Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1924-06-06
AMERICAN WAYS
IN THE DISCARD
Joe Bonecher Writes Interesting Let
ter From the Orient-Chinese
Live Like Hogs
Dear friends:

After thirty day trip we arrived
1t seemed at first we would never
get here, but when we got to Japan
we would see land every two days
and the time would fly a little fast
er. Honolulu was our first stop. We
were there one day and had car
take us around the most interesting
parts of the place. 1t sure is beau
tiful place. The flowers and trees
are green the year round and their
highways are paved almost every
where. The only thing l don't like
about it is they haven't any game on
the island, not even fish or a duck
to shoot. There are quite a few
chickens there, but you have to have
a car to run them down. Our next
stop was in Yokohama, Japan. It
looks somewhat different. We were
there a day and took in the sights.
One would hardly believe the city
was destroyed as bad as it is. only
saw one building standing. 1t hap
pened to be alone and built low,
that's all that saved it. The rest
were all shaken down or else burned
down. They had two large forts
about a mile from the harbor, all
solid concrete and they were split in
all directions. They are putting up
temporary buildings now, just littlel
shacks as it will take them three or
four years before they get the place
cleared off. You can't see where
they have done anything yet to |
speak of. They haven't horses and
trucks like we have. 1t is all done
with a two-wheel wagon with from
one to eight Japs hitched to it. Kobe,
Japan, was our next stop. 1t was
not touched by the earthquake, but
they sure have some crooked streets.
They run up and down in a circle
and it seems to me some places they
have six or seven corners, and at
others no corners at all; no side
will crowd the street. Street cars
are not allowed in some parts of
town, where they are so narrow.
took a ride in rickshaw while
was there. 1t was pretty fair ride
only rather slow, besides they did
not furnish a whip with the outfit.
China is something like Japan,
only different. The population in
some parts are like the flies in a
swill barrel. Their means of traffic
are great deal like those in Japan
but they have better roads and in
some parts of the city they sure have
some beautiful buildings The lower
class live like hogs in America
There are millions living along the
harbor in little house boats, whole
swarms of them for miles along the
river. They live on fish and scraps
thrown away from the big boats and
maybe little rice. Six cents a day,
they tell me, is all Chinaman re-
quires to live on and the way they
dress about three dollars year will
clothe them. Some only have
enough clothes on to flag rabbit.
We hit another boat and it threw
Chinks overheard. They never even
tried to fish them out. They were
on their way to hell, 1 suppose, SO
they let them CO.
While we were driving around we
went through place, l don't know
what they called it, but 1 would
call it beggar district Every two
hundred feet they were stationed
along the road and some of the most
awful looking creatures you ever
saw. You never saw beggar until
you see a Chink in China.
l haven't seen great deal of
Manila yet, but l do knowt it is
pretty hot but should worry.
haven't anything to do and have an
electric fan in my room. Am To-
Gated right on the beech and there
is a little breeze all the time. am
sending you the Manila Times which
you ought to get the same time you
get this letter.
Well, | didn't intend to make a
out of this so will draw !,
to a close and if you don't happen
to be too busy would like to hear !
from you, so goodbye. Tell every
body hello for me. Gen. Utter sends
you all his best wishes.
As ever your friend.
TON nnNrufNLTED p