The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-01-18
est spots the sun has ever kissed.
On the Sea-.

/
We spent only one day in the city
of Honolulu and when again we are
out upon the sea with a ten days
voyage before us, we are prepared to
make the best of it. Already the
passengers have been together for
seven days and everybody in the ship
knows everybody else. A trip across
the Atlantic is in these days SO short
that the passengers hardly become
acquainted with each other before
they are landed at Liverpool. But
here we have already been made ac-
quainted and as the shores of Homo
lulu recede from view, we are fam
lily with like interests before us for at
least ten days. Formality is put
aside and the problem seems to be,
how to make the voyage most pleas
ant. A voyage on the Pacific in this
latitude is different from the ordinary
trip across the Atlantic. Here we
have summer skies and smooth seas
for the most part. The passengers,
even in this month of December, are
seen about the deck with white suits
and summer dresses.
Life is chiefly spent on deck and
soft winds blow and the sun shines
clear, and life is, until we reach a
more northern latitude, like dream.
We have been trying to recall by
study some of the Japanese we have
lost since we have been away. We
have improved our opportunity to
converse with a passenger who
speaks only Japanese. We have
tried to work little each day, but
find the easy, aimless life of the ship
not very conducive to labor.
A debating club has been formed
and we have settled the Hawaiian
question. We have concert COM
pany of our own devising. We have
mock trial and condemn one of
our esteemed fellow passengers for
breach of promise; we have played
cricket and have pitched quoits on
deck, but after all we wish the voy-
age was at an end and this aimless
shipboard life finished. We have a
chance, however, to experience
change before we reach Japan. Four
days out from Japan we run into
storm and the same gale that has
wrecked other vessels blows steadily
till we come almost within sight of
land. Then the sky clears and the
sea becomes less angry and we glide
swiftly along toward the Land of the
Rising Sun. 1t is now evening and
the sun, in blaze of glory, is sink
ing in the west. Then we see marked
against the shining western sky the
great cone shaped mountain, Fugi-
yana. All Japan lies below the
horizon except this sacred mountain
which pierces the sky, seeming to
rise in all it's majesty directly from
the sea. Morning finds us safe in
the harbor and we make haste to set
our foot upon land.
The Missionaries and the Mission.
We made our way to Tokyo and
are glad of the cordial greeting of
our little band of workers, all of
whom are we'll. The house we left
year ago is still our home and pre-
sents the same appearance. Mr.. and
Mrs. Cate have had it set in order
and it seems as if we had hardly left
its homelike shelter. Bro. Cate has
been absent in the interior making
tour of inspection of the outposts.
Bro. Leavitt is as usual hard at work
in the Theological where for six
months he has borne the burden
alone. Bro. Leavitt has leased a
house close to the abode of the other
missionaries and with characteristic
energy attacks the problems of jap
anese education and evangelization.
Miss Osborn has taken a house
near the school building and church.
One of the Japanese lady teachers is
her companion. The school which
Miss Osborn has built up is a great
success. We are delighted. Miss
Osborn has solved the problem we
have been studying SO long. 1t
would do all our American women
good if they could come in and see
what Miss Osborn is doing with
these little japanese girls. She has
brought order out of chaos and has
thoroughly organized her school SO
that effective work is being done
every day. am sure Miss Osborn
cannot know how much her coming
has encouraged the other mission
aries, and how grateful they are for
her able and self-sacrifcing efforts.
We have much to say about the
work in general as it strikes us at
first sight after an absence of year.
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