Democratic messenger., 1915-12-25
NNER IN JAP AN
IbIes OF a Hungry Man Not to
the Manner Born.
lUATTiRG AT THE TABLE.

Tried the Patience and the Muscles
,f the Stranger In a Strange Land,
but From an EpeureAn Standpoint
the Worst Was Yet to Come.
Describing an amusing experience In
apan. Homer Croy in l.csle's Weekly
Ills how, after arriving by train In an
Interior town. in his efforts TO find
lotel. he tried to break into a bank.
Realizing his mistake. he finally. by
ase of the sign language. was directed
70 u real hotel. where. after removing
his shoes. he entered. Then:
What interested me most was some
hing to eat. and opening my mouth to
vs. fullest pointed In They motioned
ne to follow upstairs. but held back.
showing that wanted the dining
room. not the bedroom. Seeing Il door,
which | thought must be the dining
room. | pushed II open, but It was the
kitchen; So. thinking that they knew
more about things than | did. let
them lead me upstairs. When the girl
pushed back the sliding doors my
heart crawlcd down another step. for
there was only one piece OF furniture
In the room. II seat that looked like
two legged Eilli stool covered with
carpet There wasn't a single chair in
ne room and no place to hang my hat
Jr coat. nothing except bare room
with II heavy mating on the floor and
one OF my toes brazcnly pceping
through my stocking
started 10 sit down on the milk
stool. but It squirtcd out from under
~. while the servant girl made no
effort to hide her laughter Dropping
down on the floor She showed me how
to use the milk stool 10y sitting on the
Hoe nd lcauing one arm on II. like a
'scfsr I'ompcii
ne took my bat and coat and won
ii whcr" she WAS going TO hang
u. for there wasn't single nail or
In the room Carving them over
hc wall. she pushed back small
NJ door and placed them on shelf
brought me back kimono She
oncd for me TO get into 1t and
/ down the hall got out OF my
and was Just slipping into the
when ! heard her coming.
her to stop. but she did not
md. 81 | wrapped the kimono
ne the best way could and
;ecp il together. for there were
IS on Il.
floor She placed table and
OF of tea The table was Just
foot high, and there was no
sugar for the tea, for these
spoil tea TO a japanese. Then
a.. lc with plate OF fish. bowl
II rice and little square box with
bamboo tube In 1t and a bowl. In the
bowl was glow OF charcoal Soon
puzzled ou; that this was for lighting
cigarettes and the bamboo for dropping
the butts into The first thing Japa-
nese thinks Uf is tea. and the next IL
cigarettes
started 10 draw up TO the table. but
could not 0nd place for my knees.
They wouldn't let me get near enough
the table to carry out ms designs on
the FISH Seeing my trouble. the girl
dropped down to show me how. She
turned her feet back. with her toes
pointing straight behind her. and sat
down. her face IN one direction and her
toes In another II looked easy, but II
brought me up with short breath. No
European can sit IN such an attitude.
Putting one leg under the table, with
one bare Knee elistenimg on the side.
bent over Tie table 10 proceed with the
eating. but here ran up against
snag All ! had to eat with was chop
sticks Weaving them through my
fingers. tried to break Off Il piece
from the slab Of fish. but ii wouldn't
break turned II over. hoping TO
spring 1t. but with my wahbling sticks
could only grease the plate Openly
the girl laughcd IL was better than II
picture show to her She showed me
how It should be donc-hy lifting the
whole fish with the sticks and taking
bites as II II were a piece of bread.
The next dish was something that
puzzled me In 4 round wooden dish
about the size of the bowl that used 10
come in package OF oatmeal were
white squares of meat IN hot water. |
worked ont piece ana ate II and
asked her through signs what II was
She threw ont enough for paragraph,
but that did not bring me light
asked her again aud away she went
and came bnci, with a book and. com
ing up cosr pointed 20 the picture of
horse, had been eating horse meat
Something III me began to sink leaving
me weak and limp Although she
brought me- TWO or three more things
to eat. waved them aside My appe-
tlte for the lime hld been appeased.
John Mur's Great Wealth.