St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-02-16
In thinking of Japanese city streets

ours Oh Tic SAME pIdH. mOSG OI tuOiI
are of wood with paper sliding screens
for doors and windows. Shop door
are always open upon the street during
the day, so as we ride along we can SCI
nearly everything inside. The shol
women sit around the "hibachi' warm
ing their fingers. This is copper
lined box, either round or square, con
tanning ashes in which charcoal is KEEP
bright and really gives out quite lit
tie heat. We visited the Mikado''
temple and the University buildingi
from which l saw the sun set behind
the mountains, over which Fuji Yama
towers like a queen as she surely is
| saw it at a distance of seventy miles
1t is a landmark unique in itself. There
are many delightful things about this
country, but one which has most de-
lighted me is the constant presence OF
the mountains and hills.
While we were at tea this evening
Mr.. and Mrs. Funce came in to see
Miss Gulick. Mrs. F. was protege OF
Miss CTS and graduate of the girls
school at Kobe. Mr.. F. was educated
at KyOtO and is now preaching in a
town seyenty-five miles from Toxic.
! They came all that distance on the
cars with a baby one year old, to see
her. They begged and plead with Miss
G.. to go home with them, or at least to
send some Christian lady to their
place. They feared they could not
keep up their school without foreign
help. 1t was really pitiful to see them
urging so hard and not be able to give
them encouragement of help. She has
bright animated face and seemed
very happy.
Dec. L. At half past eight this
morning we started for Asakusa, the
great Buddhist temple of the city. On
the'way we passed a great idol of wood
or bronze without temple surroundings.
Further on we passed a great many
small Buddhist temples. The jinrik-
sha men left us several rods from the
great temple entrance. They are not
allowed to go nearer. We walked up
we'll paved street lined on both sides
with shops of every description. A
large covered gateway opens into a
court. On each side of the entrance
is an immense idol, each one surround
ed by wire netting for protection
from injury. In front of each is IL box
for offerings of rice or money, accord
ing to ones ability. These idols are
nearly covered with paper spit balls,
also the screens the balls represented
prayers which are offered. If they sue
coed in hitting and sticking to them
the prayers will be answered, so they
are really distressing looking objects.
The court between the gate and tenn
pie proper has many shade trees, and
here, too, were vendors with various
things to sell to wOrshippers for offer
ings or to others. The court was al
most literally covered with tame doves
who fly about without fear of disturb
ance. A crowd began to gather as
soon as we left our jinrikshas, aad had
assumed considerable proportions by
the time we reached the temple.
Miss Whitman began to distribute
tracts, and the crowd surged around
her so she could hardly move. She
gave as many as possible to men as
they are more likely to be able to read,
Inside were a number of small idols
with worshippers, an offering being a
necessary accompaniment to each.
One which struck me particularly was
a wooden one, which if rubbed by any
one in pain on the portion of the body
where his own pain is he will be re-
lieved. 1t is a noticeable fact that it
is worn nearly smooth so that it looks
like polished log of wood. By pay
ing few "sen" and taking off our
shoes we were permitted to go into the
holy place where the priests with shaw
en- heads preside. Incense was burn
ing before some of the shrines, and Of
ferings of fruits and vegetables were
placed before the idols to be taken
down and eaten by the priests after a
certain time.
After satisfying our curiosity here
we returned to our jinrikshas and
started for Japanese restaurant
where they advertise to give meals in
foreign style. 1t took from eleven
o'clock till half past twelve to get that
lunch and eat it, another case of "good
for us. After this Miss G..
and [ went to the r. r. station and
bought tickets for Yokohama and
spent the night at the missionary home
of which Miss Crosby is the head. 1t
is under the direction of the Woman's
Union Missionary society of N. Y,
think. DR.. Kelsey who used to be at
the seminary, is lady physician there.
In the evening heard singing class
about thirty. Their sing
ing would be credit to any class of
the same age and size in America. One
of the Japanese teachers accompanied |
with the organ and the American
teacher with the piano. To say | was
delighted is expressing it mildly. At
ter the singing was over the japanese
and Eurasian girl who is al
so a music teacher played an organ
and piano duet, selection from Mo
zart's twelfth mass. | have heard no
music equal to it since | was at Am
herSt Last summer The next MORN