Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1876 — A Night at a Japanese Inn. [ARTICLE]

A Night at a Japanese Inn.

Wk entered the village, which was once a city containing over a million of inhabitants, and put up at a native hotel kept in native style. Again obeying the custom of undressing the feet, we passed many guests sitting upon mats and making their chopsticks fly in a way that would make a Yankee envious even in a railroad eatinghouse. Up stairs we went, and were shown into a room whose walls consisted merely of paper, partitioning one room from another, but which were scrupulously clean. Ordering supper ana some native wine, we were quickly served by a rather good looking maid. While awaiting the result of our order we were served with "tidbit ’’ pastry and with some sack - ee, also a liowl containing live coals, together with pipes; after which, giving us time for a smoke, the courses began with fish, not cooked enough for our taste, then eggs, chicken, sweet potatoes, rice and tea. No bread was served us, nor butter, but as the tea was remarkably fine and the eggs, though small, were' duly seasoned with rock salt, we made a good meal, rendered awkward by lack of experience in using tlie chop-sticks, which were pencil-shaped and used by holding or pressing the food between the ends, the guests meanwhile peeping through tlie . partitions and giggling at our frantic efforts to eat gracefully. While eating supper the Governor of tlie place sent a constable to obtain our names and residence, that we might be under police protection, we being the first white men that ever sjient a night in the place. Supper being over, we took a short walk through the town, and as there were many pilgrims in the place who had never seen a Caucasian before, we were the “observed of all ob servers,” especially our friend, an En glishman, who is six feet two inches In his stocking feet, making him a giant among them. Going back to the hotel, our friend asked us if we wished a bath and a shampoo ; answering in the affirmative he gave tlie order, and, hearing a long, low and somewhat sad whistle, which we have heard both by day and by night in Yokohama —and which, though it had excited our curiosity, we had failed to enquire the reason of—he went into the street and brought in a blind man, whom he said was to do the shampooing. Tlie bath being ready we went down stairs and were shown into a room whose wet floor proved it to be in constant use. .' . . . . - After finishing our bath we donned our gown and returned to our room, where tlie “blind man” took us in charge. Commencing with our feet he knuckled us all over, prying in between every joint and muscle of our back and limbs, excepting the region of tlie chest, and which, after he was through, made us feel as limber as an acrobat. These sliampooers, it is said, are made blind in their childhood that they may ply their vocation without injuring the susceptibilities of anyone. The san rose unclouded on the following morning, and after a breakfast served on the floor, similar in quality to the supper of the evening before, we paid our bill, which amounted to |1.75 —this for both of us, including our wine.— Kama Kura Car. San Fraancisco Chronicle.