The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1907-08-14
AoiuiAoWatN Jdp
July 6, 1907:

Ny dear Mother:-
L sent you a note
from ship-board, but at that time / had
not decided on our resting place for the
summer and so could only give you the
temporary address, Toxic. While in
Toxic it seemed best that we come to
this place, -Karuizawa. Here Is the
mecca for the missionaries of ia
pan and Forrnosa, and also some from
China, during the summer months. 1
am told that some seven or eight hun
dred come here annually.
We came up from Toxic a week g
to-day. Spent the first night at a no.
tel, and the next morning began house
hunting. Our friends, the Bowles fam
lily in Toxic, told us of a house in the
suburbs of the missionary community
and up on the top Of one of the noun
tain passes, that we could likely get;
and directed us to a Mrs. Madden, who
had already come and, who would be
able to interpret for us to the Japanese
landlord. 1t was indeed fortunate that
she was here, for without some one to
talk tor you you are helpless in these
lands. We found the house just to u
liking, being removed from the commu-
nifty we can be as quiet as we like, and
as the location is farther up the noun
tain we have the more bracing and the
cooler atmosphere. The village is
about 5000 feet above the sea and we
are about 1000 feet. Again our house,
which is entirely Japanese, is cheaper
than the ones below. Here we pay
Yen 30 for the season, and there they
pay from Yen 120 to $50. "a Yen is
equal to so cents gold.) Not many
missionaries like to come so far up
hence u rent is cheaper, but for us
the location is better than in the vii
lage. One of the best things about
the place is the large spring almost
within a stones throw from our house.
1t is larger and holder than the one at
Mt. Bethel, indeed the sight of it took
me back to the scenes about that one
there. The water is like ice, and per-
fectly pure, hence there is no need Of
boiling it to make it drinkable, as the
water from the wells in China has
to be.
And the change in the atmosphere is
such a blessing. Here every night we
sleep under three or four blankets, and
i'll the day wear the heavy hannels that
we do during the winter at Macao and
in America. Of course if one gets out
in the sun lighter garments feel better.
Then the good supply of rain at this
season may make the temperature low
er than ordinarily. But it certainly is
the place to rest. / believe that we
can rest here better than we could in
America.
Another Of our blessings is an album
dance of strawberries. We happened
to get here before the season for these
had finished, and daily we are feasting
on these. Being near the village we
get groceries and other eatables sent
up to us as tho we were in the commu-
nifty, also the mail is delivered to our
door
Things are very expensive in Japan
ho"' OhuSiI HIoIc So Inan Ill CnlnQ.
Here everything is from a third to n
half higher, and in some cases the
price is more than double. In Hong
kong we buy beef for 20 cents, here
we pay 55 cents; there we get butter
for GO cents, here it cost 95. But the
house is cheap, and b~racing air and de-
hghtful water is free, so we will even
up on all and the Father will see us
through, with some of the substantial
thing to sandwich in).
Yesterday the mail from Oakland
came, your letter among others. There
are enough letters to show that our
visit home would have been a busy
one. Among them is a very cordial
one from the Moody Bible Institute,
written by Mr.. Moody's son-in-law,
Mr.. Fit, inviting us to be their
guest" in Chicago, and another from
Toronto, Canada, asking us to give
them time for a series of missionary
meetings.
am nearing the end of my page.
and so will write you more in my next
letter about things in this land.
With hearts love,
Charlton.