New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1900-10-06
LETTER FROM CAPT. E. S. BROUSSARD.
MANILA, P. l., July 80, 1900.


MANILA, P l., July 80, 1900.
Mr.. J. B. Lawton, New Iberia, La.
DEAR SIR-To resume the narrative OF
my experiences on the trip from the United
States to Manila, l must again take you
back, so to speak, to Yokohama.
From Yokohama to Tokyo, the capital
of Japan, there are twenty-five trains
daily; the distance being about thirty
miles, and the trip, on through trains,
being made in an hour and a half. The
japanese are great imitators of the great
civilized nations and all along the rail
road in every field and on every hill,
or house may be seen large
boards with signs painted thereon adver-
tising some medicine, drink, tobacco, and
many other things just as is done along
our roads, especially those of the East
Passing through several unimportant
towns, without stopping, we arrived in due
time at Tokyo. At the depot there were
hundreds Of 'rickshas all pushing one an
other to get to the front so as to secure
an occupant for their little hand vehicle.
Taking 'rickshas, we road to the Imperial
Hotel, where we procured the services of a
good guide. This was necessary, as we
had come only for the day and wanted to
see the most important and interesting
sights Tokyo is city of 100000 in
habitants and has many sights worth the
seeing.
Among the most attractive things to be
seen there, are its tremendously large
bazaar, largest in Japan, called Kwankoba
Bazaar, where everything i, sold It's
palaces government buildings; and its
temples. In respect of the beauty, costli-
ness, and number of it's temples Tokyo is
the second city of the Empire Nikko
being the first.
We went directly to Shiba Park, where
the great bazaar is, and where we would
have been willing to spend the whole day,
had we had the time. In this same park
are the temples erected to the memory of
the Shoguns and also the tombs of some Of
them.
Until recently, the Shoguns were the
supreme rulers of Japan, and were, be-
sides, the heads of religion. The condi-
tions, for over five centuries previous to
their overthrow, were such that the
Shoguns can be said to have suffered the
Mikados to rule under them. This they
had accomplished by means Of militarism
and instead of being vassals, they were
then the rulers. But in the year 1853 the
U. S. sent our great Commodore Perry
with fleet to Japan to insist on the alb
andonment of the Japanese policy of isola-
ton. This interference from the outside
enabled the followers Of the Mikado te
rise against Shotgun IA. The revolution
was successful, and the Mikado was re-
stored to his rightful station and standing
With the fall of Shotgun IA fell the whole
fabric of medieval Japanese civilization
and It's progress sabds ION -dat6
from that day. Shotgun Is is now mem
Der Of the House of Lords.
The 'Shoguns were supposed to turn tt
gods after their death. The present Mikadt
is the 122d in direct line of succession
an unparalleled duration in the history O.
the world.
The temples are small, being on an
average about forty by fifty feet but have
cost enormous sums of money on account
of the large amounts of gold used i'll thu
lacquered work. That of Shotgun 9Th cos
25, 900, 900 yens ($12, 500, 100000, was bull
during his lifetime, and took 25 years t
build. On the wall inside are $50 differen
birds carved out on wood. Shotgun 3D.
temple contains his tomb, also contains
the largest specimen of gold lacquer in th'
world.
Shotgun 9th is buried just back OF hi
temple. To enter from the temple y@'
into that enclosing the tomb, one passe
through the Corean Gate, while over tn
body is the Corean Mausoleum, SO calle'
because some 800 years ago Japan was in
volved in a war with Corea in which Japal
was victorious, and Corea paid an in
demnity in Corean bronze coins. Thes'
were melted and the Corean Gate an
Mausoleum made therefrom by Corea1
prisoners of war.
In Shiba Park, at the Buddhist temple
there is an immense bell, which is struc
at sunrise, sunset, and at midnight. 1t
heard distinctly five miles from Tokyo.
After leaving Shiba Park, we ascende
long series of steps to the top OF Alag
Yama. which is very high bill, the foe
of which is next to an important porliol
of the city, and from which splendi