The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-07-28

store in Japan. Less extensive than
many such establishments in the
United States, in its character, its en-
terpr.se, and the quality OF its goods
it is quite comparable to Ous Marshall
Fields. Not only quality but fitness
for nay purpose we're demanded in
every piece OF goods purchased b. Mr..
Arai. The haori. or great outer gar
ment. the kimono. the julian COR 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 mat
ter of serious concern. You know, CT
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. ana 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 a 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 its cost.
if made to order. would be about ten
yen. After making his inspection the
cooper stated that the price would he
IS insteadI Such are the disadvaI-
taaes Of being great. AS a fact, there
is some question whether the bathtub
may not bankrupt US. When It had
been built, we received bill OF 1s yen.
which was paid under protest. bu. it
vas assumed that the matter was
closed incident. Next day. however,
new bill appeared for $50 yen. This
: was settled grudgingly. Next day the
cook announced that the tub was SO
large that a step ladder was necessary
for proper use of it. When paid fer.
this will make the bathtub, which was
! to have cost ten yen, matter of more
thar twice that sum. Personally, |
hate it, for it looks as If it might BE-
suited for the swimming place Of Gle
plants, and Il Is humiliating to think
, that such a construction was neces-
sary in this land of little people. 1t
| Is, however, a work of art, with neat
! joinery 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 he house; when he has batbed 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 land where
every individual takes a scalding
bath daily, it is actually not so bad.
No soap whatever is permitted in the
batntub. 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 ct little tables
| brought IN for individual use while
the servant kneels upon the ground
before US. watching to satisfy cur
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
cakes to every visitor-man. woman,
or child. Both she and the cid cook
watch every movement with care, and
nothing pains them more than when
the master is guilty of soIie awkward
ness. or fails to recognize his dignity
While we cannot understand theii
words we know quite well 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 formafity. Next door the mother
and two little girls are always dressed
In brilliant colors. We meet them as
we come and go. and she has taught
the little ones to bow to us in proper
style. 1t is a pretty sight to see the
little creatures as they place theil
hands upon their skirts before them
and solemnly bow the head and upper
body.
Copyright, 1910. by W. G. Chapman,