The National tribune., 1908-04-16

ance. There is never any crowd
in the most popular of the shops,
and the atmosphere of peace and
quiet which pervades them is most re-
freshing to the nervous American, ac-
customed to the large numbers of peo-
pie, the noise, the tiresome waiting to
be served the frequent Indifference of
the clerk, etc, of our large department
stores. The low tone and perfect man
ner of the Japanese who serves you in
the Yokohama shops has almost as
much to do with your buying the ex-
quisite embroidery, the beautiful silk,
the fascinating crinkly Grape, or the
chrysanthemum pattern silver, as the
great beauty of these articles them
selves. Many of the cheaper shops
open directly on the streets, and one
can rest themselves, if they so desire, by
sitting on the platform, which is just
high enough for that purpose, while be-
ing waited upon. Each purchase made
is handed to your boy as you leave the
shop, who stores 1t away in his rick
shaw, so when you arrive at your hotel
you have them all with you. To an
American things seem very cheap in
Yokohama. and especially is this true of
articles purchased at the shops in the
native town. In this quarter is a fasci-
mating street, with its half mile of the
auers, sideshows of all sorts, open shops
representing all the trades, which at
night, brilliantly lighted with the pict-
uresque Japanese lanterns, and crowded
with middle and lower class natives GO
ing and coming, presents a series of
dramas and pictures of whic hthe spec
tator never wearies.
a Good Base for the Tourist.
Yokohama is very good base for the
tourist. 1t is almost 4 suberb of Toxic,
it is so near to it, and can be reached
so quickly, and at such a small expense
Kamakura, once the populous capital
of Eastern Japan, but now quiet sea-
side village. is one of the show places of
the country, since it contains the great
Daibutsu, and is only so minutes ride
from Yokohama. This great Buddha
stands alone among japanese works of
art,
"a statue solid-set
and nodded in colossal calm,"
and as the great authority on everything
Japanese, Mr.. Basil Hall Chamberlain
says, mo other gives such an impress
sion of majesty or so truly symboIises
the central idea of Buddhism-the spir-
itual peace which comes of perfected
knowledge, and the subjugation of all
passion" The great statue is seated on
lotus flower, his head thrown forward
in meditation, his thumbs joined, and
stands on low ground entirely exposed
to the elements. Its hight is 4g feet
seven inches and its circumference over
81 feet. 1t is not well placed, and
would be far more imposing if il were
on slight elevation or at the end OF
an avenue of trees as are the temples
at Nikko. One can leave Yokohama Mt
some comfortable morning hour for
Kamakura, take a rlchshaw upon ar
riFsng, visit the Daibutsu and the tenn
N. Is.NFa
hotel, spend the afternoon doing" the
picturesque little neighboring island of
Enoshima, returning to Yokohama in
the late afternoon, the entire DAYS ex-
pense being four yen, so sen, or s4.5OI
Mex. Beautiful Nikko and even more
lovely Miyanoshita are both within
days ride of Yokohama, and the price
of the railroad ticket to either is in
the neighborhood of IS. From them the
trip over the mountains to the lakes
Chuzenji or Hakone is easily made. and
brings an experience which no traveller
should miss. The picturesque tea
houses tucked in here and there, wher-
ever the view Is specially beautiful the
numerous waterfalls springing from the
mountain sides, the luxuriance of the
foliage make a picture which fingers
delightfully."- in the memory. There are
also many other interesting and hear
tiful places which are equally accessi-
BILE to the tourist making his or her
headquarters in Yokohama.
If one happens to be in Japan In the
Summertime the hundreds and hum
dreds of children of all ages running
about everywhere cannot fail to be i'm.
pressive. The Japanese live out ofl
doors in warm weather, and the little
tots in their gay kimonos, with the
bright obi tied In a big bow in the back. |
their shaven crowns and big beadlike |
eyes, are very fascinating These chill
dren are the most characteristic of ALI
japanese sights. Babies are carried
around tied to the mothers back or
that of small sister, and it is no in
frequent sight to witness a group of
children at play, many of whom have
the baby sister or brother tied to the
back. apparently unconscious of the
load, the head OF the sleeping baby bob
bing this way and that. AS soon as she
can walk the japanese girl has her doll
tied to her back until she learns to
carry It quite steadily. Later on the
baby brother OF sister succeeds the doll. !