The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-02-21
ORIENTAL
SPLENbORS.
An Interesting Letter
From Japan, by
Myrtle Willett
Hagan.
Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 8, 1901.
DEAR HAND Co. FRIENDS

tSOuUIQueu IrOIu idsC Wtcn.J
One very disagreeable thing to US,
when W. first came, was to be called
a foreigner. One felt like %resenting
it, yet knew that for once, the tables
were turned and we were strangers
in a strange land. AS we come to
know more of the people, we take the
term as a compliment.
So many have been anxio US to
know what we have to eat. Any
vegetable we have at home, we have
here. Eggs are not less than 12cts.
per dozen. Meat is very high and
partly through respect for II slim
pocket book, also respect for old
age, we touch butter lightly. Fish
is very expensive. Chicken is cheap
err than steak. Altogether, living is
very high. Owing to the climate
they do not give the soil any rest.
The sun causes rapid growth, and
even now the gardens are growing.
They raise many crops in one year.
The oranges are better than any /
ever ate in America, as a rule small
er, quite sweet and seedless. In the
southern part Of JapaI they grow
very large. A gentleman brought
some to our children to day, that
measure sixteen inches in circumfer-
ence. We get them for about one
fourth OF q cent. Apples are about
Que cent each.
Quite unlike almost any other
country, there is no strife or i'll feel
ing about their religions. In the
same house they usually have both
Shinto aud Buddhist shrines where
they worship. On every hand are
temples and so Is made of wood and
stone, with people before them wor-
Shipping. Every hour during day and
night. we hear on all sides of US,
near and afar, the sad toned gongs.
as they ring to arouse their gods,
that some hearts desire may be
granted, some disease be cured or
some departed one may he sure OF
getting through purgatory and
have a comfortable place in the fu.
ture land. Every night until about
midnight and sometimes all night,
we hear the beating OF drums to
PLEASE their gods.
The other day, the lion head man
came around to eat up our diseases
Tor the year. He said his regular
price was fifty sen, but as we were
new corners, lie would do it for
twenty five. We told him if he
would perform for three sen, alright,
80 you may expect to hear of good
health for Us this year. One man
play . a wierd strain on a flute, while
another with a lion head mask that
opens and shuts it's mouth. jumps
around your door. He slips off the
head mask and has another clown
mask and acts accordingly. On
New Years day they hang afringe OF
rice straw before the doors and win
dows that i'll luck may not enter.
Lying is a virtue with these people
and the sense OF shame. in many 10.
spects, undeveloped. While in a
military, educational and political
way they are progressing, they still
are a heather nation, practically
without the Light of the Gospel.
We have an occasional earth
quake to break the monotony. We
Lenloy the study of the language very
much and have good teachers.
Never before were we so eager for
home papers and letters, Hand TO.
Press among them. I look back
with pleasure upon the short STAY
and kindly welcome among you last
sumner and trust We may be spared
Tor another meeting in a few years.
Sincerely Yours,
MYRTLE T. HAc.N