The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-17

Japaasss Vehicle Invented ~ Ysnkss
sailer Who Ned Bseoas Missiossry-
Greet Esduranes Of the Coolies who
Draw the Cars.
Tokyo June 15.-FOr the 'rikisha.
which IN the greatest blessing travellers
in the east enjoy. we have to bless an
American sailor who came here ON Com
modore Perry's flagship In 1858. and then
returned seven or eight years later as a
missionary Of the Methodist persuasion.
His name was Jonathan Gobel. and he
IL mentioned In Commodore Perry's
narrative az pious man Of rare In
telligence, who took great interest In
the spiritual welfare Of the Japanese.
Gobel was one Of the earliest members
Of what was known as the Newton
mission. a system Of evangelical work
inaugurated very soon after Japan was
opened to foreigners by Connecticut
gentleman OF that name.
The jinrikisha Is another Illustration
Of the old adage that necessity Is the
mother Of invention. for Brother Gobel
was afflicted with rheumatism In his
later years and found 1t difficult to
navigate. The sedan chair which was
used by the nobility was too close for
him. and the kago. a vehicle In which
the humber classes We're In the habit of
carrying the lame and the lazy. was
very uncomfortable for his long legs. so
he took a packing case. painted 1t black.
as Appropriate to his dignity. and set 1t
upon a pair Of wheels. For shelter from
the sun he rugged a canvas awning that
could be raised or lowered according to
his convenience. and he hired a brawny
coolie to haul him about. This was the
origin Of the vehicle which takes the
place Of carriages and street cars in
Japan. Korea. India and China. for
Brother Gobers invention has spread
all over the coast.
SO useful an invention needed a good
name. therefore Brother Gobel called 1t
a jim (man) ricki (power) sha (carriage).
But the swells perfer to term It q
kuruma. 1t looks like an exaggera ted
baby carriage and Is very comfortab BILE
for riding.
GObcl Muscular Christian.
Jonathan Gobel was a muscular
Christian. He feared God and lived a
righteous life. He desired every one
else to do so. and. when moral suasion
failed, he often tried force. When ne
arrived In Japan he was a stalwart,
powerful fellow. and usually came out
uppermost when he wrestled with sin.
He was living In Kanagawa when he
endeavored to impress upon the people
Of that place the proprlety Of Sabbath
observance. The Japanese have no
Sunday. They have no fixed day Of
| rest. Their holidays are numerous, and
worship continues without interruption
In the temples. There Is no particular
time for preaching. and 1t is always
proper to pray. Therefore every native
works seven days In the week. Brother
Gobel admonished the people Of the sin
fulness Of Sabbath beaklng, but was un-
able to convince them and II grelyed his
heart.
Passing from his home to his place Of
preaching one Sunday he found a dozen
men or more engaged In building a
mouse. He stopped to talk with them
and ertreated them to cease their sin
full labor. They refused to do so. He
ordered them to stop and they declined
Then' SELLING a heavy bamboo pole, he
smote them hip and thigh. Several
were laid out senseless, and the next
morning Brother Jonathan was a pris-
oner before the onsul-general charged
with aggravated assault and battery.
This case appears as one of the first in
the records Of the United States con-
cuiate, and Is set forth with amusing
| details. The missionary pleaded gull
ty with strong provocation," and was
put under bonds to keep the peace.
Mr. Gobel afterward built himself a
modern house on what is known as
'the Bluff,"' south Of Yokohama, and
surrounded his grounds with the first
fence that was ever built In this part
Of the world. 1t was made of bamboo
palings. and the boys in the neighbor-
hood used to annoy the good missionary
greatly by rattling sticks against 1t as
| they ran along the street. The British
admiral lived just above him and had a
very natty Tommy Atkins for an or
derly He wore little round cap on
l
always carried a little cane Of rattan
In his hand. One morning. having been
sent with message, he appeared before
the admiral with his face bruised to a
jelly and his uniform tattered and torn
and covered wish dust.
| mercy on ug!' exclaimed the admiral,
IN establishment at the spectacle, what
has happened TO you?"
"I beg your pardon. SIR" replied Tom
nv, but, has was coming halong hup
the III a-rubbing my stick hagainst the
missionary's fence. sir, e came hout In
IA pyeamas and said as owe 'ad vowed
by the grace Of God to lick the 'ide hon
.,he next man who did that, and e as
done II, sir"
| Az Made In Japan.
The ,rikishas are all made in Japan,
and O large number are exported to the
neighboring countries. They cost from
si7 to $40. according to the care bestowed
on their construction. the material
used and the character Of their decora'
ton, but they could not be made FOR
more than twice that money In the
United States. Many. of them are
owned by the coolies who. draw them
others by companies or private indivi-
duals who let them to the coolies for a
share OF the money they make. You can
hire them by the week for yen O2.5O)
by the day for Is sen (S7h cents), 10 sen
Is cents) an hour for ordinary service OF
10 sen for q trip of not more than two