Untitled

60 THE WONDERFUL CITY OF TOKIO.
" What is the good of talking to people who are so ignorant?
I do not believe they have any gods in their country."
At the foot of Uyeno Hill they saw a kara-kasa uri (umbrella
seller) kneeling on his mat and offering his wares to a
young lady, the tie of whose obi (girdle)
stood out like the
wings of a butterfly. ''You can warrant this, can you?" she
inquired, opening a kara-kasa and examining its color. "Well,
I think I will take it."
" Here is the ring to keep it together, Miss," he said, hold-
"
ing out the article referred to. If you do not use this, your
umbrella will soon get out of shape."
and brass
They left him counting over the paper money
coins he had received from her in payment.
When they neared Asakusa, they saw a hasho-dogu-uri
(agricultural tool-seller) kneeling upon a mat placed on the
sidewalk. Before him was a book in which he entered his
sales, and on his right a tray containing an ink-stone and
brushes for writing. Scattered about upon the mats were the
heavy hoes, rakes, grass-scythes and clumsy ploughs- (literally
mud stirrers) used by the farmers.
One of the latter class was paying the man for a hoe and
grumbling at the price, saying:
rf We have to work half our time for you fellows. When I
was a boy, tools like this only cost a third of what you charge,
and they lasted twice as long."
" In those days my father only paid you half as much for
his rice," replied the ready-witted implement seller.
T Thank
you, sir, I wish you a safe journey home."
" Oto," inquired Sallie, " please tell me why some of your
people grow their hair in the American fashion, and others
shave the top of their head and wear a little queue."
" I will," he answered in a low tone. "All those persons