Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-10-21
Extracts From Private Letter FROM
Japan.
HIROSHIMA, Sep. 10, 1891.

HIROSHIMA, Sep. 10, 1891.
Many thanks for your very kind letters
which thought to answer in the VACATION
but the two or three weeks rest which al
lowed myself was all too short for visit OF
two weeks to Kobe-including short
visit to Arima, and the replying to the
many letters which had promised my
self should form one of the pleasing diver
sions of my "yasumi" rest. Arima IS
mountain resort about twelve or fourteen
miles from Kobe. A ride by railroad of
about fifteen minutes brings you to sunni
yoshi. Here you exchange the more mod
erm mode of travel for one that was very
common in this country before foreigners
gained access-you get in kago basket
and according to your weight are carried
by two, three or four men. take 1t for
granted that you have seen pictures OF the
kago and will need no description here
There was quite party of us for the kago
men and they thought they would make a
"spec," so they became, as we say in Japa-
nese, very "yakamashi." Dr. wainwright
had the party in charge. We arrived at
the Arima hotel about II p. m; as we had
brought our supper with US and eaten 1t at
one of the tea houses on the road, we did
not eat the supper which they had prepared
for us at the hotel We were sent about
two or three squares further to an annex
of the hotel for our lodging. Miss Kerr
from China, Miss Harlan of our mission,
recently returned to America), Mrs. Shaw
and myself roOmed together We gave
Miss Kerr the bedstead Ia primitive looking
affair and we slept on futOns on tie floor.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rollins and the children had
the room next to ours. DIR. and Mrs. Vain
right slept down stairs, of necessity, there
being only TWO chambers in the upper sto-
nv. | was SO unfortunate rs to lose my
gold trimmed glasses on the trip, and a few
DAYS later lost my eyeglasses. ] missed
them sadly. DIR. j. w. Lamhuth kindly
loaned me pair of his, which he has out
grown, until can get others.
\ most destructive typhOon visited Hi
roshima on last Monday nth Roads,
bridges, fences, buildings, trees, all succumb-
ed to its violence. We were very unfortu-
nate, and yet it might have been so much
worse that gratitude fills our hearts for de-
liverance from greater and apprehended
dangers.
Our house is considerably damaged-the
rain falling in torrents and the wind blow
ing with such a hurricane.like violence
blew off large quantity of the stuccoing,
the glass in the windows was broken and
some of the inside plastering loosened and
fell. But the greatest trial and largest loss
was the demolition of our new kindergar-
ten building. 1t was almost ready for oc-
cupancy and Miss Gaines and Miss Koga
THE japanese Kindergarten were so proud
of it and so anxious to get into it. Near II
stood large straw shed under which the
children played in warm weather and the
gymnastic classes drilled-this gave way
early in the storm anu was blown down
about one o'clock. About halfpast two or
three p. N. the kindergarten building fell.
You may be sure it was great trial TO those
earnest, enthusiastic kiudergartners thus to
see their new building yield to the ferocity
of the storm before their very eyes. The
| typh0on came from the south lsea) we
could keep the shutters on the north side OF
the house open and watch the fury of the
storm When the kindergarten fell, Miss
Koga aud dropped upon our knees and re-
manned a few minutes in silent prayer
When arose thought of the words of job
The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken
away: blessed be the name of the Lord.
About five O'Clock the storm subsidized
At prayers that night Miss Gaines proposed
that we should have praise meeting fol-
our preservation We sang the hymn
"How firm foundation We saints of the
Lord
The younger children had left before the
storm began in earnest, but most of the
larger scholars were in the building. They
were so quiet and exercised so much self
control during the storm. The next morn
ing we had photograph taken of the
wreck We hope to sell some of the pic
lures and use the money in rebuilding
The debris is about all cleaned away and
the carpenters will probably go to work
next week to rebuild. Mr.. Waters, Miss
Gaines and had each subscribed fifty dol
lars toward the erection of this new build
ing. The straw-shed, which was put up in
June, cost US $50.
We trust that our Father will bring good
out Of this apparent misfortune.
The public schools in some parts of the
city were much damaged and there has
been great financial loss Three or four
men were drowned at the port, and the ship
ping ciait injured.
Will Hon. VA a. Iravers be our next
Governor? d lac d,sir, it, | wish him
success. l.. G. ).
SLeIreFed and Cured.
First | WAS -kywerrd and then | was
cured, says ,loues. and he laughs heartily
over his little Joke Well, let him laugh
Let laugh WHO wins. He was skewered
through and through by dyspepsia and its