Yokohama, Japan

"The Finest Time"    

Yokohama, Japan

October 20^th, 1908

Dear Papa,

We are now in Yokohama and have been since the eighteenth, getting in one day late on account of the storm.  We received a very cordial welcome six big steamers coming out to welcome us.  They had a big display of day fireworks, and as each ship passed us they gave their cry of welcome which is pronounced “Bonsai”.

I went ashore yesterday and had the finest time I have had in a foreign country since leaving the states.  Left the ship at nine thirty o’clock and upon landing at the Yokohama docks we marched to the rail road station and took the free special train for Tokyo.  Our ride from Yokohama to Tokyo was a most interesting one passing through a veritable fairy land as it were. 

At Right: Special Train ticket for sailors of the fleet

Frank was a good collector and saved the "Time Table for the Special Trains for the American Officers and Men" between Yokohama and Shimbashi (Tokyo)

The official Program for the Reception of the American Fleet, October 17th - 24th, 1908.  A day-by-day schedule of events planned for the officers and men of the American Fleet.

Everywhere could be seen the Japs working in the fields at their vegetables and rice plantations.  There are very few horses in Japan.  You either see a man pulling around a cart or else he has a pair of baskets slung over shoulders supported by means of a stick.  At every school house that we passed on the way up, the children were all lined up along the track to cheer us in their native way as we passed by, at the same time waving Japanese and American Flags.

At  Left:  Japanese Sen coins from Frank's collection

At Right: Postcard given to fleet sailors for mailing

The trolley cars were free while we never paid more than ten cents American to go a distance of two miles or more.  The rickshaw men going on a steady trot all the time.  I always rode ahead while my guide followed in a rickshaw behind.  The endurance of these men is something wonderful for they go all day on a trot and do not seem to be very much fatigued at the days end.  At night they all carry Japanese lanterns, as do the trolley switchmen and policemen, the effect produced by all these lanterns twinkling in the streets is a most beautiful one, the streets being very dimly lighted.

At Left: "A view of the decorations.  The far end of the bridge decorations burned down as we were coming back from Tokyo last night."

 Am sending you a map under separate cover on which I have marked the places I visited.  Took luncheon at one of the parks, in which chop sticks were furnished us to eat with.  After this was over we went to the temple of Asakusa Kannon  where we saw the people by the thousands worshiping an idol as their god.  There is a narrow street which leads up to the temple paved with flag stones, from which arises as the Japs shuffle along in their sandals, a noise which resembles the sounds of horses galloping away in the distance.  The sandals are made of wood, hence the

noise. 

A small menu screen saved from a meal

Bought several pairs of sandals the purchase being a most interesting one.  I will fully describe the purchase when I display the goods.  Suffices to say that tea was served twice while making the bargain and the proprietor made about a dozen bows as I handed him the dollar for the two pairs.

Saw a well-to-do Jap being laid to rest which was a sight of a life time.  First came about twenty men carrying huge flower pots filled with artificial flowers about four feet in height.  Then cam three priests, in rickshaws, next the coffin laid in a little house which in turn was supported by two rafters about twenty feet long carried by sixteen men.  Next came the hired mourners on foot, and last of all the relatives in rickshaws.  They were all going towards the temple at a slow trot.

This was a booklet  was issued by the Japanese Government  to advocate friendship between the two countries.  In this booklet it discusses the arrival of Commodore Perry in 1853 and the good things that have come about since that visit.

We were received with many bows and salutations, and ushered into a tea garden especially prepared for the Fleet Celebration.  Here tea, cakes and cigarettes, were served by Japanese girls while a vaudeville show was given for our benefit. 

It being a continuous performance of acrobatic work and juggling.  Made a few purchases which I suppose will interest mother more than you.

Visited the Emperors palace but could not get within the inner wall.  Entering the outer gates built over three-hundred years ago, and found ourselves passing through fine lawns of vast dimension.  Rode for about five minutes more and found ourselves at the bridge over which the Emperor passes to enter his palace on top of the hill.  The bridge I should have said spans a moat at this point, which is four miles long and surrounds the entire inner palace grounds.  Sentries stood like statues outside the palace gates, hardly moving a muscle of their bodies.

At Right: Newspaper articles describing the Emperor's evolvement with the Fleet's visit.

Going to catch the train in Tokyo, my rickshaw man knocked an old woman who was walking in the street, but he never stopped but kept on going.  It happened that she belonged to the lower class, and was not much hurt.  If she would have been of a higher class I might not have gotten out off it so easily, as I would have had to pay some damages.

Arrived back in Yokohama about eight pm.  I am going ashore on Thursday to take in Yokohama.  Will write later.  Sent post cards to everybody I could think of.  Enclosed a receipt for a meal for self and guide.  It cost fifty sen apiece for self and guide, which would make a total of one-half dollar American. Japanese dollar is the Yen which is equal to fifty cents American.

Love to Mother,

Affectionately, Frank