Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-01-27
WRITES OF JAP'S CAPITAL
Rev. Mr. Kershner Tells Of Recent
Visit to That City.
He HAD NOVEL EXPERIENCE
Visited Hotel and Ate Dinner In
True Japanese Style AN
Interesting Letter.

Interesting Letter.
Rev. Bruce l.. Kershner, formerly
pastor of the Christian church in this
city, who is now in the Philippine
Islands. writes his impressions of the
capitol OF Japan in the following in.
teresting letter
Manila, Dec. 1900.
Editor The Evening World,
i Dear Sir Tokyo may be called the
horseless city. The work ASSIGNED to
horses in orr land is done here by
men. Goods OF all kinds are trans
lported upon drays drawn by one or
two musclar little fellows who look
like big ants Juggling at grain of
corn. Passenger traffic is by the same
means. A little wheeled buggy
capable OF accommodating one passen-
ger and called iinrickisbaw is used.
When traveller arrives he is surround.
ed by jinrickishaw men Just as he is
by hotel porters in the States. These
men have great powers OF endurance :
when passenger is secured the rio
kishaw man starts off at gait of
about eight miles an hour and will
sustain it without rest for distance
OF twelve miles.
The principle streets OF the city
have lines of electric cars which give
excellent service, in many respects
similar to that OF American cities.
| The Japanese take kindly to them
and they are always crowded A
noticeable feaure about them is the
absence of the mechanical register for
fares with its erve-straining, feverisll
stroke. In it's place is second con.
ductor who discharges the same duties
in much less ostentatious manner.
The conductors and motormen do not
wear numbers on plate stuck to their
coats, but instead, have their names
posted in the car where all can see.
At all crossings there are two dagmen
each of whom have two flags, one
red, the other green. Although the
streets are narrow and almost foil of
people there are very few accidents
The regular fare is two and a half
cents; working men pay one and a
half on the morning and evening cars.
Steam lines run into almost all parts
of the Empire. They are narrow
gauge but well equipped and have an
average speed OF about forty miles an
hour for passenger trains. Three
classes of tickets are Sold first class
two and a half cents per mile: second
class, one and a half third. less than
one Most Of the Japanese ride third
class.
The traveller is impressed By the
evidences of poverty on every side.
Doubtless one reason why everything
is done on small scale is because
the people are poor. Wages fol a
carpenter are about 80 cents 4 day.
street car men get about SO month.
For many, rice is not only the prin-
cipal bat almost the exclusive diet.
a dried fish now and then is luxury.
Their clothing il as simple; for the
men, often only a kimona OF some
cheap print and pair of mating
shoes. When they die they are bur.
ried as cheaply as they lived. The
coffin is a wooden box about three
feet on a side into which the body is
jammed. If it will not 90 in otherwise
some of the bones are broken and it Is
forced in. The hearse consists OF a
large box in which this one is placed.
suspended from pole carried upon
tire shoulders of the bearers. The
nIorrners walk behind.
/ The dissatisfaction in Japan over
the peace treaty is probably due to the
poverty of the people who have been
at heavy expense in maintaining the
war and hoped until the end to get
some material benefit form it, When
they were disappointed in this their III.
/ dignation was extreme and found ex.
preston in public meetings, one of
which the police undertook to suppress
with the result that every police sta.
tion in the city was burned shat night.
Japan IL Just in the military STAKE
of its developement It is proud Of its
great war Panoramas OF war scenes
are given in the park. War flags and
pictures are seen everywhere the sol.
der il the ideal the toys OF the child
rem are tin soldiers aud cannon. iii
they had tho resources they would BE-
IN chronic state Of war
The stores of the city are usually
very small, consisting Of one room
with the entire front opening upon