Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-05
INLAND SEA OF JAPAN
BEAUTIES OF YOKOHAMA CHARM
ING TO FOREIGN EYES.
The Panorama Of Color Spread Before
the Voyager Who Approaches by
the Western Entrance.
Yokohama Corr Of the New York Times.

Yokohama Corr. Of the New York Times.
1t is a most pleasant sensation to find
ores self once again entering the Shin
onosek straits with the prospect of trip
through the Inland sea, where nature has
been so lavish in her bestowal of beautiful
things to be admired. Then, too, there Is
always this interesting place to look for
ward to as a chance of final enjoyment
before taking the steamer for transpaclnc
voyage Yokohama to the average for
eigner seems to mean far more than Toxic.
although the latter is the capital and
very much larger place.
The entrance to the Inland sea from the
westward Is through quite narrow pas
sage. through which the current at GER
tain times Of the year attains velocity
of more than five miles an hour. The wa
ters Of the sea. bordered with terrace
ribbed hills. villages nesting in coy littlo
ncoks. and the beautiful and varied color
ing of the hills form picture that battles
the power of an ordinary pen to describe
with any degree of justice. The care ard
attention bestowed on all connected with
cultivation Of the soil Is what impresses
one particularly, and the rice fields are OF
greatest interest 1t also lends diversity OF
coloring in it's many shades of green.
To Japanese returning home the con-
trast of coloring that he finds under the
bright sunshine Of his own country, when
compared, with the shows offered by some
Of the countries that he might call his
neighbors. must make him more than ever
in love with his native land. Where color
is so essentially part Of any view that the
very name for landscape embodies 1t there
can be no wonder that Japanese globe
trotters miss their lovely land: for their
word ,'keshikf' (scenerO means Landscape
color" which seems to fully carry the
meaning they intend to convey.
In he
where in evidence, and one seldom saw
any other type of craft, but nowadays th,s
has all undergone very decided changT
for instead of always picturesque junk
with It's peculiar sails and marvellous gear
one finds that the schooner rig has SUP
planted all others. In numerous cases the
native style of hull is still used, but in the
vast majority hulls like those we are ac'
customed to see are the favorites. With
their modern civilization utility is appar'
emily the sentiment of the hour
Many Fortifcations.
The way every approach is commanded
by batteries with modern high-powered ar
tillery induces the belief that an enemy
would have a very difficult task to force
passage. On every hand 1t looks as though
japan had concluded that war was bound
to come eventually, and that the way to
make it short and decisive was to be pre-
pared. Chimneys smoking along the shore
tell the tale of mines being WORKED ana
foundries In full blast New harbors APP
pear in advantageous localities and the
stone breakwaters are evidence of large
sums spent in the interests of the maritime
portion of the community.
This city was the first treaty port Openeu
to foreign commerce, and at present owes
its Importance entirely to foreign trade.
One recognizes several familiar names
given to places about the bay through
which vessels pass before reaching the an
chorage. Mississippi bay was one that
seemed to require bit of explanation. IL
was simple enough, however, as the Mlssls-
sippi was one OF our famous sl ;t me
frigates, and she came over here with Com
modore Matthew c. Perry when he made
his famous cruise.
Yokohama was merely a fishing village
in the middle of the last century, but now
fine esplanade of houses in the more modern
European style faces the sea and forms a
pleasing contrast with those of native ar
chitecture Behind all bold eminence
some Villas gardens and winding drives
These are all easily seen from the comfort
able seat of a jinrikisha, the universal
wheeled vehicle of Japan. This convey
ance is a "baby chaise." The latest wrinkle
is bicycle wheels, rubber tires included,
with long shafts. and a coolie between them
who moves on the trot.
When a few years ago the first wheeled
vehicle was introduced by an Englishman
the natives called it simply a wheel The
invention has proved great success
throughout the far east, the Chinese calling
it the man. power car. One finds it as far
from where 1t was first introduced as SIN
gapore. where fate has somewhat funnily
decreed that it should be drawn by the lazy
though mercenary Chinaman: and although
so heavily handicapped it completes sue
with horse and carriage and pre-
vents the introduction of the tramcar.
OF course there are horses in Japan that
are used for draught purposes, for driving
and for riding. The races next month for
example are a very important feature of
the season. and all hands turn out to see
them. They have very sensible way here
Of breaking their colts for draught pur-
poses The colts always run alongside their
dams on transport journeys, and thus
begin their apprenticeship by learning the
roads. AS they get a little bigger wisp
Of straw is tied to their backs to simulate
a. burden and give them the feeling of
additional weight without the fatigue.
Then, as their strength Increases real
Dad propOrtioned to what they can do, is
put upon them, and this is increased grad
lally until they are able to stand full
measure.
Russo-Japansee War Talk.
Tho oI,iact Of a visit TO this norton of |