PC_256_Poe_1910_1911_Typescript_009

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September 15th.

Left Nikko at 8 and came four miles through famous cryptome-
rian avenue to Iamachi with Buchanan. From there to Tokyo by
rail. Here ran across Mez and Sleicher, and with them took
rikshas and visited Shiba temples and tombs of Shoguns bu-
ried there. Temple attendant is studying English and wishes
to go to California. Sleicher exclaimed on striking similari-
ty of Buddhist and Catholic worship. Next to Shimmei Matsuri,
the Shiba festival. Babies everywhere. Crowds very orderly.
Side shows, dancing, shops and fakirs at temple doors; people
clap hands and pray a half minute and spend rest of time at
the Fair. Interested in seeing the little brown eight and ten
year old Jap schoolboys squatting on their "getas" and reading
the cheap booklets and spending their copper "sen" pieces for
booklets instead of toys. "English Primers", and "English-
Japanese Conversation" paper I found very popular. The prevalence
of English may mean much in shaping Japanese civilization and
religion. Temple-attendant this afternoon said in his home were
20 tablets to ancestors; 17-year-old librarian at Nikko (who
was also studying English, and showed me his book) said six in
his, and had rice for them each morning.

At night went with Mez and Sleicher as a "looker-on in
Vienna" to see the Yoshiwara.

September 16th.

Went to the American Embassy where I found the Ambassador away,
and to the British Embassy where I had most interesting con-
versation with Mr. Henderson. Returning to hotel called to see