33

At Osaka we stayed at a large hotel
Metropole. The stairs had 36 steps to
the rooms and a dining room
that would do for a banquet
of 200 persons. The food was poor & the
windows overlooked the river At
Kobe about 1 1/2 by rail we found our
selves in a pretty town a better
Hotel than any other except the
Grand at Yokahama. This hotel
called the Oriental kept by a French
man. George presented his letter to
18 Mr. Hellyer, who called upon us
in the afternoon & said his wife was
ill, but his carriage would meet us
next day at 10 & show us the sights
of Kobe. He also asked us to lunch
on Sunday with him his mother
in law and sister are staying at his
home. Mr. Hellyer reminded me
of poor Frank Manson[?] when I first
knew him. The drive was very
charming and we saw some pretty
views. I do not like the Japanese
dress. And certainly the absence of
stockings that prevails is not attractive.