The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-05-01

- OBO DAIsHI is Japanese saint Once while in
n China he carved image of himself and threw
into the China 1t hoated all the way Japan.
where caught o fisherman. When
the fisherman found caught ne happy
built a shrine for the image and worshiped it, The image
performed miracles that people from all
coast long piIgrmages on foot to Snee at its
shrine. They still make the plgrimages. but
Japan is modern, they need walk. Instead
the month the railroad special
Kawasak and the Pigrme carried to the shrine
in electric
OF the twelve festivals. March u the
important, day great bazaar starts q
away and advances with futJerng
the steps of the temple. Indeed close
does the fair encroach the shrine that the priests
who selling prayers inside interrupted by the
outside who selling musical tops
And those who worship play
Outside the temple a double-deched and
still nearer we'll square stone tank fed from
spring the edge of ladies', and
before he his each pilgrim the
his mouth battle his hands. Gay
various coIors, and with texts hang his
head. These he uses towels The temple itself is
massive structure squatting the steps like
a monster turtle It's beams O giant In
parson timbers of old wooden battIeshp would
Ioo5 as though they had by a scroll saw.
temple virtually single hall open the sides
except and divided by and carved
ratings. the temple the top
stone steps is oblong wooden trough, covered by
gridiron of wooden bars. Pilgrims who wish pray
thanks for prayers already granted, they
ter. throw copper money into this trough.
Inside the porch, and under the the temple
shutting off the view of the shrine tables
behind which stood priests vending prayers.
To the stranger their suggested less the priest
than the alert and obHging salesman So professional
was their they handed one prayer that one
rather expected hear them you take it with
you'or shall it," They offered prayers OF every
variety and did great priest who
| burned candles forced same candle to-
many different worshpers although as soon as he
lighted candle he snuted it again soon far
behind and by nightfal prayers though paid for
still Unuttered- Other prayers were sold after
fashion that suggested a well known game of chance.
Behind the priest what looked like private
letter boxes "a postofice number. TN.
pilgrim paid for his prayer priest by SHAKING
I a box he held shot a number ON the
rcd, and from the letter box that corresponding
number took printed paper. pilgrim at once
whether his prayer answered what his future
fortunes might be- Those of the pilgrims wished To-
beyond the prayer tables ana nearer to the
shrine left their sandals with busy young men who
/ checked the shoes with large wooden of
their sandals the pilgrims walk upon the
Those who had brought their
TO of with the other children and
around the altaT Tn spite OF the incense light
golden difficult
in place worship The copper echoed from tho
like troughS smashed agsiust
shrine: around
through the air like shuttecOcks; The chdrgns
they played hide-and seek eghtedly. the
emptoTy Clapping of hands andeavCred
attention of the saint
prayer, inCessant it iIsistenL And
eapped their hands of he deep and eaped
into the air for cookies.
] Copyright 1904 by Golfers Weekly.