Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-09-30
Bishop Yttson In Japan.

son lett eau EIdhOiStp ou Inv AA'H 49,
gust at p. NJ. and arrived at Yoke ma,
japan. on the 10Th On the 2nd of Sc m
her he mailed letter which reached
Chsrlestown on re ,arly morning of the
2Srd. We have been kindly permitted to
make some extracts from this private letter;
STEAMER CRY OF PEKING, Aug. 18th.
ave were me, by heavy sea as soon as
we passed tine c IN Gate. The usual eff
feet was produc n many of the passen.
gers. | kept afo 3, smoked my cigar and
was ready for dinner when the gong sound
ed at 6.30 %. m. The steamer is the
largest on the Pacific. The officers are all
Americans, the walters, cooks and crew CHI
nese.
Eiday.-This morning the sea is much
smoother. and have hope that ! shall cross
without the grief of the NAL de mer. .
Auo. 13fh.-We were in sight of land UNI
Ill after went to bed on Wednesday night.
The coast trends to the north westward and
our course lay north of west, so as to keep
within sight of the shore for long time.
When | got up yesterday morning there
was nothing to be seen but the wide waste
of ocean, the heavens above and few gulls.
This morning they have disappeared. l
suppose we are now two far from land for
their strong wings. The route is to
the northwestern the great circle as they
call it-instead of straight across. 1t Is
about the same distance-going around the
base of the hill rather than going over IT.
y Ny appetite is good and the fare Is
eood-a mixture of American and Oriental
Cookery. One day is like another.
The same routine Of sleeping, eating, walk
ing. talking. reading, with the same vision
of the wide seas and not sail in sight.
Nav He who founded the earth upon the
seas and established it upon the floods have
us all on land and sea in the keeping OF his
almighty hand.
Auq. l6.-We had prayers read by the
purser yesterday, Sunday, morning, after
which preached a short sermon to the
passengers. The Captain says that
July and August are the best months OF the
wear to cross the Pacific. TyphOons only
come in the Chinese seas-nOne this side OF
Japan. We will go as far north as
the 4Sth parallel. 1t is lonely voyage.
We have not seen q sail since we lost sight
of land-not an iceburg-not whale
nothing to break the monotony OF the seas
but few gulls who follow us from day to
day. full thousand miles from the nearest
land. have made acquaintance
with many of the passengers, very intelli-
gent men, widely travelled and glad to have
some one to talk with. English, Spaniards
and Japanese, with four or five Americans,
and about 800 Chinese steerage passengers,
make up the company.
Auq. 2Oh.-We are now some minutes
north of 49, latitude and going due West,
If YOU look at the map you will see that
this course brings us near the Aleutian Is
lands and not very far from Kamschatka.
We are now a little more than half way
across. We expect TO reach the har-
Dor of Yokohama tomorrow week. This
is Saturday and tomorrow will be Monday,
SUNDAY being the dropped day. This al
WAYS happens at 1902 West Longitude.
Among our japanese passengers Is their
minister to Russia, who has his wife with
him. She is a typical Japanese woman IN
face, Just as we see it in books. She dresses
after the American fashion and is very
prim and childlike in department and
speech. 1t is infec ous to hear her laugh.
The prince is very democratic specimen
in appearance and in his association with
his suite. They keep the cabin very lively
with their uncouth, unintelligible speech
and constant laughter. We cannot
begin the route through Palestine earlier
than the middle of February. In that case
we must either give up Palestine, or make
up our minds not to get home until the last
of April.
Aaqust FL write for the last time on
board the steamer 1t is now Friday
night, and, If God permit, we will land at
Yokohama on Monday morning.
Good night-good morning. You are just
thinking of getting up 6 a. M Friday
morning. | am just thinking OF going to
bed Friday night.
Yokohama, dug. So conclude this
writing on Asian soil. God has given us a
singularly quiet and prosperous voyage.
After seventeen days and twelve hours from
time of sailing-not, of course, counting
the day we dropped from our calendar-we
came to anchor in Yokohama bay at 2:3O
this morning. The last two days on the
steamer-Saturday and Sunday-were beau
tiful. We had heavy showers for an hour
each morning, then clear skies, smooth
seas, rapid sailing, and, at the close of each
day. a glorious sunset, the only sunsets we
had been able to see on the Pacific. Clouds
and fogs had completely obscured all the
others. | was in mood of sublime indo-
lence yesterday afternoon watching the RIP
pies made by the steamer on the smooth
surface of the sea, when some one called
out "land" All the glasses on board were
at once called into service and eyes were
strained to get a glimpse of the desired
coast. soon saw it with the naked eye,
living like a thick bank of cloud a foot
above the horizon. Soon, as 1t rose, 1t took
the outline and aspect of mountain range,
which by and by separated into two, then
into three ridges, the OutermoSt projecting
at points into the sea; and 1t was not long
before we could discern the trees upon the
tops and sides of the mountains. SO we
watched all the changing features OF the
new and unknown coast until the sun began
TO set. A broad black mass of cloud stood
above leaving belt of clear sky between
itself and the mountain ridge. The sun
first fell behind the cloud and, itself invisi-
Bile, flooded the clear space beneath with
rich orange colored light. Then it came
out below the cloud, a perfect disc of gold
en- light and, slowly passing through tLein-
tervening belt. went down behind the noun
tains, our first sunset in Asian lands We
sat still watching land 0nd light in the dim
distance until nearly eleven o'clock, then
went to bed. | was up early aud, putting
my head out of my port hole, saw first
young girl of about sixteen years, whose