Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-12-04
JAPANESE PASSPORTS
DR.. EDwORDS DESCRIBES PECULIAR Gus
TOMS In JAPAN,
A Trip to Fuiiyama. the Sacred Mountain
Of Japan, the Most Beautiful Mountain
in the World.

Yokohama, Japan, Nov. 27.-I got
my passport today, and it is certainly
curiosity. In one of my previous
letters / said something about for
eigners not being ssallowed the same
privileges that Japanese demand in
the United States. and this passport
bears out what then said. 1t is a
most important document, and among
other commands and instructions in
long list of what to do and what not
to do, the bearer is expected to
behave in an orderly and conciliatory
manner toward the Japanese authori-
ties and people; to produce and ex-
hibit his passport to any Japanese
official who may demand to see it; he
''must obey all local laws when
travelling" and the bearer is not sal
lowed to buy from, sell to. or ex-
change or make contracts with Japan
ese in any province - he is mot al
lowed to permanently dwell in houses
of the Japanese in the interior, or
"shoot or hunt beyond treaty
limits. {" These are but few of the
many restrictions. A large number
relate to behavior and seemingly are
entirely unnecessary to put on a
gentleman's passport, but / found
that the Japanese had much provoca-
L. md hot
strangers be civil.
Foreigners have been in the habit
of bawling out "ohyo," c'how are
you'') indiscriminately to everybody.
frightening the women. kicking and
slapping the coolies. stamping over
mats and polished floors with muddy
boots, and acting like rude Doors
generally. / noticed in one temple
that the priests had been compelled to
post the following notice. Stranger,
whatsoever thou art. and whatsoever
be thy creed when thou enterest this
sanctuary remember thou treadest
upon ground hallowed by the worship
of ages. This is the temple of Buddha
and the gate of the eternal, and
SHOULD. therefore, be entered with
reverence. -
/ must confess that the actions of
some fellow Americans whom | saw
in the streets, made me blush for them
and feel that the japanese were justi
fed in thinking we are nation of
barbarians.
Fujiyama, the sacred mountain of
Japan, is undoubtedly the most beau
tiful mountain in the world. l have
seen many beautiful peaks, and have
seen pictures of many others. but
never has there appeared before my
eyes such wondrous beauty as that of
this mountain rising for two miles
directly up from the sea, with its
green slopes gradually changing until
they are capped by point covered
with snow The sides are perfectly
symetrical and the top appears to be
a sharp point piercing the sky. AS /
saw it for the first time this morning
from the balcony of the hotel. it's top
Redeemed by the sun just rising, l no
longer wondered that this semi-civi.
lized people worshiped it as some
thing supernatural.
Fujiyama has large crater at the
top. but its last eruption was in 1706.
nearly two centuries ago 1t still
ranks as volcano, however, for
steam Jets from many crevices. There
are fifty-one active volcanoes in
Japan, and earthquakes are of daily
occurrence. On many days from Fifty
Co one hundred distinct shocks have
been felt. Some of the shocks are
severe, but the people have become so
accustomed to them that they pay
Little attention to them. Most OF the
houses are of such fiimsy character
that earthquakes do not disturb them.
The more substantial buildings have
been built with a.view to withstand
the shocks. They are low and heavy,
with extra strong corners and door
post so that when shock comes the
people can stand in the doorways and
be safe.
While this fiimsy sort of buildings
which marks the residence portion of