The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1919-10-10
Travel IN JAPAN
Hotel Customs Somewhat En-
barrassing to Europeans.
Taking Saith in Public, In Water That
Would Boil a Lobster, Is, or
Used to Be, in the Ma
eure Of Torture.

With the advent OF the modern no
tel in Japan the old inns, or rest
houses. have been 20 large extent rel
ecated 10 ohscurity. bur some still sur
y!ye in parts where European traVel-
srs seldom penetrate. The kind OF
welcome accorded 10 visitors IN one
OF the village inns is very far removed
from western ideas Of hospitality.
Here is the interesting experience OF
a traveller as related in The Caterer
and Hotelkeepers' Gazette:
As soon as l arrived | was con-
Quoted BY the polite hostess into the
chief guestroom. which looked out
upon the cool orchard Of temple.
cushions were brought in, and
bright kimonos. took of my dusty
English clothes. and put on first the
lower kimona. made OF cotton; and
then gaudy silk one, bright with the
cuIOrs OF the hotel.
The room. like all japanese rooms,
was bare except for single decora-
ton. There is always special corner
/
sometimes a vase OF flowers, some
times q piece of china. sometimes SIM
ply q painting upon silk or woodcut-
The subjects are not seldom such as
bring blush TO the European cheek,
but they have no such effect on the
| Japanese. who seem more concerned
With the Arrangement than the sub
/ ject OF the ornaments. There are
strict rules for decoration; il is laid
I down, for example. that flowers OF diff
/ ferent colors should not be mixed in
/ one vase.
/ At length. because I was furnishing.
| low table and braZier were brought
/ in and set in front of me- and my
/ cushions.
Every time thought had finished,
/ the hostess or one Of the maids would
/ trip in with another tray OF dishes
| and put them before me on the table.
! Had not been able TO use chopstickS
before. should certainly have become
! expert By the end OF that meal
"A little while after the meal-for
il dii end at last-I was told that the
bath was ready. l was taken to the
|. open courtyard and introduced TO the
arrangements there.
TWO huge barrels were sunk in the
earth. one filed with hot. the Other
with cold water. There was thir
screen On two sides-not against pry
i1S eyes. but simply 10 keep of tbs
wind Indeed. as l began 10 take of
nv SimonoS an interested audience
0f both sexes turned 10 watch me. Thi
was unpleasant. and l did my best {,
dodge their gaze behind the screen
II might have saved myself tn
trouble. 4 moment later, in reply {
the calls Of the innkeeper and hi
wife. their daughter came up hastil
20 battle me. as her duty was. Sh
was not in the least emhsrraSSeI-an
soon had other things 10 worry ms
for when. at the young lady's direction
I let myself DOWN into the hot tub
discovered that. in the usual Japanes
, fashion. the heat Of the water in
] was not les than us degrees Fshrel
hesc.
r Up 70 my neck in that hot bath
suffered exquisite torture. which rurne
70 the most exquisite sgony when
stepped on the still hotter kettle lyir
on the bottom Of the rub. The in
keepers daughter pulled me out. n
As holster and very nearly hoile
she dropped me. more dead than shv
into the cold tub. pulled me out sgsi
and dried NE
III Then she bowed politely. and le
ne 20 return 70 my rccn"