The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-08-25
coRREsPoNDEEcE.
DIR Japan LETTER.
MT. HrErzAs, NEAR Kroro, July 20, 'sa

OUh JAIAN LIE EN-.
MT. HIEIzAN, NEAR KYoTo, July 20, '93.
To the Editor of the Bdnner.-DEAR
SIR: 1t has seemed good to you occa-
sionally to publish letter from my pen
and send on another for you to use or
reject at pleasure. Thousands of the
contributors to the American Board
know nothing of the way the Mission
aries spend the hot season. 1t may be
interesting to some of them to hear a
little about one resort to which the ma
jority go in summer, viz, Mt. Hieizan.
After the intense heat has come on
which sends the Japanese into Ichi Mai
Zone thin garment or into nudity,
where they lie about painting and walt
ing for the autumn to come, you can
easily imagine the delight 1t is to get
upon a mountain side under shady and
stately trees where the temperature runs
little above 500 by day and falls to So by
night sometimes. Zigzag paths connect
the summer homes and the wide old
walks that lead to ancient and modern
temples in the mountains furnish excel
lent variety for exercise. The people
paw from eight to twenty dollars to have
floors built and then they have their
white canvas tents erected with fly over
head. The magnificent cedars and the
bamboo poles furnish strong supports to
tie to. The japanese make a superior
rope which wears well even in rains.
Some have rude wooden huts built and
use no canvas, but these are more expen-
sive, for the rains and SHOWS of winter
destroy them rapidly and people use
lumber from them if occasion seems to
them to demand. Small tents are put
up for servants and others, or sheds, for
kitchens. Servants are quite frequently
brought from home. Fresh meat and
vegetables and milk are brought every
day, also fruit, from Kvoto and we can
buy at our tent doors. We can get corn,
beets, cncumbers, cabbage, ETC., now.
The living is quite as good, if l mistake
not, as what we get through the year;
better certainly than we can get in Tsu.
Living in the open air, appetites are
good, and people get the strength they
need for coming work. There is chap
ell tent in which religious services and
socials and musicals are held, benches
and an organ being put there. Counting
children, perhaps hundred souls camp
here every summer. Children who have
had during the year almost no American
companionship outside their family find
a joy quite exhilarating in laying with
others, and thy nave special play
ground set apart for their delight. The
Views from different tents vary greatly.
Some look down upon the city Kyoto,
som e can see scarcely any of 1t. Some
tents get a deal of sun and Sc little mil
dew arises, whereas others get little sun
light. l am told that when the sun does
not shine for two weeks and the tents
are in clouds, fogs, and rains all the
| time almost everything is covered with
mildew. This is my first summer with
the mission and am hoping it will be a
dry summer. Mrs. Severance, when not
vet married, spent summer or two
| here. We do not set up boarding out
fit but 90 to tent near by and get table
board from Miss Wainwright. We like
this plan very much for it gives us more
time for study. The missionaries make
good use of their time bere l am told,
doing some of their best work ON the
| language while here in cool retreat.
Many of them employ teachers right
through the summer. 1t costs more
than to live in the homes from which
they come, but less than it would cost to
take trip to the Hokkaido or Russia.
Missionaries to China come here for rest
if very much needed. The Encampment
| choose Mayor ana OGner OlCers. w d.
ter is carried in bamboo pipes all along
the mountain side to the several tents
and of course we can drink it without
fear. Hammocks are hung. Spring cots
are used by some, while others wind
cheap rope around rough frame work
for beds. A bucket and dipper and a
basin and slop-pail little soap, towels,
few changes of suits, a few books, a
sketch-book and drawing materials
carried in steamer trunk and the fam
GUS Kore, strong telescoping baskets,
furnish one with the necessaries and a
few of the extras. A few revolvers are
brought along and they have to be fired
sometimes when thieves are about.
Those who come once like to come
again | am told.
Our mail is brought once every day
and goes once daily. English mission
aries are also here with us. This may
seem like luxury to some but the sum-
mers are the greatest problem in Japan
for the missionary. Hoping this may In,
terest some at least, l am respectfully,
CLAUDE NJ. SEVERANCE.