The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-17
RAILROADING IN JAPAN.
Queer Little Lunch Boxes Filled
With Rice, Pickles and Cake.

Queer Little Lunch Boxes FILLED
With Rice, Pickles and Cake.
1t is in the second and third class rail.
road Carriages that the foreigner who
wishes to study the life of the japanese
people will feel well rewarded for his oh.
servations. On entering a carriage the
first thing one notices are white lines
drawn across the glass windows, and upon
inquiry the information is ELECTED that
the simple folk who travel in the cars
for the first time are unused to glass
which perhaps they have never seen be.
fore, and that they are apt to put Their
heads through if there is nothing to ind
cate that a substance bars the way
During the cold weather all Japaness
travellers carry rugs, for the cars aEe
merely heated by long steel cylinders filled
with hot water, and laid on the floor
Sometimes these are taken out at each
station, and newly filled ones put in their
places, but more often they are allowed 10
stand till they get thoroughly cold, and
since the passengers are always pulling
open the windows japanese cars In MID.
Winter. are a menace to the health o,
every individual who has become used to
an even temperature within doors.
The smallest incident of travel is
enough to break the ice, and if a per.
son has a wrong ticket or has lost any.
thing it is a matter of interest and So
lictude for everybody else. Many Of
the passengers read as we do, but they
also are apt to behave with the same
uurestrained freedom as in their own
homes. If they are starting on a
long journey they at once proceed to
make themselves as comfortable as pos
sible. A rug is spread out on the
seat. for they are very particular never
to sit on anything that is not perfectly
clean. Then they shake off their "geta,"
or wooden clogs. and curl their feet Up
underneath. The next thing IS
a smoke in which both men
and women indulge, sometimes Gig
arctic after cigarette, but more often the
tiny pipe which never contains more to-
bacco than a wisp the size of pea, and
affords one, sometimes, two puffs to the
smoker. The ash is then knocked out on
the floor, and another wisp stuffed in. and
lighted from the smoldering ash which
has just been thrown away. This is kept
up, off and on, for hours. When not snlok-
ing eating is going on. At every station
there are vendors of the little mandarin
oranges of which every passenger buys
dozen or more, and eats them in short
time, throwing the skins about on the
floor. Boys pass by with tea in tiny
earthen pots, cup placed over the top
and this may be purchased for three sen
Ga cent and half, and me teapot is left
in the car. Besides leaning out OF the
car windows TO buy these, the little wood
en- boxes filled with lunch are in great
demand. In the upper part is closely
packed rice, in the lower all sorts Of TIE
pickles, and bits of cake. Attached are
two wooden chopsticks.N Since the Japan.
csc perch themselves on the seats, ana
when they do put their feet on the floor
they are encased in wooden clogs, they
throw all sorts of refuse about, and firm
appearance of car after the passengeIs
have been in it a little while. one would
imagine that the people are very untdy
in their way of living. 1t is safe to say
that the cars are about the most untio!
places in Japan. Porters enter at some
of the stations and brush up whole pans
full of refuse, and on some lines OF the
road, a small boy in a spruce uniform
comes to the car door at each stop, WIZ
a clothes brush in his hand, makes deep
bow to the occupants, and inquiries
there is anything that they want! Bu'
they greatest comfort and blessing In Js
panese railroad travel are the ''red caps
who are to be found in plentiful numbers
In every station. They are porters VIM
wear little caps of vivid red. and VINO
will Immediately relieve you OF all YOU
bundles and wraps, take them to your Jlif
rikisha, get your checks and attend ="
your baggage They do all this for tne
munifcent sum of two sen Zone cenD lo'
each piece!
Anna Northend BENJAMIN