Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-15

to the general entertainments, such as
the stewards vaudeville show the other
! night, and the dance last night on the
occasion of the captains dinner -
marking the final evening of the voyage.
There are several nationalitieS on
board. including some Russians in the
second cabin, four of those same bearded
and turbaned Hindoos whom we saw
on the first day and who have re-
appeared from time to time. Their last
names, it would appear from the pas
senger list, are all Singh" which
understand to be generic title. Their
given names are. according to this same
authority, Sham Hakam. Dava and
Kushal. I'd not particularly care to
meet any one of them in a situation
appealing to his sense of Justice. with
me on the opposing side.
Interest in japanese.
But our interest lies chiefly with the
japanese whom We have been meeting
daily for the past fortnight. We have
played the deck games with them. have
walked and sat and chatted with them.
Our conversations with them have been
somewhat handicapped by our own total
lack of Japanese language and their
comparative limits in English express
sion Some of them speak very we'll in
our language, having been in business in
the States or travelling extensively.
They are great readers of English. One
OF the business men from Toxic re-
cited the other day list of the Ameri-
can periodicals which he regularly gets
for reading, and it would serve for any
American family of the more definite
literary tendencies.
In the matter OF conversation much
Is to be said for the japanese with
whom we talk on the score of their
gallantry in search of the exact word.
They will confess their limitations,
never seeking to pretend acquaintance,
never "blufing" Or they may use the
right word. pronouncing 1t in a manner
the blank expression on the face Of the
listener, will try again and again with
different pronunciations until an APP
Proclamation is reached which permits
the meaning to be grasped. And for
their own mistakes of speech they have
ready laughter as they have indeed for
most matters
Admiration for Americans.
l have not found in all my talks with
these charming gentlemen of Japan a
sign of anything but sincere admiration
for the American people and for Ameri-
can institutions. II there is any feeling
regarding the denial of immigration
rights by our country it Is not expressed.
If their Sensibilities have been hurt by
the exclusion Of their compatriots they
conceal the fact.
1t Is of course absurd to think of
judging an entire people by the few
who are to be met on a steamship in
crossing the Pacific. And. of course, we
are fully aware that our errand in the
Orient is well known to all on board
We are certainly getting ample evidence
that the newspaper people Of Japan are
making ready to give us rouStng well
come. Last evening came a radcliffe
air fairly Sputters with these messages-
saying that representatives of the jap
anese press would meet us at the pier
at Yokohama this evening and take us
away to Toxic to be entertained at a
Japanese-style dinner. So our very first
hours In Japan are to be spent In the
atmosphere.
In one way assuredly we are getting
on this voyage q distinct impression of
the people OF the land we are first to
visit. That Is with regard to their
artistic sensibilities and capacities.
While this ship was built by the Ger
mans and used by them in service and
bears the marks of Teutonic decoration
and design, Strikingly in contrast with
the Japanese manner OF expression,
wherever possible the new owners have
presented their own arrangements. For
example. the Winter Garden. q delight
full saloon on the boat deck. Is filled
with Japanese growing things, including
some Of the famous dwarf trees and
some semi-tropical plants In exquisite
settings The mind reveIs in imagining
how the japanese themselves would
nave planned and equipped this part OF
the ship.
But it Is on such occasions as last
night at the Captains dinner" that the
artistry Of the Japanese asserts itself.
Immediately after the tables were
cleared from luncheon the stewards
were busy with the decoration of the
saloon for the evening The result was