Year: 1879

quite army for good part of the afternoon. One
OF the necessities Of palace economy is that you
have ten times many about you to do service as
you want. and ways must be found to keep them
busy.


SUMMER HOUSES.


The summer houses by the lake worthy OF
study. Japan has taught the world the beauty Of
clean. fine grained natural wood and the fallacy of
glass and paint. writing these lines in one OF
these houses-the first you meet You come to the
lake. Nothing could be more simple and at the same
time tasteful 1t is room. with grooves for
a PARTITION should you wish to make it two rooms
The floor is covered with fine, closely woven mat
or bamboo strips. Over tho mat is thrown rug III
which black and brown prcdominate The walls look


ing the lake a series OF frames that can DO
taken out-lattice work of small squares. covered
with paper. The ceiling is plain, unvarnished
wood. There a few shelves with vases blue ana
white pottery. containing growing plants ana now
ers There are two tables and their only furniture
q large box OF gilded lacquer. for stationery and
smaller one, containing cigars. These boxes arc of
exquisite workmanship and tho gold crysanthemum
indicates the imperial ownership. l have described
this house in detail because it is type Of all the
houses that have seen in the palace grounds. not
only at Enriokwan but elsewhere in Japan 1t shows
taste and economy. Everything about it is whole
some and clean, the workmanship true and minute.
with tawdry appliances to distract offend the
eye


coURTEsIEs AND CERRxoNIEs


Our life in Enriokwan Is very quiet. The weather
has been such that going out during the day is
discomfort. During the day there ceremonies.
calls from Japanese and foreign officials. papers to
read. visits to make. the evening is frce the Gen
eral has dinner party-sometimes small, some
times large. Tonight it will be the royal Princes
tomorrow the Prime Ministers, other evenings
other Japanese OF rank and station. Sometimes
have Admiral Patterson officers from the feet
Sometimes Mr.. Bingham and his family. Governor
the British Governor of Hong Kong has
been here during part Of our stay. General Grant
was tho guest Of the Governor during his
residence in Hong Kong and formed high
opinion of the Governors genius and charac
ter. The Governor is o frequent visitor at
Enriokwan. and no man is welcome to
the General. Prince Dati. Mr.. Yoshda and some
other Japanese officials live at Enriokwan and form
a part of our family They represent the Emperor
and remain with the General to serve him and make
his stay as pleasant as possible. Nothing could be
more considerate or courteous or hospitable than
the kindness Of our Japanese friends. Sometimes
we have merchants from the bazaars with all kinds
of curious and useful things to SELL But since
our dear friend Mr. Bore went home the reputation
of General Grants party purchasers of curious
things has fallen Sometimes fancy for curiosities
takes possession Of some Of the party and the re-
suit is afternoons prowl about the shops in
Toxic, and the purchase Of q sword or spear or
bow and arrows. The bazaars of Toxic teem
with beautiful works of art and the temptation to
go back laden with achievements in porcelain
and lacquer is too great to be resisted unless your
will is under the control Of material influences
sordid to be dwelt upon. Sometimes we have special
and unique exctements such vouchsafed to
us few evenings since. Our party was at dinner
an informal dinner-with guests except our
Japanese friends and Governor Hennessy. While
dining there slight thunder storm, which gave
some life to the baked and burning atmosphere.
Suddenly we heard unusual noise-a noise like
the rafting Of plates in pantry. The lanterns vi
brated and there o tremulous movement of the
water and wine in our glasses. I do not think we
should have regarded 1t as anything else than
effect Of the thunder storm, but for Governor Hen
messy. "That," he said sis an earthquake" While
he spoke tho phenomenon was repeated, and We
plainly distinguished the shock.