Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-04
FOURTH OF JULY IN JAPAN.
How American Residents I'm XOkO-
hama Celebrated the DAy-A Gather.
of Neutrality-suspicious..

|
Special Correspondents of TIE EVENING STAB.
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN, July 9. 1855
II may interest the readers OF The STAB 70 learn
that their absent friends In Japan celebrated the
Fourth OF July at this port in the old style as
sisted by many OF the natives and foreigners Of all
nations The day was announced at midnight by
salute from our fleet In the bay consisting OF the
flagship Brooklyn, the Monocacy and the Marion
There are nearly thirty war ships moored IN this
harbor OF which the English have twelve. At day.
break on the Fourth every ship was decorated
from stem to stern, presenting beautiful sight
All the principal business houses were closed, not
even door left ajar In the largest English banking
house. Flags ioated every where In the city, as
wei as on ship hoard. The writer had hoped TO
celebrate In new shoes, but the proprietor OF
little open shop said "me no work to-day. me work
Tomorrow"
Next door to the shoemaker was a rice mer-
chant His little shop was decorated with nags
ana paper lanterns. On one side a raised plat
form had been erected, on which sat several ma
yves amid pile OF fans and paper bundles. Two
or three attendants were dealing out rice so fast
10 the assembled crowd that their bodies swayed
up and down as each man. woman, or child upon
psnerss nresen1e1 s NJ UreW IRON punch Of twisted
shaped roll, which was given to those on the plat
form, and by them UNFINISHED, read aloud and
blanks In this Fourth of July lottery.
In other parts OF the city marines and sailors
were having a good time. They dashed about in
men on rum who look like mushrooms Some
pig stout Dutch sailors in clean suits oil white and
plue, were spreelng on the fashionable promenade
Dy four1Sh1ng an empty gin bottle and trying TO
sing and dance Their drunkenness was interest
ing ing because SO Characteristic OF their stond
less that the little japanese policemen only looked
on In wonder as the sailors sat down in their white
trousers in the mud. Later on an Irish American
had more fun than fifty Hollanders The report
next day OF the Consular Court showed that he
mad disabled one policeman to the amount OF so
a IAN nd fhAr Ifpa
man lost days time at - cents, which the de-
fendant had to pay. The "bumboat's" bill for
causing the disaster. Another seaman attracted
oy the sign OF "Bumboat" came reeling out OF the
place and, lurching against the raised floor OF
little open shop fell entirely across IT, TO the great
establishment OF the "salesiady" and her child ana
laughter OF the paSsers-by.
Al noon every war ship in port opened fire sim
ultaneously, and tremendous cannonade lasted
Tor some time, which was answered by the distant
forts. AT p. IN. reception 70 all Americans and
the lower deck were tables filled by the highest
style OF culinary art, while the gun deck was de-
voted to dancing to music by The marine band.
Those VINO were interested in the boat races
mounted TO the quarter deck to see them. The
races occupied all the afternoon and were very
interesting. The sea was rough for boats and the
distance, some miles all told rather trying the
American boats won every race The other poaus
were built more for strength than speed, and be-
Several steam launches conveyed the guests from
the landing to the ship, about a mile and half
WS Them men Their Runspg and
with. The officers and men In the English
fleet lost upward OF 5000 on the races.
The bay presented most interesting appearance
Mingled with decorative war ships were innumer-
able boats, sampans and Junks, with their. queer
looking sails filled with natives, their costumes
ranging from simple white cloth about their
lOlnS or In their own SKINS beautifully tatoed or
as PUCK In an open kiminO instead OF ureSS-coat
fo 70 Iu robe OF blue cotton Besides there were
shovelS and other like implements for oars going
about In the worst craft they could procure or in
wooden bath-Iub VIII ich he navigated with ladies.
AZ night the American ships were brilliant with
chinese lanterns. The Monocacy appeared like a
| line of her hull and rigging. The event OF the
evening, however, was an elegant dinner given By
Mr. C. Flint and his wife (,aee Miss Rou), OF Wash
lngtOn 10 their fell0w-ctHenS OF that city. Ten
Japanese friends and others, all American, made
forty guests. The table, shaped like the letter u
| had on It's white cover, two broad strips OF blue
and red arranged to make up our national coors,
! and large huted column OF flowers ornamented
| the center, made TO represent the sergeant-a at
eagle and our flag. While the elegant repast was
being served in covers, each with its Apr oprtate
| wine, Japanese military band OF twenty-five
style, In which they had been taught and alter.
ward followed the guests to the upper balcony OF
one noIei' Wnlcn races the pay, from which was an
| fireworks, set on from a boat. Those who enjoyed
| dancing kept 1t up TO a late hour.
| ihiOC VI tuC 0dpducSc ldultS wore European
dresses which do not become their style OF beauty
the others were In their own costumes, and looked
In contrast ike pretty Quakeresses. The Wash
| ingtOnianS invited were Mrs. Scidmore mother of
| our vice consul here whose handsome white hair
stately Inquire and kindly interest in our country.
men has made her the dean OF the foreign society
Lieut. Hogg, Of the Marion, and his wife, who with
the wives or many naval officers had crossed our
continent and the Pacific Ocean to Join their hus-
bands at this port. Mrs. Paymaster smith. Mrs.
Foster, Mr.. Geo. II. ScidmOre and the writer. The
| other guests were DR.. and Mrs McMurtrie Paw
| master and Mrs. Redneld, Dr. Ames and Lieut.
Waddams, Mr.. and Mrs. Morris, with Others ali
Americans. OTIS BIGELOw.