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

TIIEY
SERVANTS IN JAPAN. 83
CHAPTER yi.
FIRST DAY IN JAPAN.
had no difBculty in reaching the hotel, as the)' were in the hands
of the runner of the establishment, who took good care that they did
not go astray and fall into the clutches of the representative of the rival
concern. The publicans of the open ports of Japan have a watchful eye
for their interests, and the stranger does not have to wander long in the
streets to find accommodation. The Doctor had been there before, and
took great pains to have his bargain made with the utmost exactness, lest
there might be a mistake at the time of his departure.
" In Europe and
Asia,'' he remarked to Erank, " a traveller soon learns that he cannot be
too explicit in making his contracts at hotels ; if he neglects this little formality,
he will often find that his negligence has cost him something. The
last time I was in Yokohama I had a very warm discussion with my land-
lord when I settled my bill, and I don't propose to have a repetition of it."
The hotel was much like an American house in its general character-
istics, both in the arrangement of the rooms and the style of furniture.
The proprietors and managers were foreigners, but the servants were na-
tive and were dressed in Japanese costume. The latter were very quiet
and orderly in their manners, and made a favorable impression on the
young visitors. Frank was so pleased with the one in charge of his room
that he wished he conld take him home with him, and liave a Japanese
servant in America. Testimony as to the excellent character of servants
in Japan is nearly universal on the part of those who have employed
them. Of course there will be an occasional lazy, inattentive, or dishonest
fellow, but one finds them much more rarely than in Europe or Amer-
ica. In general, they are very keen observers, and learn the ways and
peculiarities of their masters in a remarkablj' short time. And once hav-
ing learned them, they never forget.
" When I was last here," said the Doctor, " I was in this very hotel,
and had one of the regular servants of the establishment to wait on me.
The evening after my arrival, I told him to have my bath ready at seven
o'clock in the morning, and to bring a glass of ice-water when he