Life in the Orient

LIFE IN THE ORIENT. BY ALMA 0. TAYLOR. Brother Ensign and myself are now situated at a Japanese hotel where the people do not speak a word of EngHsh. The man- ner we have of making known what we want by signs, and by an occasional word of Japanese, is rather new, and in some respects, unpleasant; but we are in this land for the glory of the Lord, and, therefore, rejoice in the trials of the present, looking forward to the time when our ignorance of the native tongue will have grown into an ability to speak and understand it sufficiently to proclaim clearly the saving truths of the Gospel. We eat with chop-sticks, and have already become so expert, as beginners, that those around us are astonished at what they call our cleverness. The Japanese diet is not yet very appetizing, for the reason that it requires considerable time to become accustomed

292 IMPROVEMENT ERA. to raw fish, rice, and vegetables spoiled in cooking. We enjoy the luxuries and inconveniences (for there are both) of Japanese baths, and sleeping in a bed on the floor. The bed is made of four large "footons" which resemble quilts very much,only that they are con- siderably thicker, and a pillow some six inches in diameter and about one foot long, and nearly as hard as a block of wood. We take our shoes off before we enter the house, and sit around in our room with soft slippers on. When visitors call, we invite them to sit on the floor, as the native fashion is, and supply them with a dish of tea, another national trait of Japan. The fires for heating purposes are very crude, and, indeed, quite poor warming implements for winter time. The report of the special conference reached us by today's mail, and in reading the account of the proceedings, I have been filled with what seems to have been the same excellent spirit mani- fested on that occasion, and I rejoice exceedingly in the unity of the Church, accepting with all Israel the leaders of our work, re- flecting upon their ability with a thankful heart and feelings of love. The labor of establishing a mission in this land is against many odds, but we feel confident that the darkness of the present will disappear when the light and truths of the Gospel can be pro- claimed, by the Spirit of God, through his servants, and when they shall be able to speak unto the people jn their own tongue ; and that in no distant future Japan will be a fruitful field in which the seed of righteousness will grow and bear abundantly unto the kingdom of God. Praying God to prosper the Era, bless its editors, and all who are engaged in the excellent work of improvement among the youth of Zion, I subscribe myself. Your brother in the cause of truth. Alma 0. Taylor.