As the same water is used by all the bathers, it is quite necessary that a different system to the one used in European lands be adopted. The bather ladles his body with soap and water, washing himself thoroughly before getting into the tub; thus each person enters the bath already clean, to enjoy what may well be called "the luxury of a good boiling." Here the bather soaks for some minutes, after which, if he desires, he cools off by using the hose attached to the tap to spray the cold water over his body. Stepping from the main floor onto an elevated platform, near the entrance to the dressing-room, he dries himself, after enjoying, what I consider, one of the best home baths known to mankind. It is a recreation and sport to which I now look forward with considerable pleasure. The room being built as it is, there is no restriction as to how the water is splashed, or how much of it is used, and all objections to so many bathing in the same water are removed, when the above system of washing is observed; and it is known that the Japanese take a great pride in the appearance of their skin, bathing every day, and, in some districts, two, three, and even four times a day, until it is truthfully said, "A Japanese crowd is the sweetest in the world." When I had finished bathing, and reported to my companion the difficulty I had had trying to wash and keep out of sight at the same time, he decided to defer this feature of his initiation till the following day.

Towards evening, we began to feel drowsy, and our heads had a peculiar tight feeling, as if we were going to have the headache. An investigation as to what caused the same sensations to be felt by us both, led us to notice the gassy smell coming from our charcoal stoves. The system of heating in Japanese houses is very crude. One of the first things noticed by a foreigner, is the absence of chimneys on the houses. The fires make no smoke, consequently piping is not used to conduct to the outside the fumes arising from the burning fuel. The stoves used are nothing more than small boxes, or jars; some made of wood, lined with metal, others of metal entirely, and still others of potter's clay. In these stoves, or "hibachi" as they are called, a fire is made consisting of four or five small pieces of charcoal which slowly smoulder away to ashes; and, as the top of the stoves are entirely open, the gas from the coal passes freely into the room. The art

of arranging the charcoal so that from a tiny spark a good fire will result, is one that requires experience and skill. The colder the day, the more “hibachi” have to be used, and the more gas the people inhale into their lungs. There are forty million people in Japan, and it is practicable to say, that they all use this same heating apparatus, and still enjoy health, in spite of the general idea among foreigners that the charcoal stoves are productive of evil. Perhaps the reason more sickness does not result from such a thing is, that the houses are open nearly all day, both summer and winter, and the abundance of fresh air overcomes the poisons in the gas. It is quite an odd sight to see six or eight persons squatted on the floor, around one of these fire-boxes, holding their hands over the glowing coals, yet never thinking of the cold breeze blowing in on their backs. Not being accustomed to the exposure to which the people here are used, we cannot endure, at this time of the year, the large amount of fresh air allowed to come into the rooms of the natives. Again, not having grown up with coal fumes surrounding us continually, we experience disagreeable effects from the gas, not noticed by those around us. Although, at this writing, we have become more accustomed to the gas, yet, if confined to our rooms for many hours at a time, we suffer from slight headaches as at first.

The peculiar feelings that we noticed coming over us, continued to increase until our eyelids grew heavy and our heads throbbed slightly. The gas was slowly putting us to sleep. As the evening was nearly gone, we rang for beds in which to rest our weary bones, and dream of how we used to live.

The Japanese bed is very simple, and needs but litttle description. The floor is the bedstead; the grass mats, the spring; and, in place of mattresses, two "footons" (bedding that resembles ordinary quilts only that the "footon" is much thicker) form the under structure; while a little round sack, perhaps a foot long and six inches thick, stuffed with rice husks, and not much softer than a block of wood, serves as a pillow. An addition of as many "footons" as the temperature may require for the comfort of the occupant, completes the bed. The first "footon," used as a covering, is made after the style of a kimono, with sleeves and velvet collar. By wrapping up well in this, and then drawing the top

covers over, a person may be "as snug as a bug in a rug." Were I to express my feelings on this kind of comfort, I should say that I never slept better in my life, and I wish all the unfortunate poor could rest in such a warm and convenient bed. Alongside the bed of each person, there is placed a paper lantern from which the dull light of the flickering tallow-dip shines all night long. After invoking the blessings of Heaven upon us in our new home, we completed the lessons of the day by getting into our Japanese cradles on the floor, where sleep soon closed our eyes upon these scenes of the first twelve hours of real life in the Mikado's empire.

A PARABLE.

ILLUSTRATING A PRINCIPLE-PAY

FOR EVERY WORK DONE VS.

LIVING BY FAITH.

At the close of the season's labor there cometh the servant to demand his wages of the master, and findeth him in the market place engaged upon business with strangers, but saith unto him, "Pay me now that which thou owest, for the time has come this very hour." Then said the master unto him, "Have I not always dealt generously with thee, and in the days of thine affliction did I not succor thee with gifts from my store house and field? Why then hast thou brought reproach upon me in a public place? Verily I say unto thee, that which thou hast before received shall be charged unto thee, and thou shalt have neither more nor less than thou hast earned!"

Then cometh other servants who, seeing their master from afar, saith one to another, "Behold our master is upon business of the kingdom; hath he not always dealt honorably with us? and our children are fed and clothed and we lack not bread, let us return again to our labor, and in his own due time will the master recompense us according to his word."

Then they departed, but that night they sat at meat at the master's table, and when the feast was ended each man took with him in his hands, his wages, and wine, and oil and good gifts for his household. -W. A. HYDE.