The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-03-23

/ visit to this spot At these times the roads
{ and tea houses are filed with q well dressed,
( happy looking crowd of people, who give
themselves up to the unreotrained enjoyment
of nature without any thought Of the troubles
and vexaiious of life. Toxic also contains
/ the principal schools of Japan. Colleges oi
engineering, medicine and law are firmly es-
tabiished, with a large faculty composed prin.
cipsly of Europeans. The Naval School, for
the education of aspirants for the naval
service, is also located here, aud has been in
successful operation for some time.
SECOND LETTER
In my last letter gave an account of our
experience in Toxic and other points in the
vicinity of Yokohama. Since then we have
visited Hoke. Osaka, Kio,o, and leisurely
made the passage through the famous Inland
Sea to the other end of Japan. Leaving Go-
kohama we steamed down Yeddo Bay, and
soon were again on the broad Pacific, and
that night those who were not seaslck were
al least uncomfortable in the boisterous
weather experienced ia rounding the prOmon-
tory OF Omai Sakai, the Cape Hatteras of the
japanese coast. Passing through the Xii
Channel, We dropped anchor, after voyage
Of two days. in the harbor OF HiOgo or Kobe,
a, the eastern end Of the Inland Sea. The
E-ropean settlement is designated by the
name Of Kobe, aud is comparatively new
,uwn. with fuc, deep harbog. and a CON
merce SECOND only 10 that Of Yokohama.
Hioso, The native town, Is separated from
Kobe by 3 small stream, and the combined
population Of the two towns Is about 50,00o,
Of which looO comprise the foreign element.
Koke aud It's suburbs are rieb in natural beau
,ies. the city rises from the edge Of the bay
on a gentle inclination 10 the foot Of a series
Of high hills, an whose green sides numerous
groves. temples, shrines, picturesque tea
houses aud celebrated waterfall. combine to
make il sceuc Of unsurpassing loveliness.
Throughout Japan bot springs abound, many
of them highly imprcgnated wi;h mineral salts.
and ,hey appear 70 be distributed ali over the
country withoa, any regard to volcanic dis
tricts A, Arima, famous watering place,
1 iew miles from Kobe, are found warm ehaly
bea,r springs, with a temperature OF lOO'
Fab. whilc in other sections OF the county
notably IN the neighbofhoad of Nlkko and
Miranoshi,a. a short distance from lokohs-
ma. ths Temperature Of the 40, sulphur springs
rises 10 the boiling point Of water. A rail
~ay connects uioso ~i,h Otsu. on the shores
Of Lake Biwa, passing through Kobe, Osaka
and Eio,a, distance Of about 10 miles, and
this, With the roads frou Yokohama to Toxic
and from Tsnruga, on the Sea OF Japan, to
the interior, eousiita,es the railway system
Of the Empire, altogether about 800 miles
OSAKA
Aa hours ride through n eouHlry devoted
principally to tea growiug broagh' Us to the
city Of Osaka. situated on the delta at the
mouth Of the Yodo river, Hundreds OF ca
mails from the rivcr iuterseet the ;oSn, while
the bridges namber somewhere IN the neigh
borhood Of = thousand, from which Osaka
derives is name as the Venice OF Japaa.
Osaka was formerly The creates, commercial
CITY Of Japan, and maintains this position yet
as far a. internal intercourse : concerned, u
being the great depot Tor the reception OF the
products aud manufactures of the surround
ing country. Life IN the city j. very gay and
the inhabitants seem very fond OF amusement.
Theatres and kindred places Of amusement
flourish TO a greater extent than in any other
part Of Japan. The principal object Of in
teresg ia the city is the castle, surrounded on
ali sides by large mOats. massive stone walls
and gravel zateways, II forms one of the most
imposing structures in japan. Passing over
the castle bridge aud up the long flight OF
stone steps we found ourselves in a labyrinth
Of lofty walls and buildings of the old palace,
the barracks and official quarters Of various
kinds. while beyond there we're the parade
grounds for cavalry and infantry exercises.
On calling on the eommandant we were re-
ceiyed with the pOliteness SO characteristic OF
the Japanese people and officials; he detailed
an officer TO accompany Us to the ramparts,
from which magnificent view Of the town
aud castle grounds could be obtained and to
the principal points Of interest within the
fortress. This castle is especially notable for
the huge blocks of granite used in the con
struction of the walls, many of them being
over 10 feet long, 10 fee! vide and cores
pondingIy thick. Among the many temples
to be found in Osaka, the oldest, and, proba-
bly,. the most famous, is that Of Tennoji,
founded in the earliest days of Buddhism in
Japan, about 1900 years ago. Numerous
shrines and fine pagoda, seven stories in
height, are { uud in the district, while among
the treasures shown were q ceremonial gown
of Buddha and manuscript and images for
which an antiquity of from 1900 to 1900 years
was claimed. The coinage Of Japan is done
! at the Osaka mint, which was established in
1870, under English superintendent, and
consists of a number of buildings of modern
style of architecture and finely equipped with
the latest designsin machinery. GOld' silver
| and copper coins are minted, and now but
few foreigners are employed, the work being
almost entirely done by native talent.
/ KIOTO.
A Journey of about thirty-fve miles by raj
! = L. % H., W.,.,.r