The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-03-23
dhe drartler.
THROUGH JAPAN.
An American Naval ohieer'- Tourney
Through the In crior Of Japan



1Esr LETrEE.
Starting oat one brigh, morning We lef, lo-
kohama, bound for she island of EaoshiHa
and the village Of Kamskura. For the great
or par, of ,be way our roa,e lay along the
Tokaido. the national histway cf the Empire,
and The scene Of soac OF the herces' tights m
Japaa in the old fcg3Al days pur'ng oar
ride ue passed az sorts % dress and chasNe-
ters. the uaerchAu, uj,h h,s wares strapped
on a pack maIc. tyzEzrs. BALI naked epoiics
drasrsnE the bage elsmsy carts used 10 Japan
for Transporting merchandise, the universal
i,uriraisha. priests wNh shaycn crowns, 4
gang of criminals yokci together IN pairs
dragging themselves along under the care Of
q military o.hcial. an3 iiually ohildgeu imam
erable in their camic4l dryss, playing AloaE
the road wholly regardless Of auy danger
from vehicles or ho1ssmcu, are among the
types enc meet, ip 5 journey aious she To-
kasdo. Passing rumcsoas villages and tea
bouses 80 caae 10 4 hAls in the a,ils sown Of
Eafase, uhsrc our drive came 20 an ena.
Esasaia,a IS reached from kaiasc BY a aar>
row ncek 81 .and at ,ow tide, vh'lc a. The
aooi the island can only Be approached by
boat Crossing over IN a large fat boitomed
sc5w. iu which ne werr tndiscrimina'cly
haddlra along wigh coolies, i1a!es aud
provisions. We Ascca3ed a street Of steps,
Iiaea on either SIDE uj,h shops and booths,
containing bsaa,ifal specimens of aaisve soFk
and curioa,ies gathered from the depths Of
the sca. amoas which nc noticed some very
6ue specimens Of that peculiar PrOdsei called
glass spougg.
srrrEE IS E1rAN.
By tbs ,iaag wr had arrived Al oar desiiaA.
tioa aigh, ha4 closed ia and sc wesv shankfal
10 see our hos,elry loom in sight. Coolies
took charse Of oar ,raPs aud usheFcd as into
the hoase. whcrc a 10, Of brghi eyed girls
PREPARED rooms t0r oar use. Thai sappsr
was being prepared we we're soon made a~sFe
by ,he hustle ia the k.tchra aud the 0dor o.
fryinz ii.h pvrsai.ng the house Tea and 10
N~a wcro p-olaeel 20 pass the tino, and.
shortly afer-we pcgc seated On the iloor in
true japanese style, dryouriug she Ssh and
ur,wns for whieh Eaoshila j. 50 celebrated.
The food was br0ugh, in on luie black
lAcqaered tables, a foo; square and about ioas
inches high. Each person received one O'
these tables coutAi ajug his allotted portion OF
the rcp1si, consisting Of sgup.iu b'i!e lacquer
ed bowls. raw fish % vAuoas kinds, IN neat,
4 a g.F al
porcelain plates containing picked radishss
and rchshes Having finished this portion Of
the feasi. second table was gwen each one
with small birds, rice fixed up in various says
and boiled or steamed, as ooiy the Chinese OF
japanese eau prepare rice, ,swsclmeais, fruits,
and finally, to complete the Fepast, ieA, sake
and the inevitable tobacco b1s were produced.
The soap Is drank from bowis, as spoons arr
not provided, while the solid food Is carried
to the mouth by means OF chop sticks, which
are held by the thumb and fingers OF the Tigh'
hand, aud ia a short time one becomes dex
ferrous enough in their use to dispense altogeth
er With a fork. The ride bad gwen zesi tC
our appetites, aud we came TO the unanimous
opinion that We could worry along en- native
food very we'll until our return TO fokohami
without any immediate fear OF starvation
Shortly after supper our curiosity as to how
We were to be put up for the night was allayee
By the preparations for sleep. The floor wa
cleared Of the remnants of the meal, and tbs
Japanese fatons or beds brought forth from
closets hidden in the walls, the hibacd va
loaded up with fresh charcoal and square pa
per lanterns standing on four slender leg
were placed around the room, giving sickl.
light from a string Of wick floating in a bow
of oil. Our beds made up, the tea and sax
repleuished, the attendants, with prostratiOn
innumerable. smilingly bade us sdyoadrd, 0
good bye, aud left US to our own resources.
SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS.
The japanese bed consists, first, of the il
ton, thin mattress, tightly stuffed with VOC
or cotton, which is laid upon the floor; for
covering, a sort Of afghan, heavily wadde
and fitted with wide sleeves, into which tn
arms are thrust; then, with a kimoH0 for
night dress, aud for pillow a small stool
having crescent shaped piece cut out for th
neck, our sleeping outfit was complete. W
were awakened early in the morning by ii
girls of the house, who, dispensing with ii
formality of knocking, sailed gracefully int
the room and announced breakfast. I'll
Japanese rooms, though probably we'll adaptt
to the natives, would seem to European
lack suficiency, privacy and comfort. II
rooms are only separated by light sliding Ia
ticed screens, covered with paper, while Il
frame of the house is thin and filed wi
cracks, giving full play to the wind at nigh
Chairs, tables and standing beds are unknow
except in an Europeanized Japanese hous
and, moreover, the native does not need theE
The floor is covered with fine, heavy ma
ing, of a quality never seen outside of Japa