St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-11-24
Excursion into the Country.
BY MISS KIpDER. or TOXIC, JAPAN.


for some time. but had been detained
by the illness of the teacher who was
to accompany me. Finally, one pleas
ant Monday morning, with few nee
essary things in furushiki Square
piece of cloth), we were ready, Hama
San and /, and started in very poor
jinrikishd, hoping to find more COM
Portable one by the way. In this, how
ever, we were disappointed.
Before sunset we reached the place
where we hoped to teach and spend
the night, and found all the men and
women to work in the barn or field.
The old lady and her sOn-the latter
had been to our place of worship i'll
Tokio-came from their labor to meet
us. and exclaimed, "Alas farmers
have only bad houses - and then went
about Strengthening the establishment.
went into big shed and sat down on
the step before the entrance to the
house. When finally was asked to
enter. pulled off my shoes and hat
NV shoes. because all Japanese walk
in bare or stocking feet III the house !;
my hat, because it is dlsrespectful to
cover the head, and entered. They
had put down IA clean piece OF straw
mating, two feet wide by four long.
Otherwise, the room was very untldy,
ceiling smoked black, paper off the
doors and windows, chest, spinning
wheel. boxes. and sewing, all covered
with dust. and such dirty brown mats.
By and by, after our host had been
coming in and going out several times,
began to feel ashamed at not having
said even the pleasant cOurtesles OF the
day, aud began my bowling. But the
Young man coolly informed me that he
would salute me after little time.
soon lac came in, having put on his
outer garment, and we went through
the salutation.
4 Japanese always waits till his
guest is in the place prepared for HIM,
then both seat themselves Just proper
IL on their heels and knees, bring their
hands together on the floor in front,
and slowly bow their heads till they
rest ON their hands, or, if they are
parted little. on the floor between
Them. mumbling their hOwdo-yO
dos, remarks about the weather, and
compliments. meanwhile.
The grandmother now began to build
a fire in the bath-tub and under the
rice-kcttlc to get supper. After Il
while. she came and impOrtuned us tn
have a bath but had no desire to be
boiled. and, after much urging, she let
me alone. | was much interested, how
ever. in learning there were twelve Ill
the family, and that OjuSan (grandfath
err had the privilege of jumping into
the bath first. and the next younger
man next, and so on down to the "last
man" and then ObGdSGH grandmother
and mother and girls and baby, one 10y
one. performed their ablutiOns-all i'll
the same bath. thought in my heart,
if | had to follow Il like custom, i
would very much prefer being ojusdn.
They seemed to feel great respon-
siblity with their city guests, though
| detected in the grandmother a feel
ing of superiority to me foreigner. We
talked pleasantly for Il while, when she
said, 'Indeed you appear to under
stand my words" | replied, "Ges,
know what You have said to me thus
far" And then she spun out thread
of language that. do my best, was ia
me all i'm IA tangle. "Well, do you I'M
derstand HatP" she said. My reply III
the negative seemed to satisfy her, and
she laughed loudly, and left me to busy
herself in getting our supper, which
consisted of some salt fishes, roasted
whole over the Goals, some warm rice,
pickles. and tea. The fishes for q
llama San and me were placed on one
plate. from which we both ate. The
nee was brought in a covered tut
about the size of ouT common water
pals at home This was taken out
with wooden paddle and put into
small haring cups, one for each of us
The pickle was sailed daikOn. | can
eat Japanese food when I'm hungry, sc
took my haShj (chopsticks), and ate a
good supper.
At about eight o'clock, the people
began to come to hear what we had to
say. After q Hama San had talked 4
while, we asked some men who were
in the other room to come i'll and lis
ten, and they replied, 1--WE want to
hear the foreigner So | went over
again the proofs of there being one
God, of his making man, of mans fall
and certain lost condition, and of sal
walton by Jesus Christ. They were at
tentivc, and many seemed interested
Even though our Bible women and ma
tive preachers can do better before {
large. strange company of unbe-
levers than we, yet they almost IN
variably rather hear us. suspect they
feel they have the matter second hanC
from the Japanese. We talked anC
talked. till | can't tell how my fee
achcd 1t is not polite to stand, he
cause one must not look down on ones
audience. and teachdr must show hui
miity. Sitting on il chair would be
excused in il foreigner. but there wa
no chair. To show the feet while sit
ting is very rude, and rudeness Is thu
sin of sins in Japan. So my feet acheC
till my knees caught the pain, and theI
my hips and back and began to fee
it was not only heart and tongue tina
were ut work. But they We're all farm
ing people: and, after ii while, the,
too got tired and went off home, tn,
more polite ones coming and bowin:
till their foreheadS touched the floor
We returned their politeness by til,
same kind of "A bow, and saying, ID
itdshimaS hite." used like our "You'r
entirely welcome" but literally, "Wha
have done :"
The people off. and | on my stand
ing feet. our hostess began to get bed
ready for the night. Two great pile
of futons (comfortables) were brough
in. One or two straight, narrow one
were placed on the floor for us to lii
on. and one made in the shape of
garment with sleeves To put over Us
No sheets or blankets. But knew al
this before | started, and was prepared
The pillow was brought,-a little hOl
lowed-out. wooden block about fou
inches high and made soft (!) to tn
neck 10y little bag of rice-hulls, no
quite as large round as my wrist an,
ahnut five inches lnnr nlnce1 in LII