New Britain herald., 1921-06-24

one advantage about this particular road. It was on a hillside, and there were many small streams crossing the road. When we waded across these streams the swiftly running water would wash the earth or sand out or our shoes. which reduced the friction somewhat.
 Soon we came to the washout, ana there were about five lengths of rails suspended high up in the air, stretched from one side of the wash ed-out bank to the other like a clothes line. This washout carried away three Japanese houses, but we did not learn whether there was any loss of lifa or not.
 We arrived at Omiyamachi about dark. This was a large town or city, but very poor. We bought some fruit and fortunately we were able to pur- chase some wheat buns and a jar of jam which kept us from starving to death.
 Train for Fuji.
 Here we took a train for Fuji, a small town on the main line of rail road running to Yokohama. At F'uji We had to wait until 11:30 D. m. for train to Yokohama and Tokyo. but it did not stop at Kama kura where MT. and Mrs. c. were sum- mering, so they took the train for Numazu where they remained for the night. MT. A and I went out to see what kind of a town Fuji was, but we did not find it very inviting place. It was like all Japanese towns. kept a sharp lookout for a place where the ladies could get warm, and we all could dry our clothes, but I did not discover a suitable place of that kind. However, we purchased half of a very delicious watermelon, which surprised the ladies very much and which we ate in the waiting room of the rai1- road station.
 MT. A. and I discovered a small house near one end of the station platform, in which there was a pit in the floor for the usual Japanese char coal fire. We obtained permission to have a fire built in this place, and after it was going nicely we took the ladies there and they were overjoyed to again feel the genial warmth of a fire, as they were quite cold. By the time the train arrived we were quite dry and feeling quite comfortable once more.
 Forced to Await Train.
 On the way to Yokohama we ob- tained a little sleep. We arrived at the Yokohama station at about $50 a. m on Monday, August 9th, where we bid goodbye to MT. and Mrs. A., the most delightful of companions, and they continued on to Tokyo where they reside. As for Mrs. B. and T, we could not get any kind of a vehi- cle. to take us home, so we had to wait until the first electric train from Tokyo came along to take us to Sak- uragicho. Here we could not get even rickshaw as it was so early in the morning, so we had another wait of about a half hour. Finally two rickshaw men came along, but they would not take us up on the Bluff they were looking for easy jobs only. After a while more rickshaw men ar rived, and I eventually got one to take Mrs. B. I told her to ride home and I would walk. It is about one mile and a half from the Sakuragicho station to our house. I had walked about three hundred feet when a light rain began to fall, but had my faith full old friend-the kasa-with me, put that up to keep off the rain and + had on my raincoat as well; but that had been so thoroughly washed that it was no better than an ordin- ary coat. Before I had gone three @ity blocks the rain came down in 'orrents and when I reached home I 1, vas soaked to the waistline again. Baths In Japan.
 This letter has stretched out very ruch longer than I intended when I ; tarted it. but I must now tell you , ,vme things I omitted as I hurried through our journey around the base 1f Fuji. In Japanese hotel or inn here is no such thing as a private path unless it is in largo hotel on he main routes of travel, and those Ire called foreign hotels. We, of curse, were travelling through the interior of Japan, and the only hotel hat had a private bathroom was at ake Shoji, but that is a foreign ho- el and they had two bathrooms with he bath tubs set in flush with the loor Here, of course, we could have private bath, which we had every norning during our stay there. At l! tho other places they have onr >athroom and one bathtub for all omers and all corners, men. women nd children all get in the tub togeth- IT. That is, up to it's capacity; that S. for the Japanese or anyone who wishes to join them.
 As we were early risers, and for ,igners, we would let the ladies go frst while ua men shaved, and then wo would go in for our bath. The method of taking a bath is this: First soap all over and then get in he bath tub of hot water; after one ,op,ac ort of the tub he takes a small