The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-02-17
CONCH
CHOWDET.
By RAYMER

a lOilS dilO WUIlu6ll III lGtLCI 1IOIIl
Mr.. and Mrs. WA. Frizzell now
in Japan. Al Frizzell was Red
Cross head here and is now Field
Director in the land of the Ma
dame Butterflies, Their address,
and a lot of Key Westers and
Navy people will be glad to
know it, is American Red Cross,
Navy 1928, Box 20, co FPO San
Francisco, Calf, Here is the let
ter:
Dear Dorothy:
Enjoyed your Xmas note very
much. Thought about all you
Key Westers during the Holt
days, and concentrated so hard
that W. actually SAW some of
the Island festivities! We are en-
joying our stay here tremendous
ly. / believe a person could re-
main in this country for years
and never even touch the surface
as far as seeing all the sights is
concerned.
"The Japanese people are very
pleasant to live around. They
have a manner which is so court
eous and so helpful that one can't
help being impressed with it.
Never fear, I haven't gone all
over board for this attitude, and I
still keep Remember earl Harbor
active in my mind. Nevertheless,
living is made most pleasant for
all we Americans here. Contrary
to most beliefs, things are not
cheap here, as I was led to be-
lieve before l landed here in the
Far East. Since the Peace Treaty,
all prices went skyward, so that
bargains are few and far between.
The only exception household
help which is very very cheap.
Believe you me / am taking full
advantage of this sort of catch
ing-up-with-myself. My three
youngsters think we hit the Jack
Pot for sure. Imagine their cha
grin when we return to the States
and they return to taking turns
with the dishes, not to mention
taking care of the baby. China
ware, pottery, Cloisonne, and Jade
and Pearls are fairly reasonable
here. Knick-knacks abound and
so pretty too. We were tempted
to purchase quite a few of these
beautiful gee-gaws, but thought
better of it after contemplating
that we would probably spend the
rest Of our lives trying to explain
what it was to our folks back home
so, no stuff like that.
Japan is fast becoming wester-
nized. Only in the rural and out
lying districts does one see Kimo-
nos, Zoris. wigs and the like. In
the big cities the people dress just
as we do in the States, Tokyo is
beautiful city. It's buildings are
large, and its thoroughfares
speedy and well-trafflced(??) The
subway system in Tokyo Is pat
termed from the N. Y. Sideways.
and they are just as crowded, and
just as fast as the N. Y. subways
too. The only difference Is that
these subways are much much
cleaner. The Ballet, and Opera,
Sumo Wrestling, Exhibits, etc are
lovely we enjoy them tremen-
dously. To appreciate them tho
roughly one must delve into its
meaning and tradition. Sort of
study about II first well, this got
to be too much after studying six
or seven things at one time we
invariably got them mixed up and
didn't completely understand it
| after all. Now, we just 60 to see.
when we came here we
thought the japanese language
would crate our ears. had heard
funny remarks Xix eoink oink :
Feeen Deeeng, Toy Moy, etc etc
and we were prepared to 'toler-
ate'' il. Lo and behold what sur
prise. il is so musical as to be
compared with Spanish. 1t is
spoken softly and in q moderately
lifting fashion. My youngsters
have picked up good deal of con-
versational Japanese already. We
grown ups have only learned a
feeble ''How much" and Taxi.
Taxi-i-il"
Wished In several Japanese
homes. They too are becoming
westernixed. but even so. the old
take-ycur- shoes-off -at-the-door Gus
tom still prevails. The first time
we were confronted with this Al
and | almost had cur feet frozen
right eff Now. we carry a pair
Of wooden socks with us and when
we have to off with the shoes. we
Just on with the socks, and that
takes care Of everything. You see,
there Is no heat in the japanese
homes except a Hihachi that is
an earthern.ware pot affair into
which they put charcoal this just
results in seven or eight hot Goals
burning. No heat Whatsoever as
far as we can see comes from IL.
but one Is permitted TO stand
nearby and put ones hands oct to
warm fingers. In order 10 parfaks
tastes like stale beer. They say