The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-01-28
LETTER FROM JAPAN.
Rev. F. II. Marshall Writes Interestingly
TO the Boys and Girls of MankatO.

Rev. F. II. Marshall Writes Interestingly
to the Boys and Girls of Mankato.
Rev. F. H. Marshall, former pastor
of the Christian church, who is now
located at Toxic. Japan, some time
ago wrote an interesting letter to his
young friends in MankatO, and it was
read in the Christian Sunday school.
Believing that it will interest all of
the boys and girls of Mankato. we
publish the letter in full
KoIsHIKAwA KU, TOXIC, JAPAN.
To MY YOUNG FRIENDS,
Mankato, Mimi.
DEAR BOYS AND GIRLs:-Would
you like to have me tell you some
thing about this strange country so
far away? will be glad to do so.
''First, will tell you about the
fruits that grow here. We eat per-
simmons nearly every day, that are as
large as apples. They are yellow and
have no bitter taste. Figs are also
here in abundance. They are coarse
grained, and some Americans do not
like them. They grow on trees that
are moress..like vines, and men erect
frames for their support. The apple
trees came originally from other coun-
tries, so they bear fruit like that in
America. The oranges are very small.
1 saw some today only one inch in
diameter. The ripe ones were yellow,
like ours. am told they grow much
larger, but not so large as those in
California. The bananas are small,
and not so good as ours. Some trees
grow near our home. The.leaves are
eight feet long, and two feet wide.
''There are also some pretty flowers
here. The cherry and plum trees have
beautiful blossoms. The plum bios
SONS in the snow, and the cherry bear
no fruit. The chrysanthenum s also
are very beautiful.
Japan has not very good assort-
ment of animals. The horses are poor
scrubby looking things. A team con-
sists of one puny horse, an old cart
and ,man in front leading the
animal. The cattle are few, but
large Monstrous bulls 90 through
the streets, hauling heavily laden
carts. The cats resemble wildcats,
many of them having short tails. The
dogs also are nothing to attract at
tention. The raven is very common
bird. 1t resembles an American crow,
but has larger bill. have not heard
a song bird yet, Storks, the sacred
birds, are common. 1t makes one
feel lonesome to see one.
'"The buggies are little two. wheeled
concerns, drawn by AMMAN. The other
day, the building in which I was at
work was surrounded suddenly by a
flood of water. A japanese friend
waded out and got me man and bug
gy, but I had to ride on the mans
back some distance before 1 could
reach his cart. he had on very little
clothes, and his back was so slick I
nearly fell off into the water. 1 ride
my bicycle great deal.
''The language of this country is
funny. We get it mixed up a great
deal. Mrs. Marshall tried to tell the
postmaster to send letter to America,
and called him fool. tried to call
the name of one of my students, and
called him drinking water" Another
student is called "Son of a cat" A
friend of mine was preaching for the
people to put away their sins, and
told them to put away their wives.
This is very funny language. Don't
you think so?
"And do wish you could see the
toys. There are so many, so pretty,
and so cheap. They have dogs that
run over the floor, tigers that move
their heads. cars that run, and thou
sands of other pretty things, costing
only few cents each.
"The streets are not like those in
Mankato. There are no sidewalks.
Everybody, people, horses, cattle.
bicycles and all, go in the middle of
the road. They do not need laws to
keep bicycles off the sidewalk.
81 want to tell you about the field
day sports in japan. The other day
L heard thousand children tramping
past my home. AS they wore wooden
clogs on their feet, you may guess
how much noise they made. They
were going to have Undokwai Con-
tincy the next day, aud were march
ing to see the place.
1.-THE next morning, Mr.. and Mrs.
Guy and Mrs. Marshall and received
an invitation to attend the exercises
and share the fun. We are the only
Americans in this part of the city,