The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-07-29

many such establishments in the
United States, in it's character, its en-
terprise. and the quality of its goods
1t is quite comparable to our Marshall
Fields. Not only quality but fitness
for my purpose were demanded in
every piece of goods purchased by Mr..
Arai. The haori, or great outer gar.
ment, the kimono, the julian Tor inner
kimono) and the hakama or wide
legged trousers, were each of different
material. Not only did these materials
have to be carefully selected, but the
question of lining for each was equally
important.
Even our bathtub has been a mat
ter of serious concern. You know, of
course, that in Japan the bathtub is OF
prime Importance. Every man, woman
/ and child in the household should take
a hot bath daily. The tub itself is
made of wood, and is a remarkable
piece of cooperage. 1t contains lit
tie stove for heating the water. Ere
quently this is SO situated that the &C.
cupant of the tub runs some risk of
serious burning. The charcoal used in
heating the water gives off fumes, and
Europeans at least consider this mat.
ter somewhat serious one. Accord.
ingly my advisers insisted that the tub
should be made to order, first. that it
might be sufficiently large for its occu
pant, second, that risk of burning be
avoided, and third, that fumes be car.
ried off. The cooper, upon inspecting
our proportion decided that the tub
should be three inches longer and
three inches higher than the regula
ton. We had been told that it's cost
If made to order, would be about ten
yen. After making his inspection the
| cooper stated that the price would be
16 instead! Such are the disadvan.
tages of being great. AS fact, there
is some question whether the bathtub
may not bankrupt US. When it had
| been built, We received a bill of Is yen.
which was paid under protest, but il
was assumed that the matter was 2
closed incident. Next day, however. a
new bill appeared for ESQ yen. This
was settled grudgingly. Next day the
cook announced that the tub was so
large that step ladder was necessary
for proper use of it! When paid for.
this will make the bathtub, which was
to have cost ten yen. matter of more
than twice that sum. Personally,
hate it, for it looks as If it might be
suited for the swimming place of ele-
plants. and it is humiliating to think
that such a construction was neces-
sary in this land of little people. 1t
| is, however. work Of art, with neat
| joineIy and smokestack for carrying
of the notwithstanding fumes.
Bath customs for the Japanese de-
mand that in the early evening the
! tub should first be used by the master
Of the house; when he has bathed the
| other members in order of age or i'm
portance follow him, bathing in the
same water he has used. This sounds
| pretty dreadful, but in a land where
every individual takes a scalding
| bath daily, it is actually not so bad.
No soap whatever is permitted in the
bathtub, but the person bathing is
soaped and scrubbed outside and
doused with hot water thoroughly.
So we are really launched. When
we enter the house our shoes are
| laid aside that mattings may not be
destroyed or soiled. We sit on
cushions, kneeling with feet crossed
under us; we write at little desks a
foot in height: we eat at little tables
brought in for individual use while
the servant kneels upon the ground
before us, watching to satisfy our
needs; at night the quilts, pillows and
kimonos are brought out from the
closets where they have been stored
! during the day and spread upon the
floor Guests are required to submit
to native regulations. Our old woman
is under orders to serve tea and
| or child. Both she and the old cook
watch every movement with care, and
nothing pains them more than when
the master is guilty of some awkward.
ness, or fails to recognize his dignity.
While we cannot understand their
words we know quite we'll when the
guest whom they announce is one
whom we should meet upon the
threshold-and there are few such.
We see little Of our neighbors. but
when we meet them, all indulge in
great formality. Next door the mother
and two little girls are always dressed
in brilliant colors. We meet them as
we come and 60, and she has taught
the little ones to bow to US in proper
style. 1t is pretty sight to see the
little creatures as they place their
| hands upon their skirts before them
and solemnly bow the head and upper
body.
Copyright, 1910, by W. G. Chapman.)
A Lefthanded Man.
II never realized how unpopular a