A Japanese Robinson Crusoe

Chapter XVI: Lecturer—Visiting Europe

C h a p t e r X V I Lecturer—Visiting Europe The sweet summer was quickly gone, and the bright autumn took its place in the world, where the seasons are like a treadmill. I returned to my school again with good health and strength. My kind president and the mistress were greatly rejoiced when they found me at home again. The madam, with her motherly smile, got busy ordering her old English lady, the cook, to prepare some of the choicest food that I liked the best. “The fish and rice is better for ‘im!” was the cunning joke of a sweet Irish waitress, also in the president’s household. Here I was again in my busy life with all branches of study. But whenever I had time, as during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I delivered my lecture at several public halls in the city. The Washington Star, a largely circulated daily paper, published the following flattering notice: ‘An Evening Trip to Japan’ was the title of a lecture delivered at Carroll Hall last evening by J. Oyabe, of Japan. The lecturer is one of the brightest of the many clever Japanese gentlemen who have come to this country to put a latter-day finish on their education. The Japanese history, architecture, art, scenery, customs, and daily life were all discoursed upon most delightfully, while a large number of choice stereopticon views added pictorial attractiveness to the faithful description given by the lecturer. Mr. Oyabe, who has many friends in this city, is an attractive speaker, who has five different languages at his command. He had a large audience, who listened attentively to his interesting talk. 141 I knew I hardly deserved all that, but it encouraged me. I lectured also in Orange, New Jersey, and in Pennsylvania ; I found many nice friends there and earned enough money to pay all my traveling expenses at home and abroad. But this is like the folly of the great apostle and must be forgiven. The following summer vacation I had planned to visit Europe , not to take a trip to Paris or Berlin, neither to St. Petersburg, but to those old European cities not so often visited by pleasureseeking travelers. I decided to go to the cities of Portugal, Spain, and some of the islands, such as Madeira and the Canaries. I also had a plan to journey through the interior of England. I thought that if I had any companion it would be troublesome for me, for I was going through the Old World with not more than one hundred and fifty dollars in my pocket. I started alone from New York, even without announcing my departure to my friends, because I wanted to save them the trouble of giving me their parting words and presents, and because I did not like to let my well-wishers see how humble was my departure. I bought a cheap ticket for London and went on board the steamer. Soon the swift sailer was threading its way under a full head of steam as it marched over the deep. There was nothing worthy of mention on board the steamer except the gaily dressed young ladies and thoughtless cockneys, arm in arm, drinking and sometimes dancing all night. They tried all the luxuries they could find on board. If young men and women can be prosperous in that way, we, the toilful students, are very foolish indeed. But the happiest world does not always belong to such lazy prodigals. Early one morning, after spending seven days at sea, sharp whistles announced the arrival of the steamer, and we were safely landed at the great city of London. I made quite a book during my four months’ trip in Europe. But my limited space allows me only to make a little use of it in this narrative. I had a very serious time procuring my lodging in London. 142 Chapter XVI The reason was that my purse did not allow me to stay in a great hotel like the Albemarle, Brown’s or Charing Cross and pay more than one pound sterling for a room and a meal. Instead of going there I found a private boarding-house, and for the cost of a night in the grand hotel I stayed one whole week and found myself comfortably lodged and well cared for during the time I was in London...