The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-08
FROM JAPAN TO COREA
By BISHOP E. E. HOss

After five weeks in Japan, which, in spite of divers and sundry drawbacks, were full of pleasure, I got ready on September to go on to Corea. The day of my departure from Kobe rainfall oc- cured that was quite the heaviest that I ever witnessed. Eight inches c.me down in less than six hours, flooding the streets and for a time putting stop to ali business out of doors. Having ar ranged to journey by rail 25o miles to Shimonoseki, and to take a ship from that point instead of from Kobe direct, l was much afraid that the tracks might be washed out, as had been the case month earlier in eastern Japan. But late in the afternoon the wires reported that everything was still safe, and l concluded to run the risk, and the more so as my engagemcnts ahead would admit Of no delay. When I went into the sleeper 1t was 1o:3O D. m., and all night long l easned for fresh air. The windows hao been closed up tight and fast to keep out the rain and to make matters worse a number of my fellow travellers smoked particularly bad cigars before retrlng' and some of them repeated the perform ance at intervals during the night. 1T there is anything more disagreeable than dead tobacco smoke in close quarters l do not know what it is. Under sucn CIT cumstances I could scarcely sleep, put I had the advantage of being able 10 stretch out. and as far as hard ana narrow bed would allow, to turn over. It was a most gratifying sight when the first stray beams of light began to steal across the morning sky. The diner was open for breakfast at o'clock. Long De- fore that hour I was up and dressed, ond very promptly used the opportunity to get a dish of curried rice, whicn when well prepared Is as palatabe an article of food as anybody ever swallowed. The rain had ceased, and the sun soon came cut in its strength, but the streams were still running full, and the face Of nature looked as if it were dripping from pro tracted bath The country through which we passed seemed for the most part to be poor, the poorest I had seen In Japan; hut incessant and heavy fertilization forces it to yield bountiful crops. l had established the habit of eating peaches, and at nearly every stopping place got out to purchase a supply. But was Just a little too late. The years product was all gone. We'll, I got my full share of 1t while 1t lasted, and did as much damage as 1t lies in the power of one man to do.
 At 2:3o D. m., we reached Shimonoseki, and went at once to the excellent hotel adjoining the station. This hotel Is part of the railroad system. A strong effort is now making to divert travel through Corea and Siberia to Europe, and it has been considered wise to provide, at moderate rates, for the comfort of pas sengers at all the chief stopping points. Whoever passes this way will do well to eat and sleep at Shimonoseki. The table, while not profuse, Is yet quite suf- ficient and is scrupulously clean; the beds are an invitation to rest, and the not baths in ample porcelain tubs are best of all. After taking one I felt like a new man. The city has about 50.O0O inhabi- tants, and appears to have reached standstill in its growth. It contains few sights of interest to strangers, but has good many historical associations. The ,'hotel is pointed out in which Ii Hung Chang was shot by a would-be assassin while negotiating the treaty between Japan and China, and from hill in the suburbs, which we climbed with some difficulty may be seen the wide waters on which the Russian fleet met its doom from Togo's mighty guns.
 I have used the plural pronoun in these last paragraphs advisedly. The Rev. MT. Stuart, a fine young missionary from NOIln CdTOuud, Hdu hliiuiy dSCoHipuiiSu me thus far on the journey, and proposed accompanying me at ' p. m. on the launch that went Qslt to the ship, but red tape forbade him. So I had to leave him at the pier, and shift for myself the rest of the way Once on board with first class ticket I managed, but not easily. to get my cabin assignment, with a tall young Austrian as my mate. His man. ners might have been better. AS soon as possible I left him in sole occupancy of the room, and found a seat on deck
 where I sat until the chill of the night air and utter weariness drove me to bed
 Waking about a. m I was surprised to find our ship, which had sailed at 10. ly- ing at anchor with brilliantly lighted city in full view. My first thought was that we had made our 15o miles passage during the night and waiting for full daylight to enter the harbor of Ruson. But I soon learned that we were still at Ehmonosek. Our captain, after ventur- ing out short distance, had found the sea still terribly rough from a four-days typhoon, and had turned back into port for safety. About we again got under way, and after one of the most 0sagree- able days that I ever spent on the water we reached Fuson between 4 and p. m. Other ships, some of them delayed for