, 1889-01-17
An Interesting yokohama Letter.

Although tie visits OF the ARGUS are
few and far between, II is none the less
welcome. 1t always brings news Of some
praiscwurthv enterprise begun by the
| citizens cf the Port OF Entry or neigh
| boring places. And FidalgO and Wild
| bv islands are tn have Il railroad too. Is
the dream Cf a great seaport actually to
bc realized? Well, money makes the
mare 20" and it builds railroads and
cities too. in mthought OF places. Your
CITY has done Il good thing ior the islands
in giving them cheap and reliable steam
cr connection. Under such fostering
care. there is no reason why the hcIutl-
ful Archipelago should not fall into the
| line ui progress. 1t Is hoped that many
oi the lonely bachelors down there may
| brin. Joy To their drcary homes hv tax
in- unto themselves help mate
/ The attention of this part ol the world
! i hciH. turned in Your direction. The
Canadian Pacific K. K. and its connect
! IN line of steamers across the Pacific, Is
i Getting Il fair share OF the trade and
travel with Asia. Recently the Japan
csn newspapers intimatcd that this GOV
rrnmcut had serious thoughts OF cncour-
aging the establishment OF Il Japanese
! line oi steamers to British Columbia and
| Washington territory. Whether this
will he done or not, it is impossible to
say. But 1t seems Il tit time Tor 4 like
movement to be made on Your side. An
American Japanese line with terminal
points at Puget Sound port and ut Go-
kohama, would hardly fail OF being pro-
fitablc. The different railroads conccn-
| trating in the Sound region should have
Il line OF trans Pacific steamers to work
directly for their interests.
During YOUR recent election excite
meut. we had Il fair glimpse OF the bat
tie field from aiar. The cable dispatches
and the frequent mails kept Us pretty
well informed respecting the movements
OF the marshalled armies. sympathy
here, was generally with the president
and his party
What do the japanese think OF the
Chinese restriction act2 They are pleas
cd with it. The Japs are no great friends
to the Chinese. John Is here, too, with
all his Objectionable features. This gov
lernment Is seriously considering the sub
jeCt OF throwing its doors open to foreign
ers. Should this he done, how tC check
the unrcstraincd inroads OF Chinese is Il
puzzling problem. \ Chinaman can
live here us cheaply as Il native. Give
him the advantages III tins inviting land
and it would not be long ere boards oi
his people would rush i'll and compete
in many OF the leading industries.
Not Il few japanese are going to the Pa
ciiic coast but by far the greater portion
; of them are students. They have got i
J taste OF western learning i'll government
schools established here. They were
not satisfied with this, but decided to e
= abroad and drink ut the fountain head
4 Hosts of them are poor. To exc out &
living while prosecuting their studies
ll.,H 70. at
a any thing that offers itself. At home
, few have been accustomed To manual Ia
bor 1t goes hard with them, but they
I bear up under it, and take pleasure IL
p living among and like foreigners. There
. is little danger OF Japanese carrying of
American gold. They want ratheI
D knowledge and skill in the various me
p chanical arts.
Your readers may be curious to know
how our climate compares with that o
e the Sound Here at Yokohama, tn,
q temperature seldom reaches above 81
deg. or falls below 20 deg Indeed b
degrees above zero is cold day for TIN
locality. IN winter We have little snow
n and not much rain. The moist season il
O at the end OF spring, and i'll the earl!
=, summer. But one skitf of snow has fal
L len this winter. Christmas with lis i
j. observed, i'll general. only by American
and European residents Native Christ
Il ians are falling into the line of tin
s Christian holiday. Apart from the 81
y cred associations OF the day, they are at
tachcd to it because OF the merry time
t it brings about the festive dinners, tn
= Christmas tree and the pleasant inter
% change OF presents. 1t takes L JapancS
- to make i first claSS Santa Claus.
q have seen some whose acts and saying
n while distributing the presents from
Christmas tree, were the source G
boundlcss merrimcnt. The Japancs
e have many holidays and public fete day
q throughout the year. But none of thcs
equals the New Year holidays. SO ia
e as possible, all business OF the old yea
} is wound up; accounts are squared and
general preparation made for Cntcrin
upon the incoming year untrammellc,
y and with Il light heart. It would seen
I as though the new year is looked upon Il
the recommencement OF the life journey
The home, without and within, is beau
'e tifully decorated and the first week i
4 spent in the exchange of salutations
The gentlemen and ladies pay their Wis
II its at separate times. No-One calls on
y friend without Il gift of some kind. Te
s and sweet meats are placed before tn
- caller, and the striCtcst formalitics oil
served. 1t is really Il beautiful sight I
pass through Il leading street during tn
= holiday season. All work seems to hav
been suspended. If the day be fine, tn
street is full of gaily dressed people
t The young ladies III their beautiful robe
:. and carefully prepared toilets, are play
:. ing battle-door and shuttle-cock Tn
u excitement and movements of the gam
d bring out all their attractions. Th
, younger boys usually seek enjoyment il
l. flying various shaped and gaudily paint
n ed kites; the elder people seek thei
pleasures in the interchange of calls, il
visiting noted temples, or in taking il
: the sights" The theaters and places G
: amusement are well patronized at thi
- season. Let joy be unconfined" seem
Il to be the watch word.
= NIPPoN.
Yokohama, japan, Dec. 27, 1888.