The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-07-02
LETTER FROM JAPAN
Author of the Song Idaho writes
From the Flowery King
dom.
A Mountain Climb in Japan.

j Aso San, the great volcano of Kyu
shiu! In the April vacation, tn
month of the cherry-blossoms wit
their myriads of flower companions
Away from the railways. away fron
the modern life, away into old Japal
/, of the centuries past! Like the cal
OF the wild 1t came to the two youni
men from the Rockies teaching Ii
i the government high schools. Err
long the plans were made. A visi
i to Nagasaki to register with TIL
American consul, parting wave t,
Old Glory, and the journey was be
gun.
Express trains In Japan run bl
twenty-five or thirty miles an hour
and locals are correspondence slow
Consequently there is opportunity K
note the beauties of the country
rather than having only the has !,
glance SO characteristic Of America.
travel. You can not rush IL you wi I
And there is time to comprehend
and time to compare notes, and tine
to consider your fellow passengers
Though we travelled first, second
and third class, In order to study the
people, it was surprising to find how
very much alike they all are. Some
times the best are the worst and the
worst are the best, for nature seems
70 be no respecter OF persons, We
were struck with the variety in the
matter OF dress among the men. MANY
OF them wearing foreign style cloth
Ing. Most Of them have their heads
moved and do not part their hair
Inose who do are often ridiculed by
Delng called high collar" by the less
progressive element Of course the
women all wore kimonos. How free
from the tyranny OF western chang
ing fashions! None of them wore
hats It will be a pity if they ever
do Tor they have beautiful hair. And
the little girls have so much hair
that the term pig tails as used In
america IS not at all appropriate.
Small children appeared to be dressed
alike regardless of sex, but in fact
only the girls have any red about
thelr clothing. foliteness is mark
ed characteristic. The train boy
bows as he takes your ticket. and the
conductor returns it with bow.
japanese etiquette politely asks,
Where are you going?'' And, since
a feature of the volcano is so named
we casually answered To the Valley
OF Hell. No doub. some of them
it most fitting destination.
All day we rode through the beau
tlful land. Railroad building in
Japan is no mean task. There are
on every hand, tunnels
are numbered by thousands. and sea
walls are almost as frequent. AS
we neared our station the train how
asked, Which is your honora BILE bap-
sageY We hestitated. We did not
recall having brought anything of
questionable nature. But he was
only using the customary honorifics.
We reached 'Kumomoto, the point
nearest Aso San, at nightfaIl. The
,ity is electric lighted, but at that
lime 1t was also gay with MANY
lanterns. Our first night in
= Japanese hotel did not lack in
features. Fortunately meals
ire always served in the rooms, else
'ur aWkardness would have furnished |
,un for others beside the walters.
Aumomoto is a city of sixty thousand
people. And it is also a historical |
;enter. The most interesting feature
$ the castle built three hundred years /
lgo, and which was the scene of many
Evil struggles. 1t is one of the
eW castles allowed to stand at the
line OF the restoration. The walls
ire in excellent condition The river
IT'LL runs through the old moat. One
seems to be looking back into the
lays OF old, for the last century in
ne history OF Japan is long step.
3ut the contrast is not wanting for
Utmost in the shadow Of this feudal
tronghold are the newly constructed
barracks of the modern army. The
ounder OF the castle is honored with
shrine which is very beautiful be-
ng finished in lacquer AS this was
he three-hundredth anniversary of
ne founding of the castle there were
everal thousand strangers in the
lty, the festival continuing for thirty
lays. At night the castle was illumi-
lated, and the way leading to the
brine was a vertiable city of booths.
heaters, etc. But we were most i'm
ressed on seeing SO lany hundreds
t the shrine worshipping this hero
ccording to the Shinto rites.
An ancient highway across Kyu-
hiu connects Kumomoto with the
inland Sea and is the only route past
$50 San. whose smoke can be plain
y seen from the city. A small steam
ailway Is being built toward the
fountain. For miles on both sides !
I the way gigantic cedar trees are
rowing. One views them with in
ense admiration for they are patri-
rchs indeed. Nearly all the roads ;
4 the days of daimyo rule were Dor
cred with trees which were to be .
elled in times of invasion.
The country was exceedingly beau /.
full, composed Of gentle slopes mod 9
led by careful cultivation. The :
pring verdure was everywhere evil :
ent rendered the more charming by :
ne peach trees with their wealth of !,
I'd, white, or pink flowers, the ca :
lellias of various coIors, and the ,
larvelous cherry blossoms, the pride :
Japan. The double ones are as =
lrge as fair-sized carnations and the =
'ees are perfect bowers of glory !
L 49,.