The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-14
"JOHN NUGE "
A Strange Dance That is Popular in Japan
The Queer Penalty for Missing
Step in It.
1GbieaRo Tiues.1

fChieago Times.l
| few words in Japanese to the doorkeeper
obtained us admission. A native servant led
| us ,ip "a steep flight OF stairs into O. sort OF
anteroom, where we were met by an old wO-
man, who talked Japanese very fast and in q
very high key. Again the persuasive tones
oil the purser secured us attention, and soon
the old woman was bowling and saluting each
| OF us In turn, to which VIZ responded as the
forms Of the country requited. Then, at q
word from the old woman, d sort OF slide was
| pushed back, and we were ushered into long
| hall, brightly lighted, and with many paper
| covered windows thrown open to admit the
cool night breeze from the sea- Around the
upper end OF the hall, to which we ere I'm
1nsdately conducted, was q kind OF dlvan, ID
4 front OF which was spread collation., consist
and cups OF the native saki. Near the door
by which we had entered group OF native
musicians were seated cross-legged on the
floor, tuning and twangiug their curious
about to begin. In another part OF the
room was a bevy OF dancing girls,
some Of whom were continually passing In
aud out by door near by. These girls were
all young, and we're very graceful ana pleas
ing In countenance and general appearance.
1 The oldest was twenty-three ;sthe youngest
was seventeen. They were dressed Ia the or
binary costume OF their country, and all wore
the usual house slipper OF braided straw. The
| old woman now addressed them in a few loud
and shrill remarks, whereupon they all bowed
| to us and greeted us with some polite remark
OF welcome. They then came forward and
asked us to be seated on the divan at the up
| per end Of the room, and Immediately pro-
ceeded to pass to us the various articles OF
| food of which they invited us to partake.
| Suddenly the old woman clapped her hands !,
| the girls all Seampered of into all adJDlu1ng
| room: O. burst of harsh sound came from the
| musicians, and soon the dancers reap peared,
each with a bright scarf wound tightly about
| her. Then the musicians struck up slow,
/ irregular refrain; the girls formed themselves
| into two long lines and the dance began. 1t
was sort Of slow promenade backward and
| forward, aud now winding i'll and out, and as
they danced, first one side and then the other,
chanted the following refrain:
| John Nuge!
| john Mage!
/ John. John. Nuga. Nugel
| Yokohama, Hakodate, Nagasahi. Hoil
which signified: 80, stranger we dance you
the John Nuge.' We welcome you to our
shores. Is it your pleasure that dancing
girls should appear before you from Yoko-
mama, or Hakodate, or Nagasaki % And as
they danced they clapped their hands in
time to the music, Wnicn sometimes Waxea
| fast and furious, and each struck the open
| palm OF her Dls-d-gi5 in regular measure.
| Woe to that girl VINO hit her neighbours hand
out OF time. A forfeit must then be paid
which should not recommend as an addition
/ to our games OF forfeit Ia this country. For, as
| soon as dancer missed she was obliged, as a
penalty for her carelessDess, to remove some
one article OF her dress, and aS the music
often came by fits aud starts, 1t WAS not long
/ before several unfortunateS were found. The
/ first laid aside her shoes, the second hand
some head-dreSs, and the third beautiful
/ tnrGuise-shell comb which confined her halr.
/ But, as the dance went on, more mistakes
were made, and the consequence became
more serious.
1 Garment after garment was forfeited, until
/ one OF the dancers was reduced to q single
robe or costume-and then she was out OF
the game. Gathering up her clothes, She re-
treated in haste to her dressing-room, 1ol-
! lowed by the shrill cries OF the musicians
and the laughter OF the rest OF the dancers
! Sne however, was soon followed by Others
i The one who remained most clothed to the
end was the victor and was rewarded by the
approving shouts OF all the native spectators.
/ 1t was fully an hour and a half before the
game was Won. The victor WAS fine look
| Ing woman IRON Hakodate, famous for its
dancing girls. She was left, however, III d
decidedly neglige state OF apparel At the
| conclusion OF the dance our hO5teSSeS reap
peared, dressed with great care, and invited
US again to partake of the collation., which
we were obliged for the most part to decline.
Then after speech OF thanks from the pur
sers native servant (Which we dlctatedl we
withdrew, leaving our fair entertainers to
themselves. We had witnessed q peculiar
sight, but there was nothing coarse or I'M
modest about the whole affair. The John
/ Nuge' is q national dance, and was performed
with as much care and precision as an old
minuet The dancers did their utmost to-
avoid making q mistake, and it was evident
! from the intense interest expressed by the
native musicians, who watched every girl
with the closest scrutiny, that real trial OF
skill was going on. Moreover, when an IN
| fortunate demanded forfeit it Was paid lao
destly and regretfniiy.
1