IRIMICHI. - Before leaving Yumoto I saw the modus operandi of a
"squeeze." I asked for the bill, when, instead of giving it to me,
the host ran upstairs and asked Ito how much it should be, the two
dividing the overcharge. Your servant gets a "squeeze" on
everything you buy, and on your hotel expenses, and, as it is
managed very adroitly, and you cannot prevent it, it is best not to
worry about it so long as it keeps within reasonable limits. I. L.
B.
LETTER X
Peaceful Monotony - A Japanese School - A Dismal Ditty - Punishment - A
Children's Party - A Juvenile Belle - Female Names - A Juvenile Drama-
-Needlework - Calligraphy - Arranging Flowers - Kanaya - Daily Routine-
-An Evening's Entertainment - Planning Routes - The God-shelf.
IRIMICHI, Nikko, June 23.
My peacefully monotonous life here is nearly at an end. The people
are so quiet and kindly, though almost too still, and I have
learned to know something of the externals of village life, and
have become quite fond of the place.
The village of Irimichi, which epitomises for me at present the
village life of Japan, consists of about three hundred houses built
along three roads, across which steps in fours and threes are
placed at intervals. Down the middle of each a rapid stream runs
in a stone channel, and this gives endless amusement to the
children, specially to the boys, who devise many ingenious models
and mechanical toys, which are put in motion by water-wheels.
