Thisletterisfartoolong，buttopassoverAsakusaanditsnoveltieswhentheimpressionofthemisfreshwouldbetoomitoneofthemostinterestingsightsinJapan。OnthewaybackwepassedredmailcartslikethoseinLondon，asquadronofcavalryinEuropeanuniformsandwithEuropeansaddles，andthecarriageoftheMinisterofMarine，anEnglishbroughamwithapairofhorsesinEnglishharness，andanescortofsixtroopers——apainfulprecautionadoptedsincethepoliticalassassinationofOkubo，theHomeMinister，threeweeksago。Sotheoldandthenewinthisgreatcitycontrastwithandjostleeachother。TheMikadoandhisministers，navalandmilitaryofficersandmen，thewholeofthecivilofficialsandthepolice，wearEuropeanclothes，aswellasanumberofdissipated-lookingyoungmenwhoaspiretorepresent“youngJapan。“CarriagesandhousesinEnglishstyle，withcarpets，chairs，andtables，arebecomingincreasinglynumerous，andthebadtastewhichregulatesthepurchaseofforeignfurnishingsisasmarkedasthegoodtastewhicheverywherepresidesovertheadornmentofthehousesinpurelyJapanesestyle。
Happilytheseexpensiveandunbecominginnovationshavescarcelyaffectedfemaledress，andsomeladieswhoadoptedourfashionshavegiventhemupbecauseoftheirdiscomfortandmanifolddifficultiesandcomplications。
TheEmpressonStateoccasionsappearsinscarletsatinhakama，andflowingrobes，andsheandtheCourtladiesinvariablywearthenationalcostume。IhaveonlyseentwoladiesinEuropeandress；
andthiswasatadinner-partyhere，andtheywerethewivesofMr。
Mori，thego-aheadVice-MinisterforForeignAffairs，andoftheJapaneseConsulatHongKong；andbothbylongresidenceabroadhavelearnedtowearitwithease。ThewifeofSaigo，theMinisterofEducation，calledonedayinanexquisiteJapanesedressofdove-colouredsilkcrepe，withapalepinkunder-dressofthesamematerial，whichshowedalittleattheneckandsleeves。Hergirdlewasofrichdove-colouredsilk，withaghostofapalepinkblossomhoveringuponithereandthere。Shehadnofrillsorfripperiesofanydescription，orornaments，exceptasinglepininherchignon，and，withasweetandcharmingface，shelookedasgracefulanddignifiedinherJapanesecostumeasshewouldhavelookedexactlythereverseinours。Theircostumehasonestrikingadvantageoverours。AwomanisperfectlyCLOTHEDifshehasonegarmentandagirdleon，andperfectlyDRESSEDifshehastwo。