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2O6 THE WONDERFUL CITY OF TOKIO.
"And not seeing the beam in my own. What do you
mean, Oto? We certainly have not any fortune-tellers in
America."
Young Nambo opened his pocket-book, took out a news-
paper cutting, and handed it to her, saying, "Will you kindly
read that ? "
She complied, then said, "I never could have believed
such a thing. After this I will be cautious what I say about
your countrymen."
" What makes you look so sad ? " asked Fitz.
She gave him 'the paper and he read, " According to the
latest census, it is computed that over twenty thousand
persons of both sexes earn their living
as fortune-tellers and
clairvoyants, and this in spite of our free schools, the press and
the telegraph."
" That is true," said the boy.
" Oto is right, Sallie. We
see the mote in the Japanese eye, but are too conceited to
acknowledge
the beam in our own. Here we are at the curio
man's."
The dealer received them politely and said to Sallie,
" I have something unique to show you, honorable young
lady, two birds carved from a piece of ivory. They are
very old, and I think there is nothing like them in the world."
Sallie admired the carvings, and, on inquiring the price, was
told that they were worth three hundred yen.
*
That is a great deal of money to waste on curios,"
gravely remarked Johnnie. "It would keep a family for a long
time."
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