The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-24
A LETTER FROM
FAR-OFF GUAM
A Father Writes to His Little Daugh-
ters in Richmond
MOST INTERESTING EPlSTLE-
Absorption of Notwithstanding
About Japan aud the Japanese.
The Ladrone Isl~ands-Some OF
the Sights There.

The following most interesting letter has
been received by two little maids Of this
city from the Island o. Guam, where
their father IL an officer OF the ship So
lace. Of the Pacific squadron:
My Dear Little Girls:-I suppose you think
your old father has forgotten all about
his children. because It has been so long
since no has written 90 them. Wen, he
has not. He has thought Of them almost
every hour Of the day, and, Of course,
with them. their mother. 1 sorter
ike the girls I left behind me, and am
looking forward to the time I can hug
them all in a bunch.
We left Honolulu on the 18th OF this
month. and to-day We will cross the 1S0th
meridian. AS We lose one day IN getting
20 the westward this week will have only
six DAYS instead OF seven. When you get
10 studying astronomy and geography
you will zee just why this IS. Honolulu
is n very pretty place. The flowers and
palms are simply lovely. How you lit
tie girls. and your mother. would enjoy
such a place. It is not hot. nor never cold
enough FOR hannels. / expect a naval sta
ton will be established here some day,
and then we must try TO be ordered there.
think you would like 10 better than ia
pan.
FUNNY JAPS.
The japanese are the funniest and po-
ltest people in the world. They are very
small and never wear shoes. They wear
wood clogs and make a great noise as
they shuttle along. The women wear lit
tie white socks which come up TO the
ankle. You never see a chair; one has 10
squat on his heels. They talk very little,
simply sit around a little charcoal stove
and smoke and think. The mother never
carries her children In her arms. or at all.
one on the elder children do that work,
instance II we were japanese. when Fran
els was born her mother would have
strapped her on Margaret's back. and
there she would nave stayed until bed
time. The baby, on her elder sisters
back. does not seem 20 have much fun,
on the whole. she gets along all right.
The toilet stand of "A japanese lady IS not
as large as your doll bureau. In the little
drawers you find their pipe. power and
paste for the lips. teeth and skin. A mar
ri-d lady always blackens her teeth. An
other funny thing is, an japanese ladies
PLAY with dolls. On their bureaus you
see 2 large wax doll. with a japanese face.
The ladies dress these dolls and have as
much fun as you two girls. RS the side
OF this doll you usually find a little image
that Is the idol or god. The Japs you know
are not Christians and never 90 to church.
They have temples. Tn these temples you
Will find great idols behind iron bars.
Near the door the priests sit at tables.
" -m.aa e. oh a FuHHnE nH the
idol he goes TO the priest and. for a very
small sum. buys a PRAYER. This no rolls
up into a small ball. He then approaches
the idol and clasps his hand loudly TO
attract his attention. throws the ball In
through the iron bars, bows his head
and goes his way.
BUILDING a HOUSE.
II IS funny to see them build a house
In .Japan. Just before they begin TO Work
all the workmen stand IN a row, clap
their hands, bow 10 the earth, and sing
a prayer In which they ask their gods TO
help them In their work. They call this a
Sing Sing. And every time an I'M
portant timber is placed they have anoth-
er Sing Sing.
Ii IS lots or fun 20 go 20 a tea house.
You ind these houses along the different
lU4An NAHA 0AAAHA. NtH- $780,
upon entering the house take off their
wooden clogs and leave them outside,
the Europeans put on. over their shoes,
lage felt slippers. This Is done 70 pre-
vent scratching the floors which are poll
ished very highly. Upon entering the
house the old woman. or pr0prietress. be-
gins bowling and sucking In air between
her teeth, making a peculiar whistle. Be
hind her stand the tea girls bowling. smil-
ing and sucking in air. You then sit
down on the floor and the little Jap girls.
in their white stockings. begin to pat
ter around. One brings the tea pot, an
other hot water, and still others bring the
tea-cups and candy. MIX and sugar IS
not used. While the water bOils the girls
stand around smiling. After We drink the
tea. we tell them We have had a pleasant
time. then they. every one, escort US 20
the door and bow and smile and suck
air and say: "5iranO." VIII en- means
goodbye, come again" This they keep
repeating until the visitors are out Of
sight. Every one rides, in Japan. in Gin
Rlckshaws. that Is a baby carriage pulled
by a man. When I get back to Manila /
shall ask for ten days leave and go 20
Hong-Kong. for [ want to send you little
girls some silk crepe for your party dress
es. Such things are cheaper In Hong
Kong than IN Japan. Hong Kong is only
COZ miles from Manila and there is a
government steamer. the Zapln, which
makes the "Trip every month.
1 wish you girls were with me. The
weather IS delightful. the sea as smooth
as a pond. The moon shines every night.
a.. I sit in a big easy chair, looking at it
and the water. l say to myself. wonder
what the three girls are doing at homer
ISLAND OF GUAM.
Look in your geography for the Lad
rome Islands. You Will find them In the
Pacific ocean. about west from the Sand
wlch Islands. Guam is the most southern
OF the Ladrones. IL is a very pretty
Island, small. but pretty. The harbor is
small. also. and the bottom IS coral. You
can see the bottom very clearly. You
can see the FISH pay hide and seek"
one fish would chase another and he
would dart around or under a piece Of
coral and hide. but presently the chaser
would. in his turn. be chased. / suppose
that Is what you little folks In New Or
leans call at"
1 went on shore one day az AZ Guam and
was very much interested. There IS only
one town-Agana-and that is very small.
Agana is about five miles from the hsr-
Dor. II was built this far from the sea