The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-09-24
Characteristic Signs on
the Shops.
Surprisingly Large Number of
Small Wares Carried by
PeddlerS.
Especial Correspondence
Yokohama, August 81, 1S9

Yokohama, August 81, 1891.
EDITOR P. C. Awe are back
again at the Grand Hotel We found
Karuizawa too much enveloped in
mountain clouds to suit an invalid. A
sudden change from heat to cold, last
Friday between and a. m, with
continued mistiness, necessitated the
use of a charcoal fire (hibachi), but
this did not prevent an air of mustiness
in the room. For climatic conditions,
always agreeable and healthful, Homo
lulu is far ahead of all other places of
human abode We found it hot in Yo-
kohama, but the sun was obscured, and
we rode about in jinrikishas quite
pleasantly. But while we were at din
ner Monday evening there came up
such a wind from the bay that doors
| and windows had to be shut quickly, to
keep things from being blown off the
tables. These sudden changes we have
never known at the Islands, and are
very trying to those so long accus-
toned, as we have been, to such per-
fectly equable climate as we have in
Hawaii. Almost every house in Karui-
zawa was loaded down with big stones,
| for we were told, the wind often blows
so furiously that this is the only way
to keep the shingles in place.
| We came down the Utsui Pass about
9 a. m, admiring constantly the chang
ing scenes in the constant windings of
| the road. The foliage was in full beau
| ty of verdure, but it had the appear
ance of softness and roundness, as well
as delicacy. 1t was in marked contrast
with the pointed, perpendicular, angu-
lar appearance of the mountain sides
on the Canadian Pacific Railroad. In
fact, the general impression of Japan
csc scenery, so far as my observation
has gone, is that of softness and deli
cacy, Indebtedness of outline. At the
foot of the Pass we came upon some
trees of so light a foliage, in shape
like ferns, as to stand out in marked
contrast with the rounded forms so
prevalent; and yet, so delicate in struc
ture and graceful in outline as to give
a finishing touch of beauty to the
mountain scenery we were leaving, for
the monotonous level over which the
rest of the journey was made.
1t is surprising how soon one may
see all the essential characteristics of
new locality, even as large as this
city of Yokohama. Cities are very
much alike, and human beings are the
same all over the world, however diff
ferent their accessories and surround
ings. The strangeness of dress and
buildings soon wears off and we see
only myriads of fellow-beings. Travel
intensifies ones patriotic pride, but
evokes ones sympathies for men and
, women that have to pass their lives in
such discomfort. One impression made
upon me here is the number of old men
and women engaged in daily toll, and
the general appearance of squalor their
working garb gives to the crowded
streets. The stores seem like the
Cheap John" displays and the old
junk shops on the East side of New
, York City Even the better class, like
those in the Benten Dori, are small
> affairs, petty and dismal, to one accus-
toned to frequent the ample rooms
and crowded corridors of the great
cities of the States.
The great masses of small wares
that peddlers will carry is one of the
strange sights. The great variety, too,
is surprising, fruit, flowers, baskets,
food cooked in travelling kitchens, and,
strangest of all, kerosene lamps. As
Japanese houses have little or no fur
niture, the use of hanging lamps is al
most universal. Kerosene is one of the
great articles of the import trade.
| Lighters loaded with cases of oil are a
frequent sight from our window 1t
must be profitable trade, too, if the
Standard Oil Company can afford to
pay s150,000 annually for the monopo-
ly of the trade at Canton, as l have
> seen stated in one of the papers here
But the street cries are in the same
. tones that l have heard in the home
: land, with a prolonged rising imitation
: ON the last word, Fresh fish for
SALE"
Not to be left out of mention are the
insects that seem to be very numerous
We hear the shrill cry of the cicadia
as we pass along the streets. We won
der at our restlessness at night, till
some one suggests, "Fleas." Mosqui-
; toes we have not found, except in stray
: specimens, singly, not in strident bat
: talions as in Honolulu. 1 have not YET
D seen the japanese beetle, which has be-
e come so much in evidence in Hawaii
: But I have been told that the gypsy
t moth, which is costing so much to ex-
terminate in Massachusetts,, is plenti-
full in Japan, but it is easily kept from
becoming too numerous by the attack:
of a particular species of ickneumaI
! fly. 1t is pity that some means can.
: not be found to introduce this fly init
: the regions devastated by the gypsy
moth H.