The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-19
B~ssp,tabIe R<ception az . Party Of
Traveller ny the Entire
u~ousehoid.
EMBARRASSING ATTENTIONS
MAIDS UNCEREMoNIOUsLY ASSIST
STRANGERS TO DIsRoBE.
Also Participate I'm Rites OF the Bath
and Remov Screens I'm the Morn
Observation-Disclosures Folk.
co-rr,s,ondencs Of the indianapolis Journal.

train at Maebashi the first thing wanted Is
a hotel. The run may be made by rail from
Tokyo in an Afternoon, but IL 10 q long,
hard ride into the outlying hills. where
the hot springs flow. and start must be
IN early morning to accomplish 1t COM
fortably by daylight. Maebashi may not be
specially typical OF "old JAPAN" but on
the Afternoon that our party deposited itself
there. after sundry exchanges at various
stations with train hands and other natives
who introduced themselves ':Just to i'm
prove my English conversation" Ii en-
5oyed the distinction of having no one in
evidence acquainted with any tongue ex-
cept that OF the country. The party's lin
quail stock reached barely a dozen words.
but among them were 'Ichiban Nihon
yadoya," which pass for "frst-class Jap
snesc inn." and the jiurickisha men who
had been clamoring for ou- fares, piled us
into their spindling vehicles. and sped
tandem with us into the village. The way
TO go anywhere in Japan Is To pass no cor
ncr. A jinrickisha man may be safely put
down as lost when he takes any other
route. So when the pullers swung off at
the first turn. took the second at a canter
and plunged boldly around the third. we
knew they were going straight to the right
kid(Cs aId VIC WtAC dOtt ~ ChJOg WA-asOh
distraction glimpses OF village life. which
the ride afforded. men sorting cocoons In
the open-front shops. girls in a play
ground racing at tag, with bobbing babies
slung to their backs. and in the street In
front of one doorway a woman In a tub OF
water, soaping simultaneously herself and
the bronzed face of one of her offspring.
who occupied the bath with her.
HELPING THE FOREIGNER. '
1t seems a settled notion AT a Japanese
Inn that a foreigner is a helpless creature,
who would not know what to do unless led
up to IT. So when bows and gruting had
completed the removal OF our shoes at the
entrance. each Of US placed a hand trust
fngly In that which a waiting maid ex-
tended TO US. and followed that gentle
guidance through narrow passages, where
the floor looked and felt like satin, and
nanked by screen doors, which were
pushed open according to our several needs.
revealing big. square rooms. laid thick
with rectangular mats, a doll table over In
one corner on a low platform. patterns of
cranes and flowers on the sliding walls that
shut US from the view Of our immediate
~neighbors. and ceilings set of In the plain
est designs that strips Of cedar-colored
wood can make.
After safely locating us our maids glided
away 70 return in a moment bearing each
a blue and white offering from the laundry.
which unfolded to the gaze a kimono, flow
Ing OF sleeve and scant Of skirt, and
adorned with a design OF brooks over
whose ripping surfaces the nghtnings
played. This was a sign that we were to
feel at home. and the maids without fur
ther ado proceeded TO disengage us from
our habitual garments and to envelope us
IN the easier substitute. a process that went
well enough with the women OF the party.
but which might have disturbed the poise
OF ne masculine element. had not the
maids gone about II as naturally as IL 1t
were the merest routine with them. Then
the dividing doors were pushed back.
throwing into one the three rooms Of the
party. new maids brought in braziers glow
ing on top with charcoal. after which they
placed quaint kettles of water, while others
arrived with trays bearing tiny teapots.
wee handleless cups and ~lozenge-shaped
metal cupholders, caddies a finger high and
covered lacquer bowls containing dainty
morseis or sponge cake. sweetmeats OF bean
paste and rice and squares of candied jel-
~. From behind sliding doors IN the cor
ner OF each room were produced Nat silken
cushions in place of chairs. The maids put
tea leaves from the caddies into the pots,
and, filling them with the water that had
been heating over the braziers. they
straightway poured off into the cups q
liquid of palest green. tinged with amber.
Delicate Of aroma, and so fresh to the pal
etc as to compel instant surrender to Jap
anese taste. A maid refillcd each cup,
playing hostess the while with smiles and
pretty bows. until we all cried quits, by
which time the lower corner platforms had
been set of each with some ornament. here
q vase, holding a graceful branch OF fiery
maple leaves, there a tree mature in looks
but TO be covered by a handkerchief, and
on the third a bronze idol In miniature.
Each OF Us found at an elbow. after the
first service OF tea and sweets. a small
brazier, with two or three charcoal cmbers
shrouded IN soft gray ashes. wherewith to-
bacco might be lighted. and a cylinder OF
bamboo alongside for waste and stubs.
TAKEN INTO THE FAMILY.
The first hour In a native inn has as it,
tle as possible TO do with the entertain
ment charged in the bill. In donning the
k.mono the guest becomes part OF the
household and since no two inns adopt the
game design for that me the wearer
needs no further badge OF Identity or lodge
ment. and the tea and sweets are served
a. the compliment OF a host who thus
~signIles the honor that he feels In this new
association. At parting, the guest may
rcciprocate the courtesy by adding to the
amount, OF the bill a tender known as
chadai. but for the moment the attention
comes with no apparent thought OF money
return. and the innkeeper. host In fact.
devotes himself and family. direct and COL
- .,A ~vorv aAffpef ~ bfo bo.sa 20
tho comfort OF the newcomers.
II In amazing how far a limited vocabu-
larry will 90 under such conditions. One
may take what the gods provide In these
preIimlnaries without departing far from
the custom OF the country. IL only smiles
and pleased inarticulations are freely used.
for the native yes IL no more than O
cheerful Erunt. to be approached In SPELL
ing but not quite reached. by the English
shsh." and the language Of laughter y