The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-02-12
As 1t is In Japan.

The following extracts which we
are permitted to make from a private
, letter lately received from Mrs. NJ. l..
Brewster, will be read with much in
terest we are sure by her lola friends:
do not think there can be any 9TH
er people in the world who come so
near utilizing everything under the
sun as the Japanese.
They raise and consume immense
quantities of rice, and use all the
straw. from which they make all
kinds of hats, also roofs to their hOus-
es, awnings, "shOje' or storm doors,
mating for their floors, and baskets
of all shapes and sizes. The larger
baskets are used to carry farm pro-
ducts and every variety of merchan-
disc. The refuse of the innumerable
fish that they eat is used as fertiliz-
er, combined with other manures,
more especially human eXcrement,
which is all religiously saved by
means Of large stone or wooden tubs,
placed at convenient intervals along
the streets. These tubs are some
times protected by covers; the con-
tents are taken out and carried in
open pals to the city gardens or farms.
Think of the combination when the
time comes for using it and you will
wonder, with us, why everybody
doesn't die with typhoid fever. Many
do and the missionaries are very often
attacked soon after their arrival in
Japan.
Many useful and beautiful things
4 hn ,Nf
which are carved in lovely patterns.
The carvings in wood and stone are
marvellous, everything being done
with the simplest tools. The bridges
across small streams are often made
of one stone cut i'm the form ofan arch,
and strong enough to bear the heav-
lest loads. These heavy stones, as
well as everything else, are carried
on the backs of men and women. \
woman not larger than an ordinary
twelve or fourteen year old American
girl, carried large cooking stove,
belonging to one of the lady mission
aries, from the port, Kanaiwa, five
miles away, and it is nothing uncOm-
mon to see both men and women car
rying heavy loads of wood, charcoal,
or grain twice as large as themselves.
The Japanese are great lovers Ofthe
grotesque. They shape and twist
trees into all kinds of forms, and the
farther they are from the natural or
der the more they are priced. Curious
formations in stone are sold for good
prices, and at some of the poorest
homes it is not unusual to see an old
and twisted knot of wood, through
NK-h n l. in1 inf 90
stone, cut in petrified stump of some
old tree. These petrifactions are num-
erous, and finer than any hav0 ever
seen elsewhere. There is a petrified
stump here at the front door with bark
on it as natural as when it was alive
and growing.
There is still a great deal of suffer-
ing in the earthquake region. We
have had an unusually early winter,
great deal of wind, cold rain and
early snow. In some places. where
whole villages were destroyed, the
people will be huddled together under
few boards covered with straw mat
ting: that, for shelter, and very little
to eat. The government has done
much, and benevolent societies
throughout the empire are helping.
Foreigners in Japan have subscribed
nearly 10000 yen, and about half as
much more has come from foreigners
in China, but still more is needed.
Houses of some kind must be built for
half million people. 1t has been es-
timated that huts can be put up for
about $500 that will comfortably Shell
ter a family during the winter.
The date October 9th 'QI iS ono
long to be remembered by all people
in Japan. 1t was the first earthquake
shock | ever felt. We have had many
lighter ones since, but l hope will
have no more.