The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

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THE BOY TRAVI-XLERS.
tation must have been very great. Few of the houses were of more than
two stories, and the great majority were of only one. Along Sakuradu
Avenue they were of two stories, and had long and low windows with
paper screens, so that it was impossible for a person in the street to see
what was going on inside. The eaves projected far over the upright sides,
and thus formed a shelter that was very acceptable in the heat of sum-
mer, while in rainy weather it had many advantages. These yashikis were
formerly the property of Daimios, but are now occupied by the Foreign
Office and the War Department. Inside the enclosure there are many
shade-trees, and they make a cooling contrast to the plain walls of the
buildings. The Japanese rarely paint the interior or the exterior of their
buildings. Nearly everything is hnished in the natural color of the wood,
and very pretty the wood is too. It is something like oak in appearance,
but a trifle darker, and is susceptible of a high polish. It admits of a
great variety of uses, and is very easily wrought. It is known as keyakiwood
; and, in spite of the immense quantity that is annuall_y used, it is
cheap and abundant.
Some of the Daimios exjjended immense amounts of money in the
decoration of their palaces by means of bronzes, embroideries on silk,
fine lacquer, and the like. Art in Jajian was nourished by the Daimios,
and we have much to thank them for in the way of household adorn-
ment.
Since the adoption of "Western ideas in decoration and household fur-
niture, the Japanese dwellings have lost somewhat in point of attractive-
ness. Our carjjets and furniture are out of place in a Japanese room, and
so are our pictures and statuary. It is a pity that the people should ever
abandon their domestic customs for ours, wdiatever thej might do in the
matter of military equipment, machinery, and other things that are more
or less commercial. Japanese men and women are far more attractive in
their native dress than in ours, and a Japanese house loses its charm when
the ueat mattings give way to European carpets, and chairs and tables are
spread around in place of the simple adornments to which the people were
accustomed.
After an interesting ride, in which their eyes were in constant use, the
boys reached the Temple of Asakusa, which is one of the great points of
attraction to a stranger in Tokio. The street wliich led up to the temple
was lined with booths, in which a great variety of things were offered for
sale. Nearly all of these things were of a cheap class, and evidently the
patrons of the temple were not of the wealthier sort. Toys were numer-
ous, and as our party alighted they saw some children gazing wistfully at