The National tribune., 1891-11-19

new made friends, the little hoy, who rushed mp
TO ms, and scizing Jack Ly the hand led Us into
the courtyard Of pleasant.looking house.
Here we found our boat mates having little
open-air party with some friends Evidently
We had been spoken OF, for they all received
as with
PLEASANT WELCOME,
and we were given the place Of honor and soon
supplied with the staples Of the ieast-tea. rice
cakes, sponge cake swectmeats, and tobacco.
The entertainment took place in the garden,
where a miniature lake, with artistic rock
work, stone bridge dwarfed pine trees. and
Towering plants made its smallness look large
The party were sitting upon the grassy hillock
near the lake.
Our coming was the signal for a good sub.
staHtial supper 10 make its appearance, and
the next two hours were passed in discussing
the numbeTlcss dishes which were served. Our
little mailons played the part Of hostesscs as
well as walters, and, after we were oyeried,
pressed more upon Us with raillcry at our poor
appetites.
When the twilight deepcucd into night we
were invited 10 the house and nartO0k with
the family the evening hot bath. Several loose
iOwiug robes were pressed upon us by our
host, and the sisters insisted upon dressing as
IN fuil japanese costume. The house, large
one, was thrown into one room by the removal
Of all the sliding screens, aud apparently the
whole village invited TO meet rs.
Music and dancing not as good rs the pro-
fessiOual, with games in which we took part
passed away the evening Tho young men,
with many apologies, asked as many questions
regarding the customs, laws, obscTvauces in
the United States the strength Of foreign ma
tious, in fact pressed us hard 10 satisfy their
thirst after knowledge, aud each answer was
seized with ayidity aud many a mOoted ques-
ton was settled. luk-hOrn aud pen took down
much, so that Jack aud ] were guarded in the
answers we gave, lest we should deceive these
simple scarchers.
At the FIRST sign that we were getting tired
our visitors, with repeated acknowledgements
Of the pleasures Of the evening, withdrew.
oar host proposed 20 prepare US for sleeping.
Waving ceremony. we had our beds made la
the common sceping-roum, where each had
his own bed. With drOWsy Communications 10
the good care Of Buddha, they babe ms sleep
well. and all were soon i'm the land Of dreams.
When we woke we found the house put 10
rights, the partitions in place and a subdued
murmuT Of voices, with sundTy fixing sounds,
/ proved that eatables were being prepared.
! After preparatory noise, 50 as not 20 iutrude
/ upon them in the midst Of any morning Office,
we emerged from the room which had grown
around rs, and Offered our morning salutations.
] One Of our maaens was busy over the fire,
while the other with a cloth and hot water
way Of doing this IS too unique 10 be left out.
! Wrinpng out cloth la hot water, the person
places 10 at one end Of a corridor, and then,
pressing il down with both hands rapidly
/ pushes il along as fast as the feet can prOpel
1 the body. Arriving az the end, IL is placed on
the next board, aud the human mon rushcs
! back 30 the beginning. And SO on, tan every
! inch has been gone over. While at work the
| japanese as a rule, free their arms from the
/ deep square sleeve, and the robes drop to the
waist held there by the belt. Such was the
custom until the civilized foreigner, by his
| evident relish for the nude taught them the
lesson that 10 be natural and comfortable
WAS TO BE IMMoDEsT.
! Now, upon the approach Of a foreigner, japanese
women very quickly cover themselves until he
! is out Of sight. Among their own race they still
see no wrong In this exposure, aud after seven
! years Of acquaintance with them have failed
! 20 note a single instance Of immodcsty in the
! country la man. woman, or child. This morn
1 ing, ] presume they looked upon Us as part OF
! the family FOR, after a brisk morning saluta-
! tion and an inquiry IL We had slept we'll they
went on with their work.
The mother we found washing ont our long
stockings aud pausing for a moment she
smilingly remarked that as we were FAR from
home, she thought she would play house
woman for ms. The things were so0u finish
| Cd, and our breakfast WAS announced. As we
had our choice, we ate Ia the garden. The fresh
fish aud omelct seemed twice as nice as il
would have indoors
While we fingered over the coffee and smoke
| a beyy Of girls, our friends of tho preceding
! evening, came in, and suggested that we have
a picnic in the afternoon. There was a high
| hill Just back Of the village, with a temple,
and from there we could gam Gne view. We