The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-07-07
"ROCK ME TO SLEEPw
Another Letter about Japan
and her People.
OUT ON THE PACIFIC,

June 7th, 1886.
Japan is an immense curio-store,
where, if they have not the old ar
ticles desired, they will cheerfully
make them. cage" there "is hon.
orable," especially among coins,
ivory, china and lacquer ware. The
whole country looks old; the people
look old; the infants having an
earnest, inquiring look-one appar-
emily not a year old will turn and
make an observation about us to
the parent acting as bearer. 1t is
possible to be aged and verdant, too
the hills are, and beautifully cul-
tivated. Perhaps they feel young
at heart. 1t is certain the pristine
warmth has not quite departed, for
Mother Nature occasionally wakes
and gives her sunrise empire low
ing shake.
The people, however, have diff
ferent idea. Under the Northern
Lighthouse there lies the head of
the Dragon, on which rests Japan.
At certain seasons this Dragon is
aroused and shakes himself and
wags his huge tail, making the
earth quake. The Dragon is ia
vorite device and emblem in Japan,
as shown by its figure on all sorts
of ornaments. 1t is considered a
good sign when old articles have
the emblem of the Mikado, achrys-
anthemum flower, emblazoned up
on them.
The gentle Celestial is there in
large numbers. This simple-beart-
ed idolater expects to take you in,
and generally does so and is happy.
He despises you a little for being
gullible, but overlooks it if you are
ric.f--and cali again. The latter
was more frequent than the former
in my case.
1t is strange how money seems TO
melt away. Shall sing note of
rapture on Japan? ~ cannot sing
the old songs" they have been sung
so often. I was tempted to 60 on
and say something about "nails
upon a coffin," or some such grave
idea, but thought better of 1t, and
only make the excuse we generally
do in the parlor-"I have-h'm-
such a cold" But seriously, there
are so many good works on this fa-
nous and we'll patronized country
that it would be too much like the
travels of many persons-just a 60
ing over the same ground. The
earth may be well trodden, but a
. fresh path is sometimes agreeable.
l did not sit on Daibuts' finger OF
thumb to have my photograph tax
en-, as is usual. 1t would not have
hurt him, as his thumb is three feet
around-in fact I was not there
One cannot 60 everywhere. Yes,
/ still drink tea, but is is little
F. doubtfully since l saw the tea hous
81 es and the tea stirrers. 1t was {
stirring scene! The old towns ar,
, interesting, especially Kioto ant
f Toxic. The former is beautifully
situated-There! l nearly slipped
into the groove!
/; Lake Briya was beautiful as ,
l dream (indeed more so than SOM
: l have known. l expect it still is
| 1t was still that sunny day whel
f we visited Oten, and had dinner il
r a Japanese Restaurant, from who's
: wide windows we had the view o
4 the lake on one side, on the Othe
: the narrow street with people pass
: ing up and down on foot, and il
/ Jinrickyshaws. The people as W
], passed along the streets were mucl
: interested in us, and a rather ex
;, tensive crowd kept us in view
S some offering their services a
r guides (they could not understan,
r a word we said), and others trail
, ing along with Jinricks, as if ther
: was a danger of our falling t
: pieces and needing a dozen convey
, ances out of the way. From thei
S open booth-like shops men an
l women watched us and laughed
3 Their remarks did not hurt us.
e The Temple we next visited wei
r repaid us for climbing the 235 steps
: that is to say the view from it did
: well, so did the Temple itself, wit
\ the golden-looking lilies, canopy
!, and curious pictures. The peopl
: were amiable and looked pictul