Housekeeping in Japan.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 159, 3 July 1886, Page 1

Housekeeping in Japan.

A taby, writing *rom Japan, Bays : "Houpekeeping here has no trials. The worn and vexed Bpirits of American housekeepers ought to rest in Japan after death. Capable and faithful servants are plenty and cheap. Our establishment boasts five, and for these we pay about what two would cost in Dew York. I do not visit my kitchen once a month, never give an order outside of a spoken wish, yet the domestic machinery moves with an ease and perfection unattainable at home by almost any effort on the part of the mistress. The manners of the servants are amusing, not to say startling, to an American accustomed to the cheerful familiarity of her native help. Every night at bedtime our five retainers appear, prostrate themselves in succession to the earth, and retire. This is to wish me good -night, and to renew their testimony of profound respect and pleasure over the privilege of serving me. It was difficult at first to preserve the necessary dignity for the ceremony, but now 1 am as majestically gracious as any other potentate. The other day, on one of my rare visits to the kitchen, a hairpin became loosened and dropped without my notice. I had been seated in my own room only a few moments when my horseman enteTed, bearing a small Ralver, which ho presented to me with many bendings of the knee. Fancy my surprise to see a little hairpin upon it, and to learn from my proud but embarrassed servitor that it had fallen to the kitchen floor from my head. Afterward I found there bad been a discussion as to who should pick it up. and almost a quarrel as to whom belonged the inestimable honour of bearing it to its owner."