The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-10-29

especially worthy OF notice are some oaken pan.
in the same way, two of which are said to have
cost twenty thousand dollars.
There are some closters or compartments in
which are disnlsyed some very valuable and
Interesting relics. Among them are some of
the swords which once belonged to fye-Yasu.
These swords $50 The loquacious PRIEST who ac-
compan ed as guide told ils) were made by the
most famous armOrers, and that both the work
manship and the steel Of their composition is
the best produced in the empire. stand OF
ornamental bows and arrows-the dragon he'll
met and the masks used in the Shinto dances
and varie tv of other ecclesiastical and war
like relics of the departed Iye-Yasu, are on
exhibition here and are highly priced by the
Japanese. The priests attached to these tenn
pies are supported mainly by the contributions
of the devotees and by fees charged foreign
visitors for admission to these temples, They
act as guides to visitors, and expect to be- and
we guess are, pretty wei paid for the service
In addition to the temples and shrines at Nikko,
there are many other attractions in the vicin-
ity. Most of such places may be reached by
Jui-rik-s ha in few hours travel Among the
most prominent Of these attractions are num-
Der Of beautiful waterfalls, the principle one
called Hokane, which is q perpendicular fall of
seven hundred feet. A most charming lake
near by called Chui ZenJi, 1850 feet above sea
level and percied upon the very summit of the
Niko-Zan range, is reached by zigZag path
way cut in the mountain sides. The whole
distance from Nikko to this charming spot is
replete with scenery of the widest and most
romantic character.
Tea hoasns or places of refresilment line this
rugged pathway from the base to the summit
of the mountain, SO that the journey may be
made without the least fatigue. The lake is sup
posed to be the crater of an extinct volcano;
appearances Of tile surroundings Justify this
cocclusion. Nekow, place of resort for for
eigners, and Yomoto, where there are a num-
Der of hot sulphur springs, are both in this vi
entity and both very attractive places.
But find that in my attempt to give you even
this meagre description of Nikko, (the pride and
glory Of Japan,) I have carried this letter to
such length that I know | have wearied you
In conclusion and in justice to the Japanese,
beg to say, that our travels about the country
have been greatly enjoyed and our pleasure
much enhanced by the extreme politeness and
courtesy which we have every where received.
These court estes have been the more appre-
ciated from the fact that they are extended with
out the hope Or expectation Of fee or reward,
which is i'll marked contrast with similar ser
vice in ourscountry. These people may not have
reachel our standard of civilization, but i'll our
association with them their politeness and del
icacy is SO much superior to ours that we often
feel the lack of civilization ourselves
Some one in writing upon this subject has
said, that the politeness of it's people was the
flower of Japan. Certainly in many of the lit
tie accomplishments of this kind they have no
peers. 1t is not necessary to go into tine higher
things which have referred to, for the ordi-
nary ea-house girls are models of refinement,
and the conimonest coolie laborer will bow his
head to the ground in token of respect for the
slightest recognition.
This lack of civilization probably does exist,
but where shall we go to find it? In our travels
about Japan it has not been apparent We have
seen all classes of its people, the rich and the
poor-the latter, though living in the most
humble way and in the most restricted quarters,
yet maintaining cleanly and respectable APP
pearance, showing that in Japan at least pow
erty and restricted quarters are not always as
ISOLATED with coarse manners, filth and crime.
Yours, Brother, aft,
FRANK WINFIELD.
P. S.-We are pushing things along little
more actively at the qnarries and have at last
got part of machinery started. We have
thirty saws in successful operation, and hope to
be able to increase the number of saws very
soon. We have consumed a good deal of time
in making roads, piping water, locating the
leges, &c, but we hope soon to be able to com
mence active operations
These extensive quarlies covering over one
thousand acres. are situated in the Province
Of Nagaga i'll the southern part of Japan, and
are convenient to both water and rail facilities
for ShDmant. We have secured the entire de-
posit by lease, which gives us absolute contro
|. OF the entire product for term of seven years
The deposit is one Of the most remarkable
probably ever found in any part of the world,
which you will realize when / tell you that
within radius Of half a mile we can produce
every color, shade, and kind Of marble ever
found elsewhere, and in addition have left
many kinds that cannot be duplicated except
in Japan.
Among these beautiful colored marbles we
have the Gdllio-Antiqte, the Breced, and Capo-
line. The black is greatly superior to black
Belgian, and our red and gray shades, similar to
the colored marbles found in Tennessee are
far superior both i'll color and in susceptibility
to receiving the highest polish.
The Gallo Antique or beautiful yellow mar
Bile has, think, until this discovery, been I'M
known, except some fragments found In the
ruins of Rome.
We will leave Yokohama the first of October
for an extended tour through the interior, after
which will probably spend most OF the COM
ing winter at the quarries.
an greatly interested in the agricultural re-
sources of this country, and in my next letter
will try and tell you something OF it. 1t is the
most highly cultivated, the most productive
and most beautiful country have ever seen in
any part of the world, and there is no doubt
that Japan is the flower of all the Asiatic coun-
tries.
The present season has been most remarka-
Bile one and the crops are the finest and the
yield will be the largest that they have had for
a quarter of century. III happy contrast with
Europe, where the poor are starving for bread,
Japan, India and China are blessed with the
most abundant crops and will have large sur
plus above their local wants.
Rice is the staple production and the staff of
life in Japan, and good crop is the sure pre-
but failure, which some times occurs, means
untold suffering and prvation i'll the homes of
the poor But shall add no more to this al
ready too lengthy letter, only to remind you
that we shall hope to hear from you occasion
ally, and with our best wishes and most sincere
affection to all the family, am affectlonately
yohr Brother FRANK.