The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-05-28
LETTER FROM LYDIA l.. DAVIS.
observations in Japan and Corea.
THURSDAY. Oct. 9th, 1889.

THURSDAY. Oct. 9th, 1889.
This morning we went on shore at Kobe, and
were entertained at the home of Miss Barrows.
l wish you copld see their pleasant home.
Around the yard is Il high hedge of evergreen.
We entered through the ga'eway and saw a two
story wooden house with blinds. The wide
veranda at the front of the house had an upper
story to it The roses were blooming in the
yard-such beautiful ones-such as we get at
home in the greenhouse. The English Ivy was
growing on one end of the house. and the
madeira vine twined gracefully round the posts
of the front porch so much like yours. mamma.
The place is situated on a hill, and from the
veranda you have fine view of the bay. only Ii
short distance from the house. How good our
meals tasted after the ship food (Which. though
good, had not the home taste of that at Miss
Barrows) Ihis home, where live Miss Barrows
Miss Dudley and Miss Howe. is sometimes call
ed saints ReSt.' IL seemed truly so to be.
This p N ut quarter of three. Sir D and 1
started for NunObiki OR the Mt of the Noon :,
as it is sometimes called. In half hour our
rikishas bought US TO the fo2t of the mountain.
Leaving our rilIshas, but having the men ac-
company us, we commenced the ascent. When
some distance up. we stepped aside from the
main path, and such view as came before our
eyes one only sees by rising above and lookin 6
down and over it all.
distance lends enchantment to the view.
And robes the mountain in its azure hue"
The mountain sIoped to the plain below. " hich
lay between and the city. The level ground
was carefully laid out and well cultivated. Like
a snake creeping along, SEEMED the railway
train; on the waters edge were the houses
cuddled close together children might run
| and pause close to the waters edge; there the
| bay and the ships lying so quietly at anchor
! upon its bosom. and over and beyond, rising il
the glory. were more mountains, almost hiG
| from view by the haze which hung over them
Thus it is with most of our lives, were we tt
look back upon them; in the distance were tn,
mountains of trouble and difficulty which W.
have had 10 ascend, but then came the times o
rest and calm. as the peaceful bay which lay 8
, our fset.
But we were not at the summit: there wer
more steps to climb. We turned our back OF
the view ard before us rose the mountains
thickly woOded with pines. We soon came 10
tea house just thatched roof sn parted b
poles. Here an old woman and a girl served Il
tea from tiny little cups much like my doll cup
at home Then, refreshed. we went on. W
soon came to a beautiful place where there wa
gorge, and all the mountains seemed to slop
tains were about as stesp as the roof OF a houst
and the valley was deep and very narrow. Th
lights and shadows were most beautiful in thei
tints. Beyo1d, we could catc1 a glinpse of III
level plain with its cultivated fields, the ba
with its SAILS. Like painted ship upon
painted ocean - Above. the clouds were colder
as the descending sun cast Brilliant rays upo
them Still higher we climbed, and lookIn
down we saw a little pond in tie valley beloy
like q gem dropped from heaven in;o tn
beautiful setting of mountains. The stillne
was perfect and as one stands speechless beto
IL beautiful painting, SO we looked at the mou!
tains, their SUBMITS kissed by tie setting su
and the ravine which was soon to be lost
darknes
The western waves of ebbing day .
uolled Ger the glen their level way;
Each purple pc k, each 1inUy sptre.
, Was bathei in flood, of liyiL 6 fire
But nos setting beam could glow
Within the dark ravines below
Sir w alter Scott
2 Again we 4me to a tea-hcusc and again we
y glad to slake cur thirst Her. We LEFT the ma
path ard saw again the same view of the b
we had had before, only its beauty was mere;
r. ed By our altitude O. if you could but ha
seen it, Below was sire ch CT level COUNT
probably 10 miles long. There were three v
Z lage5 on this plain-the little houses in cIust'
q looked like toys. We could see the terminus
the bay and the low range of mountains on
other side. 1t was getting dusk, and much
= we desire to reach the summit of the m;
moaatain, We retraced our steps. not vsishi
to be out after DARK. We might truly say
one has said:
20, sacred firms. ho@ pioud " look
How high yoa lift your heads into the say.
How huge you are! how mighty and how fr
Ye are the things til az tower that shine, VIII