The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-24
LAND OF THE RISING SUN
The MikadO, Son Of Heaven" De-
scended From the Gods.
Pretty Young Women and beautiful
So That All May Be Able to See
What Transpires on the Inside.

Mrs. a W. Wilson, wife OF the Southern
Methodist Bishop. who has spent NUM-
Der of years in Japan. has written an in
teresting letter in which she discusses the
conditions in the Kingdom OF the Mikado,
and. incidentally. in China The letter,
which is dated Kobe August l, follows:
Japan. according 10 the patriotic Japa-
reese. is situated at the summit of the
globe In the beginning. when the earth
was separated from the heavens. Japan
was found Immediately opposite the sun
Perhaps that was the reason they call
her the Land OF the Rising Sun. can
imagine no better reason. except the beau
~ of the country and the long. long range
of mountains clothed with verdure that
reminds one of covering of velvet
reaching from base to summit, all the way
from northeast to southwest
The japanese believe themselves de-
scended from the gods, and hence their
continued certainty OF superiority over
other nations. They assure US Of the ce-
lestiaI origin of the Mikado and hence his
name Son of Heaven. Their Book of
Traditions is the Dawn CT History to the
native mind
islands / see signs Of new Japan, whose
annals must be written by sozle ready
hand.
Woman does not live the secluded life
common in other Oriental lands Hence
we see on every hand many pretty young
women as well as beautiful children. The
old women have no beauty, but We see as
many attractive faces from twenty years
of age down to babyhood as upon any
str in NJ ri fri nd
called upon a young japanese lady, as
lovely IN appearance as anyone l ever saw
She was handsomely dressed, according
to the fashion OF her country, but reeeiv-
ed US with bare feet. They do not wear
shoes in their homes. Neither do foreign
ers tread their handsome lacquer floors
until the shoe is removed Thus our pref
ty hostess received Us. We having left cur
boots on the outside OF the door. My
friend knew her Well and asked to see the
baby, which was a fine boy Of ten months.
After her servants had served US with
Refreshments We made our salaams and
departed.
The heads of little children are shaved
in curious circles and bald spots, the
meaning of which is unknown to me. al
though l suppose some rule regulates the
fashion. Baby traverses the streets strap
ped to mothers back and appears happy.
Some of the older ones climb to the shoul-
ders for d better view Of what is going
on. 1t often happens that the older broth
er or sister is the custodian of baby and
should a game be on hand neither nurse
Or little one is discomposed by the extra
burden on the one hand or the iostIing
on the other.
Curios ia the Shops
''In the shops here and there are very
beautiful curios-ivories, decorated china,
bronzes, silks, embroideries. The work of
old Japan is fast growing less. They say
the foreign demand no longer calls for an
cient lacquer and the other elegant pro-
auctions of the olden days 1t is almost
impossible to find an old piece of Satsuma;
the new takes its place. The carvings,
whether new or old are more beautiful
than any in our own country
The pertpatetic Yender Of sweets and
more wholesome eatables is seen on The
right and the left, while the clatter of the
wooden clogs upon the feet of young and
old, high and low, is heard OF all hours.
for many streets arC cemented CIR paved
with stones.
The houses are mostly small fthere are
not many wealthy people in Japan ana the
residences OF such are enclosed SO that the
Passers-by may not have full view and i'm
mediately upon the street The four sides
are made to slide back so that a stranger
may well say they are composed only of
roof and foundation, or floor. One may see
all that is going on in the house
The Japanese are said to be Clearly in
their habits. the taking of hot bath being
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