The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-05-04

How Travellers Arc Accommodates In tho
Flowery Kingdom.

Bsw Travellers Arc Accommodates I'm the
Fiowery Kingdom.
Uron Letter In the San Francisco Chrondcle.l
Life in Japanese hotel is q revela-
tion of careless ness one would have to
travel far TO duplicate. The construc-
ton of the house is responsible for
much of this, for every room is entered
from q corridor open to the sunlight
and general use, the sliding paper
screen when in position admitting all
the light that ground glass would give.
The occupants are served with their
meals in tleir rooms, each person or
dering as he desires at any moment
during the day or evening. An order
given for q meal to be served, is filed
Immediately. A clap of the hands
summons servant TO attend to you,
and that without delay. The matted
floor is the sofa to lounge upon, there
being provided cotton or silk-quilted
cushion for the use of each person.
During the day it is very rare to find
the screens closed at the front of any
room occupied by visitors. The inte-
rior of every department is as open as to
the inspection of every one in the house
as it is to the uses of the occupant.
The conversation is the property OF
neighbors as well, unless carried on in
a very low tone. At night the bedding
arrangements are prepared when re-
quired. A number of thick quilts,
piled one upon the other, complete the
outfit, with rest for the head. A light
is placed in the room that is supposed
TO burn all night. 1t is q small taper,
placed in a vessel containing n vege-
table oil that is put inside of small
lantern made of paper, standing some
three feet high. The preparation OF
food at the hotels is a proct SIS that can
be witnessed by the guests, as the
kitchen and cooking facilities are placed
in open view of all. Kitchen, store
room, pantry and general Office of the
establishment generally occupy the
most conspicuous room on the premises.
The cooking is done on portable fur
naces and charcoal fires. There are no
chimneys needed or used Fish are
usually kept in reservoir and killed
as they are needed. Fresh vegetables
are kept under the trickling water, and
in all wel-conducted places there is a
SCTupUIOuS UeAlutSS HduI4Cbb III III Iuc
culinary arrangements. Everyone,
guest or otherwise, must take off his
shoes before he can enter the establish
ment. There is no creaking noises or
trampings heard to irIitate the nervous,
and corns never trouble while one Is in
a japanese hotel. The mats upon the
floors are as yielding to the tread as the
most luxurious carpets ever made. l
wish L could say that there were no fieas
to trouble guest as he seeks to COM
pose himself, but in truth he can not,
and q great drawback it is to cne's COM
fort to be pestered with these nimble
insects that are domesticated and at
home in these places. The thick mats
upon the floor make famous places to
hide in. Mosquitoes are guarded against
by large net attached to the ceiling OF
the room and reaching to the floor, be-
ing nearly as large as the room. When
the net is in position for the night, if it
is in perfect condition, the mosquito is
left out in the cold. He may sing his
song, but he can not bite If some one
would invent some method to hive fleas
he would make his fortune quickly.