The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-05-30
"THE FLowERY KINGDOM

All Is not poetry ana romance III
Japan, according to letters to his
home paper, written by Charles M.
Jenkins, of the Fairfield Ledger. In
a recent article he says:
Before the war with Russia Japan
had a public debt of S206,625 500, but
it is now s1,1OS ,S61 500, or s25.75 per
capita, an enormous burden for such
a country to carry. Its effects are
to be seen in the 10000 suicides in a
single year, the 10000 convicts and
100000 prostitutes with which the
empire is credited. Everything APP
pears to be taxed to the limit. Every
invoice note, check, draft, or evidence
Iof Indebtedness must bear a stamp.
Every railway ticket pays transit
tax, although the roads are govern
ment-owned, which is about one-fifth
it's value. Residences pay tax of
rs per cent annually, cultivated farms
Al, incomes of $3.50 per year 2, $3.50
.2.52, of $4,000, 6. There are inheri-
lance taxes, excise taxes on kerosene,
sugar and other necessities, all levied
by the government. Local taxes,
many of them very high, are levied in
addition. Apparently these burdens
are borne patiently, but there is said
to be an undercurrent which may
some day rise in revolution and cause
serious trouble.
Wages is the basis upon which all
commodities rest in every country,
and everything is cheap in Japan, in
spite of the burden of taxation. Lady
shoppers tell us that silks are less
than half the prices of the states,
while embroideries that would be al
most priceless with us sell at ridicu-
lousy low figures here. Garments for
either men or women sell at less than
the cost of making at home. Duck
two-piece suits of excellent quality
were bought in Yokohama at 50 the
suit, pongee silk of fine quality at $40
light English cloths, three pieces, at
$3.50 the suit, heavier grades at SIG
to $40, all made TO measure. Fine silk
shirts, well made and good fit, could
be had at $3.50 each, and neckwear
is about half the price it is at home.
And most d the orders our people
gave were rush" work. You selected
your goods, had your measure taken,
were given one fitting and sometimes
two, and the clothing was delivered
to you, all within twenty-four hours.
The workmen labor night and day
when they have an order. Most of
this clothing is made in the home, or
"a little shop. sweat SHOP" work, most
of it. Nearly every peddler and shop
keeper will tell you about his fac
tory" In one line in Kyoto 296 fac.
tories are reported, but they employ
only 584 people, or less than two to
the place, and a factory seems to be a
shop where anyone works. Meats are
the highest of the food products. but
they are poor in quality and little
used. Fish are always fresh and
abundant, bringing a cent or two a
pound, according to quality. Every
thing which wears fms or scales has
its use here, and is sold fresh, dried
or smoked. One can buy enough COM
mon vegetables for family meal for
a cent or two. The delicate little
Mandarin oranges could be bought in
many places at three or four cents the
dozen and other fruits are equally
cheap. Rice and tea, the bread and
drink of the people, are of good quail.
ity and cheap. The cost Of living
does not amount TO much in Japan.
II is the way to get the cost which
counts. We wish some of the pros
porous and thrifty folk of the United