Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-02-08
A Letter From Japan.

A Letter From Japan.
Rev. DR.. Charles Ghiselin has received
from his son, Rev. Charles Ghiselin, Jr.,
lately gone out as missionary TO Japan,
some very interesting letters, some of
which we will reprint. The first is as
follows:
Kobe, Japan, Oct. 30, 1916.
finished my last letter before the boat
landed at Yokohama. Last Friday morn
ing at 6 o'clock we were aroused to be
inspected by the Japanese surgeon. The
terrible cholera now raging through the
cities OF Japan gives them ground for great
strictness, butthese doctors simply count
ed our noses at the breakfasttable. Dig
nified officers then came on board to in
spect our passports. They are so court
ing the favor OF Great Britain that the Of
ficers would not open the passports OF
British subjects One American lady,
Madam Henkler, had little trouble in
being questioned very closely, because
she had been born in Germany. AT 8
O'Clock that morning with Mr. Turnbull.
young missionary going TO India, |
started through the streets Of Yokohama
to the railroad station. RickSha men
swarmed around us on all sides.
The streets present very bright and
lively sight The great mass Of the peo-
pie belong 10 the coolie class and wear
loose kmonos and wooden shoes. The
leading business men wear European
dress. The little children are the happiest
and most prepossessing OF all the people
in the crowds. Great numbers of little
boys and girls from four years old up
seem 10 be running wild along the streets.
Often you see, as did this morning,
little girl six years old carrying her little
baby brother one year old on her back
like an Indian papoose. Friday morning
we saw very pretty procession OF a
thousand girls between six and twelve
marching along the streets.
AT the railroad station we changed our
money. The Japanese money is very
easy to handle. Their chief coins are the
sen, equivalent TO one-half a cent, and
the yen, equivalent to one half dollar.
II seems TO me also that in Japan your yen
buys almost as much as the dollar in
America. so that the money goes twice as
Tar in purchasing articles. II was a de-
lightful surprise.
AT the railroad station the coolies and
soldiers crowded into most OF the cars on
the train and left one comfortable apart
ment for the aristocrats and foreigners.
After pulling out from Yokohama we
were entertained all the way with the
wonderful sights.
The towns are we'll shaded with the
maple, cedar and native trees. In the
suburbs OF Yokohama we saw the most
dainty bungalows situated along the ter
raced hillsides. Pretty flower gardens
adorn the homes. Everything has such
a fresh, green color, that the turning OF
the leaves from the fall frosts must come
very late. Farther out in the country we
saw crops Of several kinds, such as oats,
beans and rice. There are many varie-
ties OF fruit. The country is so thickIy
settled that you seem 10 pass through a
continuous string OF towns on the way
from Yokohama TO Tokyo.
AT Tokyo we stepped off the train at
tremendous and magnificent depot. All
the notices in stores, hotels, and every
place are in English, so that you have no
trouble in finding your way.
In Tokyo got my first introduction TO
mercantile methods in the Orient.
wanted TO buy cap in place OF the one
which lost in the Pacific In the first
place, was astounded at the size Of my
head, because all the hats tried were too
small for me. was almost ready to give
up the task, when discovered that the
merchant expected me 10 wait on my
self So ransacked the shelves, throw
ingeveything into considerable disorder.
while all the time the owner of the store
sat idly by bowing and smiling with pleas
ure. 1t is delightful TO pull anything you
want from the shelves OF store without
any protest from the owner. and this is
precisely what you must do ia order to
get what you want from these Oriental
merchants.
Imagine the difference in prices, when
in Tokyo paid only 80 cents for a cap
that cost five times as much in Chicago.
The average merchants and venders in
Japan have no uniform prices, so that The
only fhingfor even the most lavish spend
ers is TO resort 10 the familiar method Of
''iewing down" the seller. Oftentimes
you may purchase for only small part
OF the original price. II IS surprising how
largely the japanese stores are flied with
frifIing trinkets that have no real value.
Mr.. TurnbuII, my companion, and !
thought We would visit the palace Of the
Emperor in Tokyo. OF course we were
very green about the procedure in accom-
pIishiDg this. We started off with great
confidence like typical American tourists
and walked straight up to The gate Of the
imperial palace, which occupies 300 acres
of land in the heart OF the city. If IS suf-
rounded by high battressed walls and a
rnoaf. NV friend and walked up 70 fhe