Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-24
A QUEER LITTLE TOWN.
Some Incidents of Travel I'm Japaa.
Solicitations Of the People.


zone day We started out from Yokohama
by rail for a short trip" said Mr. Burditt.
who was the leader Of the Stoddard party
in their long trip to a Star reporter.
Though the railroad is a late institution in
Japan. its popularity is unbounded. Crowds
of natives fill every train. When we reach
ed the train it was with difficulty thar we
boarded our car so great was the gathering
on the platform. The cause OF the commo-
ton was soon found Among our passen-
gers. riding. for once, on SO important an
occasion. first class. was q japanese bridal
couple. Their friends had assembled in their
honor and sent them on with all the jollity
of such an occasion among us. 'Sayoaarsi
Sayonarar goodbye resounded all about
as the train started. The bride. who was
gorgeously attired in the graceful folds OF
a rich silk garment, seated herself properly
enough at the start; but occidental propri-
cites were too much for this eastern maid
en-. She soon arose. and ncr husband who
was attired in European costume, spread a
shawl over the seat. She then dropped her
shoes on the floor OF the car and nimbly
hoped UP on the seat, where she sat on her
heels during the rest OF the journey in the
manner followed by her ancestors for gen
erations.
Leaving the train we continued our
journey for the next five miles by q tran
along pretty road. In one place o large
tree inclined over the road, but Il was not
cut down with the march OF Improvement.
Instead, a cash was cut In its trunk OF
sufficient size TO allow for the passage OF
the car roof. At the end of the tramway
We embarked I'm Jinrikishas. They carry
but one person each. but SO steep was the
road that two men were required, one to
push and one to pull. Speeding up hill and
down We followed the convolutions of steep
hills with the deep clear waters OF the
Pacific always at our side. hundreds OF feet
snhs -h<x, D~<sl
our destinations hotel in a village by the
shore. where We were assigned rooms on a
pretty garden and were lulled to sleep by
| the splashing Of the waves OF the Pacific on
the beach, less than 200 yards from our
windows.
A Curious Little Town.
The next morning We walked out ana
found a pretty little town. whose main thor
oughfare, about thirty feet wide, ran steep
ly TO the water, and those streets zig-zagzed
| in every direction. They were lined with
tiny. one-story shops. the majority OF which
displayed numberiess articles in inlaid wood,
so pretty and 30 cheap that nothing but q
realization OF the size OF our trunks pre-
vented US from buying out the town. We
enjoyed our shopping the more. because, hav-
ing acquired a smattering OF japanese use
full words, We were able TO dispense with
our guide and go about making our pur-
| chases Independently. The appearance Of
our party. especially of the ladies. called
out almost the entire population OF the
place. whose Inhabitants crowded around US
as we walked and blocked up the street
wherever We stopped. manifesting o quiet
but lively interest in all our doings.
There was a festival the next day and
all the children OF the village were In
vited to play in the extensive hotel grounds.
Ii was interesting TO notice that they played
Japanese forms of hide-and-seek. leap-frog
and other familiar games. And how, like
rascally boys the world over, II seemed
when with q concerted movement they burst
in among crowd of girls intent upon their
own play, scattering them TO right and left
and seeking every opportunity to break up
their gatherings.
pole about thirty feet high had been erected.
from which foated the japanese nag. The
halyards fouled, and a man climbed the
smooth pole with the agility OF a cat TO
clear the lines. But, alas. II proved too
slender to bear his weight st the top.
About ten feet OF IL broke on short. The
man fell heavily to the ground and lay
there groaning. apparently dying. But his
companions ran TO him. pounded him all
over then took water into their mouths
and expelled IL upon him. In a few minutes
one Of them got the wounded man on his
back ana carried him on. II was primitive
( surgery, but We were inexpressihly relieved
to hear later that he was not seriously
hurt.
"The next morning We left. And az our
jinrikishas filed up the hill from the hotel
IL was but characteristic Of hospitable Japan
| that all the pretty housemaids nesans, az
they are called, ran ahead and ranging
themselves on each side OF the road. greeted
| us with their smiles and showered on US
| their parting 'Ssyonarasr I'm the sweetest
and softest of voices. We sped along the mar
row streets, the children everywhere greet
| ing us with their musical 'Ohayo'sr good
| morning. and were soon climbing the
heights. whence We looked down upon the
peaceful village and wondered Il we should
! ever elsewhere have such q delicious sense
of the enjoyment OF travel as In the by
ways and among the happy. jolly people
10 ra,a