Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-08-13

nifty, aud some of the better class OF
Japanese were united. So we soon
had quite list Of acquaintance
among them the American Minister
and wife, aud the wives of the uava
and army attaches. The latter lad,
is "a daughter of Admiral Evans, whS
has just arrived TO take charge OF
this station, Cringing his wife and
daughter, who are also added to our
social circle.
We had the honor of attending
the Emperors garden party, an AN
nual affair given in time of the
cherry blossoms. held in one of the
ROYAL parks. No one but tourists
and officials (among Foreigners are
admitted, but altogether there was u
large crowd of ali nationalities, "a
very interesting sight. The Emper
or, Empress. Crown Prince, aud the
court ladies, and officials, all walked
slowly along, bowling To the crowds
who lined the walk.
The Emperor is homelv, but the
Empress is nice looking. and me
Grown Prince Is very boyish. but
good looking. The men more plain
uniforms. and all the ladies were in
foreign dress. which is required at
court Their majesties walked on
10 an ar'or. uudrr which the refresh
meut tables we're spread, their table
leing at one end. where they stood to
receive all who we're entitled to the
privilege
Then after their lunch, they
retired lu 'hr same way. They
drove through the streets IN their
red ,.',e' ,n'~"es, copied after the
Enahsh safe 90 IS. but we did not
ha>e "a ,hau FL, see these.
All the ., were served % line
coilaliou n, ~n,i tables on lh- lawn.
vith rh.o 80. unlimited; aul the
~ aot. ali.l ST. very enjoyable
Ne b.. A.I tac u>~l cxr,r
irucy Of aiuia, With a biscouu, and
his family; haJ expected to ST, on
our legs ani at with chopstict>:
bat the jap".rse arc progressing.
and we were ushered into a parlor,
furnished with BRUSSELS carpet.
velvet chairs. and several tables, be-
sides the potts IF beautiful flowers
that they aiNn1s have. The dining
table was quite in foreign style, dec
grated with he fruits. candies, and
cakes which were desert
We had such AN abundant repast
of twelve courses that We could only
taste the most of them. They cook
fish aud chicken nicely, but | did
not cnre To test my stomach with the
raw fish aud the sweetened vegetables
aud a few other things. The cou-
pie were very kindly, and the
viscount looked worthy Of his rank;
but they do not speak English etall,
and the two daughters speak it very
little. bu; ,he son-in-law lived in
America mauy years. amt Is grad
uate of Harvard, SO he did most OF
the entertaining.
We were invited at 80 so we
could see the garden before dinner
and it was very pretty, with the
usual pond and stone bridge, and
many of the quantity trimmed pines
and cedars. This family is very
wealthy and have two abroad, son at
Oxford and one at Canada Univ, rsi-
ty. \ daughter is making a tour of
the world with a missionary family
and was with them i'm Baltimore
last winter. | had her to take tea
with me, which compliment was in
return for that.
We arrived just at the beginning
of the cherry blossom season, and
its beauty tan not be exaggerated.
The first are single and white, like
ours, but much more abundant.
The latter ones are pink and very
double, as large as small rose; the
branches are covered with them.
The japanese make a festival of
the season. and | saw thousands.
am sure, in one of the large parks
Since then We have had the pronies.
the wistcr.a with the flower spikes
two feet lon2) and the Gorgeous
azaleas, all of which are in special
Sow gardens, though you see many
IN other places also.
Many nzalias are planted on high
EN- Dankments, and you see the
wisteria, even in the houses, planted
in pots, and trained like weeping
willows. The camelias here are the
hardsOmest ever saw. We have
fourteen bushes in our yard-of
three colors-and they bloom from
early in April until now; we have
picked the last. Then we had six
mink cherry trees; so VIC had qnitp
fn.Iat e nn.,.nr, l,,A n .ro - III