The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-17
BATHS EXPOSED TO VIEW.
s,ne Curious Customs That Prevail
An Japanese HOStelries.

- from the san Francisco Call.
e.v wears ago a party Of four ladies.
,--..-5inr the writer. started on an over
-.-5 rip from Kobe 10 Okayama IN JIM
-.-.-.,s- We were merry party, as the
..--.sisba men tucked US into their baby
..--5srss and our two-legged horses were
- very fond Of travelling in companies
% On such occasions will sometimes
80 'f with a shout and with such speed
49, make the heart OF the occupant q
e.. frtis vehicle palpitate with fear OF pc
inz tipped OVer-ah experience 4-O'
ether unknown 1
sS5metimes people thing it might De un>
for women to travel alone IN
5ssfhen land. but there We were Iour u ll
-g-a,ted females, the Oldest ABOUT 81, tue
E-,-5rsr a girl of 10, and by night We
49, forty-five miles away from any otner
uFfte person, sleeping IN Japanese Cum
80 hotel without the least thought OF
- This was our first experience IL
---.lire- any considerable distance IN i'm
.lsshas and especially in stopping az
----trv hotels. The first night we were
t-~-unate enough to ind a Motel with
-1.~d story and as the room was vacant,
.-.- ~ elifateIv engaged 1t. After sitting
s~,rrd in the entry way for some time
- was announced that the room was IN
readiness. so, after taking on our SHOES
o.rlrliug to custom ana placlhS thehl ON
d.
M NE ladder for such may the steep
stsirWavs OF Japan well be called, being
IuiIt thus 10 economic IN space.
an reaching the room we threw our
selves upon the tioor there oelns holnlls
e.se 10 recline upon. Our host soon APP
reared and offered US the use OF the not
ham. To our inquiry if any one mad
,sed il before us We received an EN-
pnatic assurance hat We We're the nrsl
Euf another question had TO be settled
r1uld any one see US while we bathed!
on. certainly not, il was all perfectly
rrivate So one Of our party taxing tower
and soap with great difficulty descended
tba steeD stairway 10 the ground moor.
,,,on being shown the bathroom what
was her surprise to find that the side OF
the room which was toward the entry
way where people were constantly pass
ing. was made of Slats with spaces pc
swean an inch or more wide. Upon max
ing This dicOvery the foolish foreign
err decided to forego the pleasure OF a
hath that night, much to the disappoint-
ment of our host and his friends.
AS supper was not forthcoming and we
were very faint, we clapped our hands
10 call an attendant. This brought form
a prolonged yell from belOW-"Hi-i- ana
in moment our hostess appeared. Al
ter trying most desperately TO make her
understand what we wanted, we hau
ourselves worked up into quite nervous
state of laughter A few moments later
having occasion to clap our hands again,
the eldest son appeared and the next time
the eldest daughter and so on until the
whole family had satisfied their curiosity
each new face that appeared sendlng US
into a fresh fit of laughter, despite our
efforts to preserve our decorum.
AT last dinner was ready. A white
wooden bucketful of boiled rice without
even salt in it was placed in the middle
of the floor. A small tray containing Two
bowls was placed on the floor in front
of each Of us, one OF the bowls contain
ing a small bit of fish floating in the
water in which It was boiled -(soup, If
we may so call iD-the other bowl being
empty to receive the rice which the maid
gave to each of US in turn, dipping It
out Of the bucket with a large wooden
ladle. With our chopSticks we thrust
the rice down our threats, taking swal-
low Of the fish water now and then &c
help II on it's way.
This delightful repast over, we called
a [ once for our beds, which consisted Of
great, heavy ComfOrters spread on tht
floor The sensation after lying dOwr
awhile is not very different from that one
experiences in sleeping on boards. To
show how Japanese IDEAS of cleanliness
differ from ours, this comforter had beer
used for months without being washed
but we had been warned and therefore
brought our sheets with us. The thick
ness Of the comforters prevented oul
tucking them in around our necks, so
although burdened with their weight tn,
cold chills creeping down our backs KEEP
us company all night.
The adjoining room was separated from
ours by sliding paper doors, over which
was an opening the full length of tn,
room and about foot wide; thus it wai
quite possible for US to enjoy to the full
the tobacco smoke and loud talking o.
our neighbor guests until long past mid
night Soon after everything had quietec
down heavy thud on the door near oui
heads announced the arrival of a huge
rat through the opening above the door
We were too thoroughly exhausted By
this time, however, to scream, so VIZ
were finally lulled to sleep by thought:
of rats gnawing off our noses or crawl
ing under our comforters to get warm.