Summer is upon us. They talk in England of the summer setting in with its usual severity. It is not romance but reality in China. The thermometer has already passed 90 more than once. Below 75 we cannot hope to see it for some time. Meanwhile the great question is: "Can I get away this year? And if so, where?" The great exodus to Europe is about over. apan_ Tes open; Goreas Clifoo astern Hills of Peking; Putu: Da Lan Shan and Suowy Valley. The latter's name alone should be sufficient inducement. Blasé travellers are talking of Mount Omi with its glorious view of Tibetan mountain giants, not to speak of the Suicide's Cliff at its summit over a mile in height, and one Monastery alone, containing over 800 life-size figures of Buddhist saints, not to speak of the innumerable other temples, with which its 11,000 odd of feet of height are sanctified. But it-is a long cry to the great O, and travellers are more likely to talk of it than to go there, even though two Baptist missionaries testify to having seen the glory of Buddha from its golden summit. And Chefoo to turn from the sublime to the commonplace, though well enough in autumn is hardly tolerable in real summer, so with a passing wonder why more people do not experiment upon the bracing breezes and excellent sea bathing of Fusav, we may safely predict that old and young China hands alike may look for most friendly greetings in Japan.
Those who like smart clothes, fine food, and evening dances will congregate at Fujiya at Miyanoshita. Those who care for loveliness of scene unadulterated, and prefer to schwéirmen in true German style with pipe and poetic cal reminiscences will halt at the Tsuji Restaurant at Hakone, and gaze across the beautiful blue waters at tall white Fuji, till with their souls filled with a passionate longing they go forth to climb the mountain, finding by the way scenes more operatic than any opera, more melodramatic than any melodrama, meeting also with many fleas, much wood smoke, and other minor matters, but abundantly rewarded for their trouble long before they have reached the great crater with its smoking sides, ice cold well, patches of snow, and all' round panorama of Japan. Those who care not to climb yet love fine sights mixed with society will go to were any only half as good on the great continent of China!
The most beautiful and the most interesting spots in China are as yet comparatively unknown, for how few places are there off the coast line where any modicum of comfort even is to be obtained. And the Caucasian needs all possible comforts to make a China summer tolerable. And where is there in China where the tourist can escape insult and rudeness, both alike heating There are those among the dwellers in concessions, who maintain that take it all in all it is best not to go away in summer, but to fight against the heat under one's own well shaded verandah, fortified with ice and lemon juice and other concession comforts amongst which possibly the little fillip of Club gossip ranks among the highest. There certainly is much of pleasantness in quietly stopping at howe, especially if sustained by the prospect of going away in September, when the autumnal tints are at their finest, and the rain no longer raineth.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.