Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-03-08

"The policemen OF the place wore long,
ugly looking sabres, and when they made
arrests they always pulled the weapon out
and bad 1t ready to use. When dealing
with crowd, the policemen would wave
their swords as though they were going
to clip off heads, but 1t was only bluff
and used to brighten the people. The
city was very billy and rocky. The
American hospital was very near the
house of the consul.
"rhe japanese labor is very cheap. We
could purchase wonderfully worked fans
for five cents which, according to our
idea OF things, should have been worth a
hundred times that sum. The Japanese
women are very pretty. They are dainty
creatures In their manner of dress, and
upon the street are always neat, and
clothed in fanciful costumes. They are
bareheaded and carry pretty sunshades,
a. 1t Is extremely hot there In the sum-
mer season.
"The Japs were the only onesi who did
not try to take advantage of US because
we were Americans. The Chinese and
others charged us double for everything
we bought, but the japanese rather
curried our favor by always being civil,
whether bargaining with us or simply
meeting us in social way.
"After completing my service there
went on the U. s. transport Summer to
Toxic, the capital city of Japan. We
were supposed to wait a few .days until
the arrival of General Macarthur, who
was to come from Yokohama to 60 to
San Francisco on our transport. During
our wait went into the city and investi-
gated 1t In every part. 1t is quite q man
ufacturing centre and the brick chimDeys
OF the workshops arise from every part Of
the city. They make silk fans, cutlery,
and all kinds OF Japanese curios in large
amounts which are sent now all over the
world, although fifty years and less ago
there was no market for them.
81 remember distinctly one very funny
occurrence. When we entered the har-
Dor we had no more than weighed anchor
before the Japanese were over the sides,
having come out In their own small craft.
The little men would place sheets OF
white paper on the deck Of the ship and
"SN'N oon you ~ Pub yooH iCcb tucIcOu.
They would mark around the bottom,
taking the exact shape of your foot and
other necessary measurements.
"In the course Of an hour or two they
would return with a pair Of shoes made
to order, OF perfect fit and comfortable
wear. You could buy several pair for
the same price that you would pay in
America for common pair OF workadays.
General Macarthur decided to wait until
the next boat went back, SO we left Toxic
without him.
AFTER twenty-six days of very good
passage we reached the Golden Gate and
entered the harbor before San Francisco.
There were eight army nurses and two
contracts on board. / took care OF
twenty five patients on the way over.
One young man had tuberculosis, and we
knew that he must die, but we tried to
keep h.m alive until we arrived In
| America. AS we were just entering the
beautiful Golden Gate, his soul left the
body, and he never saw his native land.
Every means known to medical science
was employed to save him, but the disease
contracted in China was not to be beaten.
We EN- balmed him on board the vessel.
Sin all my experience l believe / never
came across any nation which is so care
full of its sanitary conditions as is Japan.
When our ship entered the har Dor of the
Mikado the first time, three or four in
spectors and interpreters were sent on
board at once to see II we needed to be
quarantined.
"We happened to have several sick on
board at the time and one of the inspec-
tors asked us what we used as disinfec-
tant before throwing refuse, etc., into the
sea. We showed him SAMPLES of crude
carbolic acid, and he was greatly sur
prised at 1t. His government, it appears,
furnished him with a ch' ap chemical,
and he wanted to take some of ours back
to show 1t. He took bottle and smelled
OF 1t, and came very near burning his
nose. After they found how well we
knew how to treat diseases they made no
bones about our landing, but rather in
vited US ashore.
81 finished out my last contract with
the government at the President hospital,
Union street, San Francisco. On one oc-
casion was sent to Oakland during the
big strike when many people were shot.
The police were getting s. day for their
servi ices, and many returned soldiers we're
sworn in as policemen, and they did great
work. Each dray driver had an officer
riding beside him and all were heavily
armed. The car barn was attacked and
many shot,"
Mr.. Ellington came East only recently,
making the journey protracted and study
ing the life OF several OF the largest cities
on the continent. his last experience as
a nurse was at the Newport, R. l., hos
pital, where he did private nursing.