PC_256_Poe_1910_1911_Typescript_010

-7-

Dr. Okomoto (after first visiting Imperial University) at
his business office. Was served with tea instead of cigars
as in America, and had to duck my head in going through
doors.

Spent afternoon and evening writing.

September 17th.

Went first to Yokohama Specie Bank where I cashed Cook's
check for $50, getting 90 yen 70 sen; then to Japanese depart-
ment store where bought ties, socks, etc. From there called
at American Embassy to see about getting Turkish passports, and
the Ambassador kindly urging me to lunch with him, I did so.

Returning to hotel, I found my young Japanese friend, Mr.
Noborn Ohara, awaiting me, and we started for the Imperial
Museum but finding the streets lined with people waiting to
see the Empress pass, we joined about a thousand spectators
near gate of Fine Arts Museum and waited an hour for her to
come out--an elderly-looking woman in European dress. There
were many policemen, trouble from Socialists or Korean fanat-
ics being feared, Ohara told me. Heralds with flags went ahead
of Empress, and court ladies and notables in coaches behind
her? The thousand Japanese, young and old, did not make as much
noise in an hour's wait as an American crowd would have made
in 30 seconds.

Next visited tombs of Shoguns, guided by Buddhist monk,
and then saw the Shinto fire-walking ceremonies. Amazing number
of second-hand bookstores bear witness to the popularity of English:
Books in English here are almost as inevitable as the Saturday
Evening Post in America.