The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-19

and permitted once more to retire into our
kimonos.
On the return from the bath the rooms
had undergone a transformation, nothing
being in view except mosquito nets. They
were Of heavy green gauze, tied to hooks
In the four corners, and leaving no open
space except beneath them. There the
matted floors were overspread with cotton
wadded quilts, half a foot thick, for beds,
with silken coverings nearly as heavy. Our
attendants were not yet ready, however, to
abandon us for the night. A quintet of
blind massagers. whose plaintive flutes had
contributed to the street sounds since dark
a melancholy note, had been gathered at
our doors, and still submissive we stretched
ourselves out on the beds while the blind
visitors crept alongside under the nets and
kneaded us good and tired. The screen
doors then divided US off. the sliding shut
tiers hat furnish at night the outer shell
of every native house were banged to-
gether and barred, and we were left to our
devotions and slumbers.
One may possibly find in a Japanese inn
abundant time for ease, but it is not to be
had In early morning. The shell of shut
tiers that had banged out the night yet
tuOTt ilOlSlIy DdHStu III Ire I'D d1u as
we partly reused at the racket we discov-
cred that we were not alone in spirit. On
the side of every room where the doors
shut off the common passages there is a
latitudinal panel of glass, intended mani-
testify to enable the inn people to ease their
solicitude for the guests by looking at them
at any and all hours. Our returning senses
found slanting eyes at all Of our windows.
and when 1t was seen that we were wax
ing, the passage doors slid back and with
cheerful "Otayos' Good morning), the
maids proceeded to divest us of our mos
quito nets, then to push away the sliding
doors that separated our rooms, revealing
us in rosy enchantment not only to each
other, but to the assembled household.
OFFICIAL VISITORS AT DAWN.
The women of the party had the fore
thought to scramble into their most init
mate garments at this stage of events,
under shelter of the silken coverings. but
the men, who heedlessly followed the beck
oning nesans to the wash basins and tar
ried to shave, with that devoted attend
ance, found protection wholly vanished
when they went back. the dividing doors
apart to stay, and the openings into the
passages framing groups of interested viii
layers, who had lost no time after the
news of the arrivals spread, in calling
around for a thorough inspection. In such
a presence there could be no corners, or
other privacy; and since a betrayal of con-
sciousness of that need might have touched
the sensibilities of the mayor and the chief
of police. who were among the spectators,
where their dictum came close to being
the law, but would have been most impol-
itic on grounds of general comfort. a re-
turn TO foreign dress had to be accom-
plished as though company was customary
and essential TO its satisfactory progress.
AS they had done for dinner. the nesans
brought the doll tables together in the
center of one of the rooms. and lugged In
fresh braziers and tea. accessories before
all had dressed, while the proprietor smil-
ingly inquired our wishes for breakfast.
Profiting by our fortune OF the night be-
fore. We employed our most fluent speech
and signs to assure him that We knew