Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-04
CHAPTER III

CT1AT Ill
The Queen of Fairy-Land
They were off for Aomori, at the
north end Of Nippon, in the early
morning, leaving Yokohama on toy
train that started at six fort-five. All
day they travelled through country
titled like garden, a country OF vivid
green, with many brawling streams
of water clear as crystal, and hillsides
thickly wooded. the sky was dark
blue, reminding one OF the excess of
color used sometimes by impression |
list artists, and seemed ever lew and
near. Objects evidently close by ap-
peared far off, an effect sometimes at
tanned in skilful landscape gardening,
or perhaps in fairy-iand. The frequent
farm-houses were built of bamboo set
on end, and were matched with straw.
AS they climbed into the mountains
the streams became mora numerous,
with pebbly beds and clean nigh
banks. Villages we're frequent, and
the hillsides were dotted with small
houses in clumps of tress. An &C.
casional Buddhist temple was seen. as
well as numerous tiny shrincs to the
Fox, the god of the rice-felds. The
valleys were cut into square basins
flooded with water, and men ana wom-
en- in masculine ;.,rire were wading
about In these, playing huge Inattorks.
These laborers wore straw hats shan
ed Hike inverted f1sh-baskets. Babies
were still prevalent ,oTnica!, fas
Grating little creatures the girls
distinguished from the hoys Ivy the
obi, sort of cushion fastened to theI
back, the universal mark Of woman
hood in Japan" In some cases 1t was
an elaborate aud beautifully em5roid-
cred affair, evidently a matter OF
pride; while, Oil the backs of many
1t degenerated into a mere rag.
As Hardy and his companion gazed
from the window, they were enter
tanned by the running comment Of
their guide or dragoman, Masatsura
Tsuchiya, whom they had picked up
at Yokohama. This young Japanese
had spent several years in New York,
knew English, and was bright and
officious to the verge of pertness.
When Japanese merchant and al
pretty young woman boarded the
train about the middle of the day, It'll
was Masatsura who acted as intro
Queer ard applogist.
"This is a Japanese silk merchant"
he explained, "and he is going with
his daughter to Hakodate. II tnei
honorable gentlemen do not object, he
will bring his daughter In with us.
have explained that such Is the Gus
tom in England and America
bring her in, of course" said
Hardy, rising and making one ef
his most graceful bows. eve shall be
delighted to have the lady's society,""
This was translated to Mr.. Sano, the
merchant, who executed o series of
supple obeisances, and to the daughter,
In Japanese style.
"She's quite an acquisition eh, Ne
ville?" observed Hardy. "By the way"
turning to Masatsura, "does either
OF them speak Engish?"
"Not word replied the guide.
She's positively beautiful, don't you
think 80 Neville?" Hardy inquired Of
the Englishman.
mo" replied the latter, II can't say
that I do. There's something sicken-
ing in their beastly yellow skin to me;
and those Sits of eyes, pitched at that
angle strike me as deformed, or as
phyicians would say, monstrous. All
foreigners living in Japan regard the
natives as an offensive, inferior lot,
somewhat as your Southerners look
on negroes. No, can't get up any
enthusiasm over your Jap girls beau
ty"
We'll, to me she's about the dam
tiest and most exquisite creation my
eyes ever rested on" persisted the
American "If there's any yellow in
her cheeks. it's slight tinge of moon
light, or, perhaps, one might fancy a
1 little gold-dust mingled with the NOR
/ tai clay of which she is made. She
Is as dainty as March lilac blossom,
) her lips are as red as cherries, and the
blood that shines through her cheeks,
llike-lika freight through delicate
:; ly stained window Is as warmly red
as If she were Anglo-Saxon. can
understand now how foreigners, like
your own Edwin Arnold, for instance,
have married Japanese women. Is it
true that they do not kiss? Such lips
; as those were intended by an all-wise
: and merciful Providence for kissing
YOU'D jolly well change all those
!. ideas after you'd been here a while, y
} replied Neville. "You grow sick of
, yellow people after living with them.
) AS far IS I'm concerned, I'd as soon
, kiss rat as Japanese girl"
well" said Hardy, to whom the
i conversation was becoming distasteful