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

290 THE BOY TRAVELLERS.
fifty cents a day, and his expenses, and said lie was I'eminded of the ex-
cuse of a soldier M'ho was being censured for drunkenness.
" What was that ?" queried Frank.
" His captain asked him what he had to say for himself to escape pun-
ishment, and the man replied that it was unreasonable to expect all tlie
cardinal virtues for thirteen dollars a month. The captain told him the
excuse was suflicient for that time, but would not do for a repetition of
the offence."
They had not been five minutes in the hotel before they were visited
by a delegation of peddlers, who had all sorts of wares to offer. Among
them were some beautiful embroideries on silk, of a kind they had not
seen in Tokio or Yokohama, and there were some exquisite paintings that
gave practical evidence of the superiority of the artists of Kioto. The
dealers were not at all importunate, and did not seem to care whether the
strangers purchased their wares or declined all negotiations. Two or
three of tliem had bi'ought photographs of the scenery around Kioto
which they offered to leave for inspection until the next day. This pro-
posal was received with favor, and on a hint that the travellers were tired
and wished to be by themselves, each of the itinerant merchants retired,
but not till after bowing low and pronouncing a respectful " Sayonara."
Two of the hotels which the foreigners patronize are close to some of
the famous temples of Kioto, and thus the process of sight-seeing is great-
ly facilitated. A third hotel is a considerable distance up the hill-side,
and commands a fine view over nearly all the city. The ascent to it is
somewhat fatiguing, but the visitor is well paid for the exertion by the
remarkable and charming landscape that spreads before his eyes.