The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-11-17


terrific presence as he leans little
forward and you wonder if he is COM
ing any further We went inside and
climbed up a little ladder and found
carved on a balustrade U. S. N. l
wonder who put it there. We reached
Yokohama at half-past seven and were
so tired, that instead of going to Mix
ko today we have rested at home. This
afternoon we got "rickshaws" and
visited cloisonne factory. The head
of the factory spoke English and took
us through it, showing and explaining
the whole process-it was most in
teresting-after we were taken
to a Lacquer factory where we saw
very beautiful work being done.
We are to dine with the consul
general and his wife tonight
Sept 10.
NV last letter was written from Yo-
kohama. We started for Toxic ON Satur
day morning accompanied by the son
of the Rev Mr.. Loomis. in charge of
the Bible House. He is about twelve
years old and proved very good
guide. We took Frickshas" and
rode through little narrow streets
crowded with men, women and chill
dren, and on until we came to the
temple of Kwannon at Asakousa
Such curious motley sight as it was
people praying, children playing
about as if they were in school
grounds instead of the abode Of Bhud-
d. 1t was the first time we had seen
any worshippers and we were much
astonished at their actions. They
brought little paper prayers and then
chewed them up to proper consls-
tency when they took them from their
mouths and threw them with some
vigor at a screen in front of the altar.
This screen showed marks of a good
deal of attention. They also threw
coins into kind of box covered with
a shutter-like arrangement. At one
side was a small wooden god, sup
posed to heal suffering, by the sufferer
rubbing the part on the god where he
himself is afflicted and then rubbing
himself. Poor things, it was pathetic
to see them and know they knew no
better.
We spent long time at the temple
and going about the grounds. Wher-
ever we turned our steps we had
devoted crowd of Japanese at our
heels, open mouthed and wondering.
=
and took us to Japanese service held
before the English service at IL
O'Clock and we heard some of our own
hymns though in an unknown tongue.
When we got to church, after having
been to see the one DR.. Hepburn
raised the money for, in the meantime,
we found it was Communion Sunday
and how it warmed our hearts-the
last Sunday at home and the first Sun
day here were made sacred by the
same beautiful service. We took
lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Convey, the
consul general and his wife-they
were most cordial and kind-when
we sat down | thought we were to
have an Oriental luncheon. All but
the first course was quite natural.
Later in the day Mr.. LOOMS brought
us an invitation from his wife to take
supper with them and how glad we
were to accept it.
They live ON the bluff where the
naval hospital is located. We at
tended little afternoon service before
going to supper and after it we found
Mr.. Loomis awaiting us with warm
welcome to their home.
/ shall never forget the visit to
them and the delicious supper. We
had cozy evening together and be-
fore leaving mad family prayers Four
of their children are now in America.
Monday morning we started, bag
and baggage, for Kioto. 1t was an
all days journey and very fatiguing
one in the cars. The cars are built
very much like horse-car with seats
running along the sides The people
don't seem to approve of the ordinary
cushions but when they came in
spread blanket along the seat and
after arranging themselves and their
possessions invariably kick off their
clanking shoes and pull up their feet
When they feel like it they lie down,
after covering their face with cloth
which is an Improvement to some.
Every one is allowed to smoke, both
men and women, using the dainty
little Japanese pipes which hold a
tiny pinch of tobacco. Each pinch
serves for three puffs, after which it
is knocked out and new one put in.
They fill their pipes about three times
and then contentedly slip them in the
little embroidered cases and stick them
in their belts. We reached Kioto at
half-past nine last might. After
breakfast we got guide and trick
shas' and started out for more sight
seeing First we visited a silk-house
such beautiful embroideries. The
Japanese in all their arts spare nc
time in perfecting their work. The
TIME it takes is minor consideration.
From there we went to the temple OF
Chiowin--the most beautiful we have
yet seen. Everything is scrupulously
clean-but not exactly quiet-for q
priest was hammering out prayers by
the hour on a hollow kind of gong
which made most sickening noise
and uncanny sound. The ornaments
and finishing of the temple were very
handsome--we saw some old paintings
there too-of the Kano School, which
are very valuable-some being splen.
did sketches of Dragons and storks.
We noticed coins lying all about
the temple floor and wondered why il
was-the guide said that the worship
pers threw them anywhere, as they
came i'll and they were not gathered
up until the end of the day. No one
would think of touching them with
in the temple walls. We saw also g
huge bell weighing "A tons, which is
only rung on festive occasions and car
be heard for miles. After having
driven through the palace grounds we
went home to 'tiffin" (lunch) and
then started out to see two more tenn
Piles. One was destroyed some years
ago, and new one was built entirely