The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-17
A DREAMER FROM JAPAN
YONE SOGUCHI VISITS CHICAGO Ann
EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS.
He Finds No Trace of Dizziness. but i,
Not Altogether Pleased with
what He Sees About Him
Chicago Post.

Chicago Post
some six years ago Tone Noguchi Iert his
own Howery land OF Japan 10 study the
WAYS and speech Of Americans Yone
NOguchi is poet. a dreamer of dreams
A rose petal puts him in ecstasies; a BILL
board drives him TO frenzy. Until a few
DAYS ago he lived on the Pacific coast.
where he could watch the sun sinking far
beyond the Golden Gate and breathe to it
a message to his kin at home. But when
he would turn and face the evidences of
mad money-getting all about him the con-
trast was grating. If he could not dream
all the time he did not want to dream at.
all: so he came 10 Chicago
Not yet recovered from the bewilderment
of that wild ride across half the conti-
nent. Yone Noguchi was found by the
Evening Post, and he kindly consented to
talk Of his impressions. just as they came
to him, about Chicago. the .'city of men"
Here is his nrst talk:
Now, after such an incessant ride of
three days and nights from boy towi,-a
very smart boy town--on the Pacific coast,
am here for little time to study the
great Chicago.
Chicago. What do 1 feel. do you ask?
v a
the City Of Men, far beyond reach of noun
tain or river. 1t acted on me as a great
dream of surprise; that tremendous rail-
road train took my breath away complete
Iy. Do you know I shy. without
knowledge-of-the-w world poet-a little USE
less poet hundred years late, maybe
using myself to dream in solitude! 1 kept
me quiet as a star of spring night, 1 was
breathing in Incidence.
Now, when the devil. the great overland
train, fed with me over 1900 miles during
only few days how in the world can be
without excitement, without losing myself?
please let me find repose and some fresh
water. Is it impossible to secure me a pure
water as in California? A thick sediment
of mud or sand at the bottom of the glass
is no harm, you say? Chicago water is
horrible.
Did recover my breath and set correct
my ideas in order; what should / say first
on Chicago?
Look The Chicagoans are all alive; in
deed. they are rushing on like Storm
they are jumping In changing street cars
saw here for the first time in my life such
n dangerous procession Of street cars-cars
above my head, cars under my feet, cars
everywhere in this great city. Yes, sir, no
one is sleeping in Chicago; no one is dying
in Chicago. Chicago is the wonder, the
city of men; not a city or women. not a
city OF nature, of course.
DO you ask me If men interest me more
than birds or trees? You want me to say
that what interests me most is human
nature, don't you? Yes, find new interest
in people since / came to the city of men
Chicago.
Hello, my dear San Francisco; 1 am a
Chicago boy now. Goodbye, my friends on
the Pacific coast Pray, let me be bold
enough to speak truth. California-thank
God / could get out of California-San
Francisco. TO speak more accurately, Is
simply an insane asylum. Chicago is a
crazy city also. as / see.
PRODS THE BILLBOARDS.
How long would the ocean continue to
sing for truth that had departed from the
world? What shame to have the divine
ocean facing the nasty. advertisement of
The Girl from Paris or some ones beer.
1t is a disgrace. San Franciscans, which
you must correct. The tasteless advertise
ments merely spoil the beauty of the nat
ural scenery. The Japanese government
gave wise judgment when it forbade to
post advertisements at the beautiful Hi
gashi Yami Kyoto in the time the national
exposition was held.
The Americans carry their business at
InOSEnSfe Wherever they go, in their foot
steps always they leave behind the I'M
agreeble smell of commerce; they are like
one who scatters around some i'll odor.
myself, however, have had many a
glorious hour with the ocean, laying me on
the graceful shore; what "a joy ii was to
1ali in sleep hearing the simple, great, hon.
est. masculine lullaby Of that ocean!
The San Francisco girls sting you often
as a wasp; they have the grace and small
waist OF the wasp. Their golden hair is
dyed in the everlasting sunshine and the
freshest their fallen n
dreamy, summer night; their footsteps are
light and soft as the futtering wing of the
morning butterfly; they are so glad TO show
their well-shaped shoes and slender ankles
by raising daintily their skirts. How happy
i felt mingling among themi 1 was per-
tectly intoxicated with their beautiful faces
as with wine Their sharp, melodious voice
was a queens command to me.
Joaquin Miller, the poet Of the Sierras
was my demigod; he is the victor of life
and peace; he stands aloft muse scorn-
Ing the wanton menace of the city.
i became tired with them all; 1 needed
Change left the Pacific coast.
But how long / can stand with this
chicago? Only God knows.
4 tell you, o how sad felt not seeing
any star at the night OF my ARRIVAL Stars
are not kind to Chicago.
IF the most noisy place is hell-sureiy
(mcago must be he'll. The only quiet thing
J have seen in Chicago is the water of the
Lake of Michigan.
chicago is the city of cars and wagons.
Chlcago is the city of high buildings-did
expect 10 see a twenty-story-h building
II my life. / being a Japanese used to
living in a ridiculously small house, like
a birds home? Chicago is the city of dusts,
smoke and Uttered streets Certainly there
are plenty chances for negroes TO make
fortunes polishing shoes and busting coats.
Chicago is the city of dirty creatures:
there are many ragged, barefoot boys in
and out and through the crowded lanes
OF trade, the human street sparrows. Chi
cago Is the city OF pig killing and pork
packing-the Chicagoans ought to be fat
with the native production, the greasy
PORK, but on the contrary, they are rather
thin but firm in construction They are
not so handsome the Californians: their
complexion is not fair, their hands and
feet are large.
NO DULLARDS THERE.
One thing, however. that strikes me
most forcibly in walking on the streets
OF Chicago is the total absence of cleepy-
looking faces-there Is not even one sleepy
mortal. tell you. How foolishly the Jap
ahese look in brown skin and dreamy eyes!
Brown itself is the color of melancholy
and stupidity; but it shows some sweetness
and pleads guilty TO contentment. Brown
Is Ike night The whfte-skfnned Americans