Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-15

baby on the other, you are not entirely
happy.
That was my fate few nights ago when
l came across from kyoto to Tokyo Every
seat in the car was taken and the passen-
gers were all japanese except a tea buyer
from Chicago and the Yokohama agent of
an American sewing machine company,
who proved to be an agreeable companion.
We caught a wink of sleep now and then,
but the japanese passengers kept up con-
tinuous chatter, and the train stopped so
frequently that the intervals between maps
were SO long and weary that l had excel
lent opportunity to study the behavior of
Japanese gentlemen while spending night
upon a railway train. ! am sure there are
many experiences more novel and exciting.
and it is not one that you would select if
you had your choice, but, as it was the
only entertainment offered for that particu-
lar night. it had to do, and really one may
find diversion even under the most dis
agreeable circumstances in studying the
manners and habits of his fellow men.
Jap Babies Are Wonders.
The baby was a wonder. Japanese ba-
bies always are. They are worthy of all
the admiration that has been bestowed
upon them, and this little youngster, who
could not have been more than three or
four years old, was as dignified and quiet
and accepted the situation as philosophi-
cally as the most experienced passenger.
the foreign sailor hat he had been wearing
and his foreign shoes and stockings, and
put them carefully away in a basket. Then
She wrapped him in his little kimona, fixed
a pillow for his head and the little chap
lay down on the seat and was sound asleep
in five minutes. And he slept all night,
until daylight at least, without a whimper,
although at times he was restless and polk
ed his little feet over into my side Of the
barrier. His mother was a dainty little
creature, modest and gentle, and scarcely
uttered a word during the entire journey,
but she always had her eye on the boy
and. when she saw that he was crowdng
me, would tenderly lift him back to his
place.
The man who had the seat on the other
side was not so considerate. He was con-
belong to him. He had evidently been lin
gering over. the sake cup. His head was
befuddled. his eyelids were heavy, and he
was entirely Indifferent to all that oc-
CURED. He slept through the night and was
the only passenger in the car who enjoyed
that blessing. On the other side of him was
a dapper little major of artillery in full
uniform, with sword and revolvers at his
belt who. hour after hour sat like SEN
tinel at his post, as erect and alert as II
an enemy were expected to appear at the
next station. He never changed his posture
except when our sake-soaked companion
lurched over against him, when he would
Indignantly bunch up his shoulders and
toss him back where he belonged. Then
the sake-soaked gentleman would gradual
ly sprawl over on my side until he be-
came a nuisance to be abated. And SO
the night was spent.
Stops Many; Waits Long.
Occasionally we got out at a station and
stretched our legs. We had plenty Of OPP
portunities to do so. The stops were many
and the waits were long. 1t takes about
twenty hours to run 300 miles on the pres
ent schedule. In the middle of the night q
fine looking japanese gentleman lifted a
basket out Of the rack above his head, re-
moved the cover and disclosed a quantity
Of delicious looking strawberries, half con-
cealed by large, cool, green leaves. Re-
moving the covering, he passed the basket
around the car. Every passenger except
the drunken man and the baby. who were
and took one beautiful berry each. AS the
Japanese did SO they rose from their seats
made profound bows to the owner Of the
berries. drew their breath through their
respect, and passed the basket along to the
next passenger. The Americans contented
themselves by nodding their heads and Of
fering a word Of thanks. Having recovered
his basket, about One-third depleted for
there were not more than twenty pas
sengers in the car, the owner produced a
little porcelain plate, a tin of condensed
cream, a lacquer box of sugar and a pair
and eat the residue with deliberate enjoy
ment.
At every station through the entire night
boys appeared with trays covered with little
pots of tea and earthen cups. which they
sold for 10 sen, or cents in our money
and the amount of tea consumed by the
native passengers was extraordinary
When they emptied pot they threw 1t and
| the cup out of the window, as IL 1t were
only piece of wrapping paper, although
they were very pretty both In design and
decoration. Three or four times in the
night peddlers brought in little wooden