The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-09-01
Japanese Shows.

They never cheat you about a show
in Japan least of all, n wax figure
show. They give you sample. on n
small stage in front. and, IL it suits, you
may take in the whole for a considera-
tion of two cents. We liked the sample
amazingly, and allowed no ungenerous
economy TO debar us from seeing all.
We we're admitted inside the rope which
was keeping off the rabble, and, walking
through the dust-for there was no
floor, and the whole was arranged like
the animal side-show of n country cir
Gus went round a circle where on
either side were small raised booths
containing groups of figures. II was
Mrs. Jarley's wax-works translated into
Japanese. The old lady was replaced
by diminutive Jap, whose explana-
tions were neither voluble nor intelli.
gible, hut he did turn crank, and they
every one "did the thing they died n
doin' on" Two fierce and Curious war
riors in admirable tragic attitudes and
handsome suits of old armor stabbed
each other to the death. A swarthy
Otbello bent over and menaced with his
sword an MISUNDERSTANDING Desde-
mona, whose pale face and moving,
parted lips wore an expression of
intense terror. A dying monster, half
brute, half human, with pointed ears
like the marble faun, and satyr-like
face, rolled his eyes and raised bis up
per lip in horrible grins, while his muir
derer, a magnificent looking fellow,
stood over him with q triumphant
smile and one shapely foot upon his vic
TINS chest. There were at least dozen
groups of this kind, and all equally in
teresting. The modelling of the feet and
hands was superb, and the mechanism
which caused the moving OF the figures
worked TO a charm. Some of them were
grotesque and impossible, probably
neurological or legendary figures, while
others were wonderfully modelled and
very lifelike. We voted this liberal
two cents worth, and Immediately set
out to find another show which should
be as good. Attracted by tremendous
banner with an untranslatable figure on
it, we went into another place, taking
it on trust this time, as there was no
sample show. We found, oh, wonder
of wond ers! a large elephant and a
small but highly appreciative native
audience. The keeper was explaining
things in a high, nasal, sing.song voice
worthy of an American Snowman, and
when out of breath was relieved by an
other keeper in a different key, who
prodded the elephant at regular inter-
walls and induced him to do some simple
tricks. But the mixed odor of Gle.
plant fodder and natives was too
much for US, intensified as it
was by the hot sun shining
through the canvas, which was
all that interviewed between us and
heaven, so we left to patronize a shoot
ing gallery across the way. The chiei
attraction there was bright, pretty
Japanese girl who, instead of having
her hair dressed as is the custom, suf-
tered it to hang loose. 1t fell in rich,
black masses to her waist, and gave her
opportunities of coquettishly putting il
back with an extremely graceful ges-
ture of the shapely hands and arms
which she was not charry of showing
She was chaperoned by an ugly mamma.
with sable teeth and charred eyebrows,
who did not in the least discourage her
| and shot with small slender bows and
blunt arrows at metallic target. which
rang when hit. 1t didn't ring when we
| shot, much to the amusement of the
| pretty girl, who smilingly, deprec 1T
ingly, and with many glances, showed
us what clever marksman she was. We
| paid our microscopic reckoning when
we h. d done, and rather than offend, ac
cepted a cup of abominable tea at her
hands. 1t was altogether a novel sort
of archery, with as much flirting anC
much more novelty than the average
| By the time we had finished the tea The
novelty of the Asakusa had begun t.
wane, and so had the afternoon. CheaI
photograph galleries did not attract us
and we were already surfeited with tea
houses. Correspondence SIN Francisco
Bulletin.