The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-02-24

leaVinB japan | have seen hotel kitch-
ems at different places; but they we're
ali on a large scale, and cannot be
copied in private abodos. This Mrs.
SIS kitchen was of just the right
size in general plan very simple, and
the sink, the stove, the dish-shelves,
and the refrigerator were all arrang-
ed nicely, the whole place being
beautifully clean, so that there was
no evidence of disagreeable sights
or odors Only thus can food be
thoroughly enjoyed. OF course, we
Japanese cannot initiate all this at
once, because for one thing the sup
ply of hot water in Japan is not
abundant but the very name "kitch-
en-" suggests to our minds an idea Of
untidiness. and we hesitate to show
the place to others. This is due to
| the fact that it really is unclean; and
food cooked in such a place, though
it may look nice in the dining-room,
can only take away ones appetite if
seen in process of preparation. Cook
ing being an important duty of wom-
en-, | was deeply impressed with the
need of improving our kitchens.
Concerning the Merry Widow" op-
eretta which she saw in Chicago, the
writer says: The plot of the play is
a nonsensical French love-story; but
the singing and dancing were charm
ing the acting and expression clever,
and the use of electricity for stage
setting mace everything dazzling and
realistic. But, OH the frequency of
kissing! Though very expressive, 1t
was ineXpressibly unpleasant to the
, Japanese eye unaccustomed as it is to
such a sight"
After a description of her impress
sions of Niagara Falls and of maple
sugar making (these are equally strik-
| ing to a Japanese) the diary goes on
to say in connection with the power
of Niagara: Under the guidance of
the Mayor ! saw the hydro-electric
power-house. Lacking\as | do know
| ledge of mechanical science, all that
I remember are the eleven dynamos
in a spacious shop. When | was con-
! Quoted to the engine-rUom deep down
/ in the ground. I heard a tremendous
roar under the floor, and, timidly
peeping, saw the astounding spectacle
| of boisterous current gushing under
our feet. According to the Mayors
explanation, each engine r'aq'lired
only one attendant, and there were
altogether only siXty-siX employees IN
/ this large concern. When | deplored
my ignorance, and suggested that sucn
wonderful sight might be of 1ar
greater benefit to men of mechanical
/ training, my guide replied: NO! be-
cause you are lady, show you this
/ place. The Japanese are wonderfully
quick in copying others, and in con
sequence many factories are now
! closed to your countrymen.' | repll-
ed For the present progress and
development of Japan we are much
indebted to Americas influence, and
therefore is it not your pleasant duty
to help in the full growth of nation
just emerging from the stage of in
fancy? Does not a good teacher re-
joice in imparting the best he knows
to his pupil, and desire that the latter
may one day be greater than him.
self? Mr. Mayor smiled, and said,
You are right, but the teacher may
not care to lose his own place.
Boston impressed me as city OF
dignified people, with regular streets
and time-honored houses, quite differ
ent from noisy San Francisco or Chi.
cago While a guest at dinner with a
Japanese friend and his American
wife, a woman came to see me. Think
ing she might be someone of my
many new acquaintances in Boston,
went to the drawing-room to receive
her, and was somewhat astonished a.
her asking me for my impressions o.
Boston. She was a newspaper report
er! paITleu lulS suuueh QuSSIlOl
by saying that l had reached Boston
only that day, and so had had no time
to form impressions. Then my host
ess's son came to the rescue, ant
said that his father was waiting t.
speak to me, and l escaped. From
Boston we went to Philadelphia an,
+ then to Washington. There we wer
+ presented to the President and hi
wife and enjoyed various sights an
S tertainments. The last evening be
t fore leaving the capital, the landlor
8 of the hotel asked me to view his co
lection of art objects There was notl
t ing there of special note; but, remen
y bering my frequent mistake of bein
, too frank on such occasions, | sal
all the good things l could of hi
r, treasures, which seemed to pleas
n him very much. After he left tn