Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-09-27

shrubbery. We hunted nearly an
hour. Finally the honorable Mr..
Compton found it. 1t was small
box tied in a sunflower leaf and
was hidden among the sunflow-
ers. Inside was . very pretty
spoon, which has been turned
over to me. Isn't IL nice to have
such smart husband?
August 26.
The days absolutely fly by and
we seem to accomplish nothing.
l had to stop writing the other
afternoon to dress for a myster-
ious dinner party which we were
invited to attend. Irma White
and her husband invited us to a
private dinner in the living room.
We suspected the reason was
their anniversary and were right
about it. When we went in some
one struck up the wedding march
and we all marched to dinner to
it. Mrs. Austin, the lady of the
house, had prepared most
sumptuous repast, with nearly a
bushel of the best sweet corn
ever ate. We had fried chicken
and sweet potatoes and tomatoes
and hot biscuits and ice cream
and fudge, besides many other
things too numerous to mention.
The decorations were of paper
and very clever. There were pa
per table cloths and napkins and
paper storks, bamboo and ever
green-al, good luck symbols in
Japan.
The next morning we were in
vited to breakfast at the Lom-
bards, just the Whites and Com
ptons. They live half way up one
of the mountains and have most
wonderful view. Besides they
have very good cook and we had
a grand three course breakfast,
with lots of good cream and cof-
fee and toast. The milk has to
be boiled, so it never tastes good
in the coffee. Coffee is very poor
as rule because the Japs don't
know how to make it. Sugar is
not so refined as ours, conse-
quently it's not very sweet and
is very damp. 1t is also full OF
sticks, but a few sticks don't
bother me any more. Boohus are
the only thing that cause any dis
comforture and they certainly
make life miserable. They're a
a small fly which lives in the
grass and they just eat a person
alive. I'm one seething, boiling
mass from head to foot.
Tennis is all the rage now and
at present Carl is wearing out his
soul and body trying to coach me
to play in a tournament. He
really is an excellent coach anC
I'm a better player than l was 6
day or two ago. They've given us
a handicap of 40 points, NEAR
advantage-so we ought to dc
something.
The other night a Jap asked
Mr.. Moran, one of our party who
climbed Mt. Asama, if Miss Ken
iston was his honorable inside.
Honorable inside means wife anC
refers to the fact that the wo-
mans place is always in the
house.
Ever since we have been here
our party have been always meet
ling in solemn conclave to decide
what to do. But it is now def
I5nitely settled that three of the
men will sail for Vladivostok Sept
II or 18 and look up conditions
in several Russian cities. Oh
course we won't know for a month
or more what these men decide
about our coming, so in the
meantime Carl and l are going
down to Kyoto and live with the
Lombards. They're perefectl,
lovely people and have been very
solicitous for our welfare ever
since we landed in Japan. Car
will teach English in the college
and | will help with the American
youngsters. Besides we will have
a Russian teacher about twice {
week and be getting foundation
for the Russian language.
[ hope you're all we'll and hap
Ply and that you're all being goo6
to yourselves. Remember me to
every person who inquiries and
tell them I'm having a grand time
Bushels of love to everyone. Low
ingly, RUTH.
Mrs. c. C. Compton, Kyoto, ia
pan, care of Mr.. Lombard.