Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-12-28
OBSERVATIONS IN JAPAN.

/ overlooked. IL 10 In circular canvas
tent which from the outside suggests
a circus side show. You enter a dark
spiral alley, expecting that it leads
only to some sort of fake, but in this
you are happily disappointed. You
at length emerge into an open space
and climb some stairs leading to an
elevated position in the center. This
small hill slopes away gradually on
all sides for about thirty feet, where
the ground gives way to canvas,
upon which is painted a panoramic
picture of the battle in which the tol-
lowers Of the Shotgun were defeated
by imperial troops, at Yeno, July 4th'
1858. Long lines of troops, some
armed with swords, others with guns,
are seen approaching in single file.
Haud-to hand encounters, dead and
wounded soldiers living on the ground,
exploding bombs and burning temples
are wildly portrayed. All in all the
representation seems we'll executed.
Shoconsha, Shinto temple near
Yeno Park, Is surrounded by granite
wall. The doors are covered with
gliding. Inside are bronze lotuses
and miniature affairs in the form of
two story pagodas respondent with
gold lacquer. Inlaid dragons adorn
the ceiling. The floor and outside
walls are finished in red lacquer.
Lacquer is a mirror-like polish for
which the Japanese are noted. 1t is
made of mixture of sap of the lac
quer tree and iron filings, turpentine,
or charred wood. The mixture is
thickened in the sun. Several coat
ings are applied before the desired
finish is obtained. 4 small fee Is paid
the attending priest for admission to
the temple. Shoes have to be re-
moved before entering in order not
to mar the floor. Near this temple
are several bronze urns and monu-
ments, as we'll as several lines of
stone lanterns, 264 in number,
erected in memory of dead mobiles.
The Buddhist temple of Asakusa is
the great place of worship for the
masses. The worshipper, having the
palms of his hands together in front,
bows low while repeating a prayer,
and drops piece of money into the
grated box below. Sometimes in
case of religious festival as much as
thousand dollars is dropped, in the
form of small coins, into this box in
one day. Flocks of sacred pigeons
hover about this temple.
Near Asakusa is revolving
Buddhist library or prayer wheel. 1t
is large box in the form of prism
and sets upon a perpendicular axis.
1t is operated in this way: man buys
a paper prayer, chews it into a ball,
and throws it at the gateway near the
wheel. If the paper wad sticks to the
gate, the man is permitted to turn
the prayer-wheel around once and
thus acquire all the wisdom contained
| in the sacred volumes.
Shintoism is the earliest form of
religion of Japan and is still practiced
by the higher classes. 1t is a pan
theistic nature worship combined
with the veneration of ancestors.
Buddhism was introduced from Korea
and is the popular form of religion
among the commou people. Free
dom of religious belief and practice is
permitted by law and Chris tianity
has a considerable following. In 1900
the Methodists, Baptists, Congrega-
tionalists, and Presbyterians togethe r
had a membership of 10000; the
Roman Catholics, SO, 400; the Ortho-
dox Russian church, rs, 900.
Atagoyama is an elevated park
near Shiba temple. There are two
flights of granite stairs leading to the
top. One flight is steep and is called
Otako-zaka (steps for mem; the
other flight, not so direct and of a
more gradual ascent, is known as
Onna zaKa (steps Tor women. AT
the top of the stairs is small park,
provided with benches and shaded
by numerous trees, an ideal picnic
ground. Here, too, is five stored
tower atfording an extensive view OF
the city and Tokyo Bay. Ones at
tention is soon attracted by large,
high, Russian cathedral which seems
to dominate the whole city. AS our
party was climbing up the zigzag
staircase of the tower, we passed a
sentinel asleep" who kindly recov-
cred consciousness in time not only to
collect an admission fee as we came
down, but also to assume the role oil
the ubiquitous curio vender.
Tokyo has whole street of shows