The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-10-01
Nirlmonh Qispattb.
SATURDAY MORNING. OCT !, ,ssa
A Japanese Social Tca.par,v

We paid visit to the jolly hostess and the
ftir DANES OF the inn--one of whom by-the- by
said she had looked for my return, and had
reared kitten for me, for which I thanked
the fair creature, telling her / should take
another opportunity for calling for her pres
ent. We pursued our peregrinations through
the garden, and suddenly came upon social
party of japanese ladies and entIemen at tea
In pretty snmmer-house. We bowed to them
on passing, and as we did not wish 10 intrnde
npor their privacy, Were about TO withdraw,
when n young gentleman arose, came towards
Us, and begged us to enter and partake Of some
tea. We gladly acceded TO his request, and
We're soon At ease with our new acquain taHces.
Small square tables of lacquered ware, about
foot and a half in height, and six inches
square, were placed on the right side OF the
japanese; these supported cups of tea sweet
meats, cakes and small Iacquered bowls of
rice and fruit Four married ladies sat to-
gether on one side, and near them an old gem
tleman; opposite sat young japanese officer
and two young ladies, one about seventeen
years of age the other about twenty; the latter
were very pretty. We little dreamed of
ing such beauties in this retired spot; their
SKINS clear and white as that of q Circassian,
with Il healthy blush on their cheeks, and
teeth of pearly lustre. Their jet black hair
was brushed from The sides and back of the
head, and fastened in a knot on the top of the
bead by fillet of pale pink silk. The elder
was the handsomer of the two and the chief
object of attraction TO the young officer, as he
frequently gave MS an opportunity of observ-
ing, by placing an arm round her waist and
looking lovingly into her eyes.
There was gracefulness in all her attitudes,
especially when she took up guitar al the
quest of her lover, and played few airs for
US /: hut ihe music was rather monotonous and
without harmony-at least our dull ears could
not detect any. She accompanied herself in
song, in a falsetto tone, a species of whine,
not altogether so discordantas that of the Chi
nese, yet merely bearable from its strangeness.
The sister now Joined in a dnett one endea-
yoring to outshriek the other. Our elder hosts
We're IN raptures with the performance, and
they wondered at our stoIidity; but our ears
had been accustomed to the music of Grisi and
Mario, and could not endure even the finest
japanese singers. Finding the ladies so oblig-
ing we prevailed upon one TO play while the
other danced. The performance was PECULIAR
she went round the apartment in a slow
waltz making graceful passes with her hands
and humming an air to herself, smiling most
aGreeably, and bowling towards us as she went
round. They were attired in richly cmbrol-
dered silk ; loose tunic, with wide sleeves,
was fastened round the waist by broad sash
OF pale pink; fan was passed through this,
and, supporting the back of each lady, was a
tri-cOruered fiat board, covered with parti-
colorCd silk The married ladies were attired
in robes of 4 fabric resembling cashmere, and
OF a sombre lavender color. After tea they in
troduced pipes and some light wine. The
Japanese tobacco Is very mild and without
flavor, we requested that they would per-
nit us 10 light cheroots instead, according to
our own Gus tom. They examined our uniform
minutely, asking the English name of each
part OF IL, and pronouncing each word sepa-
ra:ely after us.'-1rouSoH'S Voyage to Japan.