The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1899-03-28
LETTER FROM JAPAN.
KOBE. JAPAN, Feb. 90, 4

hOBE, JAPAN, rep. ~, loSS.
DEAR MoTHER:-You don't know how
much want to see you all and tell you
things l can't very well write. How
many years does 1t seem to you since j
first came to you on a 22i day of Feb.
ruary long agoY This anniversary OF my
birth shall commemorate In this foreign
land by going back as far as memory
will take me, into the days of my child
b, cd, and recalling the incidents OF my
home life down to the time | left you.
" hen these are all remembered how
great will seem the debt of gratitude |
owe. l will pay you, all In love, which
grows stronger as the years go by. This
morning | was up with the dawn. The
sun came up out Of the sea with his
golden locks resplendent. It Is an ideai
winter morning for Japan. am happy,
even though separated from you all 6y
half the circuit of the globe. A bright
ire is blazing In the CRATE and the sun
shine, through the panes, gives a cheer
ful glow to the room. The outlook from
the windows Is pleasing; and Kobe /.
truly a beautiful city, facing the sea and
backed by the mountains. We have been
welcomed with open arms'by the Englis
speaking community. We have received
and accepted many invitations TO dine
which we must return of course-some
account or which 1 will give you before
close If the letter doesn't get too long.
WashiD gton's birthday will be celebrated
tonight at the American Club house aud
we are booked 10 attend. Fred thought
we had better 60 and a new bali dress
for the occasion WAS the result. ! spoke
In my last of a visit to Toxic we were
about to make. Ii was to look after the
business of the ctmpaDy, SO far as Fred
was concerned, and as for Newell be
thought my geography would be more
improved by travel than study and 30
to,k me with him. Shall rec to to you
the lesson learnedS On Sun lay morn
ing at six with three coolies, three jinrik
ishas and luggage for the journey, W.
left our hotel Tor the railroad station
The distance from Kobe to Toxic is S76
miles, which we were seventeen hours In
making. The train differed vastly from
vestibule on the Lake Shore or New
York Central. After the English fashion
the carriages were first, second and third
class. The third class Is dreadful; the
tirst-class fairly comfortable, and the
second class about half way betw een
Ihe seats In our compartment ran length
wise of the car, were upholstered with
leather and heated by long zinc Cans
filed with hot water, and each abou,
long enough To accommodate three pairs
Of ieet. These cans were changed about
every thirty miles. The trip was made
mostly In the daytime. and we had good
view OF the country through which We
passed, for considerably more than hall
the way. 1t is densely populated. The
small wooden houses, interpreted with
pagodae, were 30 thickly set in the land
scaps as 10 make the entire country
appear like great scattering village; or
rather as suburbs to the larger cities
through which We passed on tue route
No fences were to be seen aud from the
appearance, the farms are as gardens la
complete cultivation. The tea fields were
set in rows of great regularity aud many