Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-08-29


ing over 1000 feet above sea level.
To carry our sedans we require sc
men, four to the sedan. The trip is
one Of the most interesting and the
resort a place for a summer outing
Our trail winds in going up the
mountain and at one point we could
see eight places below us where we
had travelled to reach the height. The
lake is beautiful one and the din
ner at the lakeside hotel was. eaten
with relish only known TO the noun
tain climber. Just below the lake
where the outlet is, the water falls
go feet making beautiful painting,
one Of which I secured.
AS we return in the evening we
reach our hotel just as a real Japan
csc rain commences, which kept US in
for the next twelve hours, when we
resume our journey to Tokyo, the
capitol, and greatest city of the en-
pire. We were told that they had no
hotel il Tokyo that was desirable for
an American, but we found the I'm
perial a very roomy place and far
from uncomforta Bile, if not modern,
| ii furnished a place where we had no
complaint. This hotel has housed
most of the royalty of the world, it
gives list of the patrons and it COM
prised the most noted men of the
world AID if such could feel at home
there the writer surely should be
able to stay.
The hotel, the only one in the city
that Americans patronize, was butt
over forty years since. They now have
plans for an immense hosiery, the
plans drawn by Chicago architect
and the contract to erect let to Chi
cago contractor.
A ride over he city convinced us of
the great advancement taking place
in the empire. The streets of the
city being widened to an avenue
width, beautiful parks in which we
saw azales here in every shade of the
solar spectrum and in quantities sur
passing anything in flowers we had
ever seen and while their cherry bios
SONS are used 10 advertise Japan, yet
the azales were far more beautiful
and more numerous. ! might men
tion that the cherry blossom time is
called the most beautiful period of
the year, but when we were informed
that these cherry trees produced no
fruit and that no cherries grew in ia
pan it took away half the beauty of
the blossom.
Driving around the grounds of the
Emperor and prince gave us an i'm
preston of royal surroundings as
found in this country.
A great wall and moat protect
them from thetroublesome excursions
but the view we secured would con-
vince that they were not suffering
from lack of care and pleasant sur
roundilgs. The grounds are very
large, surrounded by streets many
rods wide, l should think 500 feet
wide
The entire city is being moderniz-
ed, fine reinforced buildings being
erected and if present prosperity
continues they will make it one of the
finest cities of the world
In leaving from their depot the ex-
tent and character of building would
compare with some of our depots in
our largest cities.
On the afternoon of May the 9th
we go TO Yokohama, where We stay
untiI May the 10th, when We sail on
! the Korea Maru for Honolulu and
San Francisco, seventeen days jour
ney back to that land where man
can be what he may desire to make
of himself without the blighting in
fuence of that autocracy which in
these countries we have Travelled in
| has cast its blighti1g influences upon
the brightest minds and energetic
race of humanity.
Our ship, the Korea Maru, had not
the comfort that one living in Amer
lea is used to. No fires when the
Temperature was at fifty degrees and
rainy most of the trip. The living
not of the kind to tickle ones appe-
tite, or satisfy the taste.
Eleven days out from Yokohama
/ landed us at the city of Honolulu
which / have before described and six
days out from there we saw on the
morning Of May 2Sth the first land
or rather rocks, the Farallon islands,
thirty miles from San Francisco and
two hours later we are steaming
through the golden gate TO our land
ing at pier number 80, where after
two hours delay, passing through the
custom house, we finish our interest
ing and instructive travel. In my
n HglA