had sent.

On the north side of the island Japan jest shows herself at her very
best, and lets the world see her in a native village, and how she raises
flowers, and makes shrubs and trees look curious as anything you ever
see, and curiouser, too; all surrounded a temple where she keeps what
she calls her religion, and lots of other things.

Japan is one of the likeliest countries that are represented in
Columbuses doin's. She wuz the first country to respond to the
invitation to take part in it, and I spoze mebby that is the reason that
Chicago gin her this beautiful place to hold her own individual doin's
in. The temple is a gorgeous-lookin' one, but queer as anything--as
anything I ever see.

But then, on the other hand, I spoze them Japans would call the
Jonesville meetin'-house queer; for what is strange in one country is
second nater in another.

This temple is built with one body and two wings, to represent the
Phoenix--or so they say; the wood part wuz built in Japan and put up
here by native Japans, brung over for that purpose.

It is elaborate and gorgeous-lookin' in the extreme, and the
gorgeousness a-differin' from our gorgeousness as one star differeth
from a rutabaga turnip.

Not that I mean any disrespect to Japan or the United States by the
metafor, but I had to use a strong one to show off the difference.

In one wing of the temple is exhibited articles from one thousand to
four thousand years old--old bronzes, and arms, and first attempts at
pottery and lacquer.

Some of these illustrate arts that are lost fur back in the past--I d'no
how or where, nor Josiah don't.

In the other wing are Japan productions four hundred years old, showin'
the state of the country when Columbus sot out to discover their
country; for it wuz stories of a wonderful island--most probable
Japan--that wuz one thing that influenced Columbus strong.

In the main buildin' are sights and sights of goods from Japan at the
present day.

All of the north part of the island is a marvellous show of their skill
and ingenuity in landscape gardenin', and dwarf trees, and the wonderful
garden effects for which they are noted.

They make a present of the temple and all of these horticultural works
to Chicago.

To remain always a ornament of Jackson Park, which I call very pretty in
'em.

Take it all together, the exhibits of Japan are about as interesting as
that of any country of the globe.

In some things they go ahea