in the
Thames, who declared, II auW be drowned,
nobody shall help me!' He left us to take
a position under the government 50 quick
ly do positions change in Japan, and We
were put in the hands of young man.
who might be sitting for his portrait, 81
slowly does he 60 from one stage OF affairs
to another. The day he came to us I had
just entered upon my reign, and as Shundo
had given him directions before leaving,
we didn't come into collision. The next
day, however. 1 wanted iish-balls made
from some sardines that threatened waste,
and told him to boil some potatoes for me.
at the proper time [ went to the kitchen
10 superintend the operation, aud found
he potatoes nicely made into, croquettes
ior dinner. [ said nothing of the mistake, |
put asked if he knew what fish-balls were:
le said he did perfectly well, and ordered |
hem made for tea, with toast. We hap I
,ened to have company in the evening, and
What was my disgust when, instead of the
Lelicate, tempting table had proposed for
ur guests, the first thing set on was fried
ardines, mashed potatoes, a dish of canned
orn, left from the day before, and half