Morning journal and courier., 1883-12-22

mighty Iyeyasu hsd squatted for two centu- ries and half The spot was hidden from the gaze of men, save as an occasional tour ist is escorted thither, to survey this grand oriental mausoleum in it's wild mountain soli- tude.
 I was piIoted about by an aged Shinto priest robed in white There were no armed guards about and the entire vast premises are under the charge of mere handful of priests. A few years ago, before the Shin to faith displaced Buddhism as the State religion, these walks were thronged with Buddhist priests, and there were imposing festivals in honor of that religion which Edwin Arnold e1alts as the 'LiRht of Asia. :"
 Now all this ceremony is Gbrogated. The Buddhist furniture of the temples Of Iye- yasu has been carried away, and in it's stead is the simplicity of the colorless Sbinto faith, the oldest religion of Japan. The change has been effected with liberal con- sideration for the disestab1ished religion, for it must be remembered that the latter is still the religion of the mass of the peo. pie. The Buddhism which Edwin Arnold so pleasantly describes is not the Buddhism of Japan. The latter, although it has not imposed any monstrous deeds upon the people, es some other hsathenisms do, has nevertheless been clog upon their prog ress. If there should ever be great war between China and Japan,-and the two
 
 T suppose the Chinese would take pleas, ure in despoi!ing these marvellous temples and tombs. The Chinese have a reputation for the careless handling of even the most valuable things at such time. If they should rage these ancient works, it would be most stupendous vandalism, one which all the civilized nations on the globe ought to resent as robbery of the world.
 Descending the steps, passed down an other long avenue and stood among the temples that cluster about the foot of the granite stair case leading up to Iyemitsu's tomb. Here the Buddhist paraphernalia was undisturbed, and the glitter of gold, lacquer and tinted woods soon wearisd the eye. Here, also, were unnatural monsters of more than life size, before which stood timorous pagans, casting their prayer r-wads at the image in the hope that it might adhere, thus betokening favorable attention to their petitions. Here was chance to divine the future, and taking pencil and paper, proceeded to write as follows:
 Shall accomplish my Round the World journey without accident to myself or friends2" Rolling this question into wad, and then salivating it, I raised my arm and was about to cast the spitball at specially ferocious looking Buddha with distorted legs and green face, when my arm was arrested. It WAS by two friends who had come up in time to gather my intention
 
 plan. Said they: Don't do it. There is nothing whatever in it, but don't do anything which may afterwards mar your pleasure in the trip. You cannot will to forget the fact if the result were unfavor- able, and the occasional remembrance of it may annoy you" So I did not test the fates. have all confidence to believe that the wad would have adhered to the idol, but the experiment was never actually made.
 Jyem!tsu's tomb proved a second edition of that of his distinguished grandfather, with some minor variations. Surfeited at length with wonders, I walked slowly back to the hotel just as the temple gongs and bells were booming out the hour of six o'clock. These bells are curious to an American. All Japanese bells are sounded by means of some sort of hammer from without. This is true even of fire bells. The bells about the temples are located in isolated belfries upon the ground. It is mystery how the massive wooden franc works were put together. Priests ring out the hours by pulling ropes which sway heavy suspended beam until it comes against the huge metal cup. EMILE.