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

quite another to get down to business. Our
first serious ordeal came when 1t was time
to order dinner. 1t bothered us not at all
to know that western dishes were out of
the reckoning, but wishing to avoid too
many experiments with native food we de-
cided to call as best we might for arti-
cles which we hoped might be least sus-
ceptible Of being cooked out of recogni-
ton. An ovoid formed with the thumb
and forefnger, accompanied by clucks and
by vigorous treatment over a fire, con-
veyed our idea of scrambled eggs. Having
read that the natives understood steak,
and as the innkeeper nodded and said
stage in the order. Hunting up the word
for vegetables and having asked for them.
we repeated our list until everybody in the
house could recite ii backwards as easily
as straight ahead. and We stepped out
doors, exultant in our progress with the
language, to study nature as art had
adorned 1t in the gack yard of the inn.
That spot was in it's way a gem. A pool
Of water kept ever fresh by a fountain
spray through a bamboo tube occupied the
center. Gold fish played among the rocks
and MOSES that paved it and nibbled at the
leaves OF plants winch DOrOereQ the en-
circling earth and dropped inward until
they grazed the POOLS surface. Lifelike
turtles of porcelain summed themselves on
islands the size of a hand. some of them
connected by porcelain bridges. over which
figures Of men and women seemed to be
passing. Surrounding the pool were fiat.
smooth stones. over which one might walk
unsoiled unshod. and at one side was a
pine tree. which shaded a shrine to the
divinity Of the garden, and a stone me-
mortal lantern. associated also with the
family worship. Two dogs belonging TO
the inn, which had yelped off in fright upon
our arrival In stranger dress. attached
themselves to us when they saw US in the
yard in kimonos as IL we had been friends
for life. Here, too, vas the common wash
ing place. where on rock projections laid
along the edge OF the yard brass hand
basins shone in a row, with immense jars
of clear water beside them. in which gourd
clippers floated. From a rail overhead hung
strips of cotton n foot wide and two or
three times as long. emblazoned with prints
Of dragon. tiger. lotus and other striking
devices In contrasting colors. the hotel
towels. On one end of the rail rested a
bowl of salt. and near 1t lay strips of wood.
frayed out at one end. the communal TOOTH
brush.
A summons from within announced that
the inn people were ready to display to us
how well we had understood each other in
ordering the dinner. The first uncovering
left US In no doub that We had been ang-
ling In a fshpond at a church fair. II dis
closed a tureen OF chicken soup. with
poached eggs floating In 1t. The compound
tasted good. at any rate. and stimulated
no little curiosity to learn what various
other lacquered covers might hide. From
one Of them. a maid shortly displayed a
purchase of rump beef. shaved in limp.
wafer slices. She next produced an earthen
chafing dish. well smeared inside with suet.
a platter of fresh leeks. and a bottle of
soy. She laid the dish over a replenished
braxier fire. When the. suet melted she
dropped In meat and leeks alternately and
treated them with shakings from the soy
bottle. A. fast a. the compound cooked.