The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15
Home of Japanese Banker.

w vi IIgg to grant that not all the blessings
OF lie IN Japan are with the present
generation.
Home of Japanese Banker.
The house of Taishakwan is one of the
oIceSt IN Japan. Its present head is XII
Wabata, one of the wealthiest bankers in
Osaka Through the kindness of one of
the foreign physicians of the place. who
ndu Deen frequently consulted by them
IN cases OF dangerous Illness [ was per-
mlIJed 10 visit the Taishaka wan residence
ana 10 examine its numerous objects of
interest. Such an opportunity is so rare
tnat II is worth describing.
10 begin with it should be remembered
strictest type. Two immense golden fish,
tWelNe 1eet long, adCrn the highest cor
ners of the roof The house stands upOn
a conspicuous bluff, commanding the city,
the surrounding fertile plain and the en-
clrcl1ng mountains in the distance / have
called it house, but it is rather a SER
les OF low buildings connected by Veran-
das, all surrounding a japanese garden
on the side hill nearly an acre in extent
y, this garden there is every imaginable
variety OF dWarfed and Towering trees
and shrubs, and of landscapes in mini
allure, really making world in itself
Family life is strong In japan and often
several generations dwell together under
one roof. In this household there were
no members. We were met at the door
by servants. They summoned the two
sons, who at present have general super
intendence of the house and grounds.
These were pleasant hammered young men
VINO had been educated in the Buddhist
schools of the city and had never been far
away from home According to Japan Gus
tom, we took OFF our shoes at the doors
and then We're shown around the bewil-
dering cOngeries of richly mailed rooms,
in which everything wa S scrupulously
clean.
We went down stairs and up stairs and
through sliding doors innumerabe until
lost III Df direction Thara
I looked into q most gorgeous Buddhist
shrine where the master of the house
pays his daily deVOtiOns. There we passed
through room with the national bird an
enormous stork, carved on the ceiling and
stretching from one side to the other. We
We're shown two rooms where the emper-
or and empress we're entertained whep
visiting in the city. In another room the
furniture was 500 years old.
Aesthetic Art
From the sitting rooms on various sides
and at various heights we caught glipmSeS
of the garden and of elegantly attired la
dies of the household wandering through
its maZeS: and ever and anon had broad
er views of thu city and plain and noun
tains beyond. Aesthetic art could go no
further. Beauty and homely comforts
were combined in perfection. The sleep
/ ing rooms all opened from the second
story with sliding doors upon the sunny
garden enclosure
We were TO take train early in the
afternoon and were getting nervous. We
were sure we would miss it. But still we
were led on and on until at length we
! brought up in a house theater, richly or
! namented and large enough to accom-
moderate several hundred sitting on their
I feet in japanese fashion. Then, for the
1 first time, we saw chairs. Four were set
out for the benefit of the foreigners, and
! soon a table was brought ir and placed
! before us. and we were served to some
/ dainty cups of tea, which we hoped was
81 Z
| catch the train. But no, more was to fol
low, and it would not do to be so rude as