The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-20
Tokyo. but a message changed my

visiting Tokyo. but a message changed my
plans, and took an early rtain for Kio o.
arriving there fourteen hours later. Inc
railroad is run the English plan, and
was confused TO see that if l wanted to
60 down the country, | should be compell-
ed to take the up-country track. The cars,
while being of English build, have no COM
partments, and had ample opportunity of
studying the better class of Japs in their
mode of travelling, their class being first,
second, and even third class, the latter
being nearly cattle cars and passengers
packed in almost like those of our trolley
cars during rush hours. In our car were
three American lady globe trotters," and
/ judged by their conversation and COM
ments. they had just arrived in Japan, as
they studiously made notes from their
guide book, and spoke several times ab1ut
the Jap women smoking in the presence of
the men, but ] imagine their sense of ex-
IRENE modesty was shocked ere their visit
was concluded.
Kioto is one of the most ancient cities in
the kingdom, and was formerly tie capital
of the empire. Il contains no less than
2o0O Shinto shrincs, anil about 5000 Budd-
hist temples, SO to properly see the city in
its entirety one should spend at least a
month there. There is a sameness about
the temples and We confined our visit to
about three, rather spending NEST OF cur
short time in riding about the city. We
visited Tfowiw temples, where for one sen
we secured cloth coverings for our shoes
and two sens more being paid to the
priest. he took us through the edifice, ex-
planning the different departments 1Gd
calling our attention TO the vs..S-S so Is
of art. We were shown the bronze bells.
the Mikado's special room OF worship. ard
the bronze images in front of the altar, a-d
after spending about an hour in the sacred
place we returned to the front entrance,
where we received the salaam and blessing
of the priest for a further consideration.
One of the pleasantest days l spent was
at japanese theatre in company with
discharged sergeant of the army. who had
been wounded at the battle Of Manila.
Taking two young ladies from the hotel as
guides we arrived at the show at II 80
a. IN. where 1 witnessed continuous
performance until 1880 p. III. We sat
down on the straw mats Jap fashion,
where chow was served, and as each act
was performed it was explained to us in
pigeon English. One act in psrticu ar
must have been very sOrrowful, because all
the women in the house began to Cry, and
with tears streaming from their eyes or
guests informed us that the rich lady
with silk kimOno she want Sampan man go
do hari-kari,' only TO find out he was her +
long lost son who had been blown off shore
In his boat; but OF course it came cut all
right in the end, and everybody was happy. |
Their idea of stage costume was decid- dly |
realistic in the part of the shipwreekel |
sailor on the desolate island, for all he |
wore was a loin cloth, but 1t was all right |
guess. and nobody was modest enough to |
blush, as the sight is common enc about |
the streets.
After a most interesting stay of twenty |
five days at Kobe we cleared at the GUS
tom house and left port just in time to |
escape the bubonic plagne that had broken |
out in the city and with strong nor'wes |
monsoon still in force we passed through !
1smu Straits and Xii Channel out into the |
Pacific Ocean once more, with everything !
in the way Of sails set that would draw" |
including 'stunsails. past the Lew Chew |
Islands. through Bashee Channel, separat- |
ing the Island of Formosa from our new !
Philippines. and into the China Sea. and |
so on past BorneO. Banka. through Gas
par Straights and the Java Sea to North |
Island at the northern entrance of Sunda |
Straits. The voyage across the Indian |
Ocean was not marked by anything special |
save the occasional Gains, until January
%, OFF Cape Colony, we caught SOU west |
gale and "hove to" for twenty hours.
March II ] arose at daybreak to get the
first glimpse of Long Island and as we
towed past Coney Island we set the ships |