Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-03

long, marrow envelope, ornamented With
pink cherry blossoms, found Its way TO our
house, inviting US 10 be present on the happy
occasion.
On tho bright morning Of tho day desig-
mated we found ourselves, In company with
. japanese lady friend, at the door Of the
Imayo mansion. In due time we were pre-
sented TO tho young heroine Of che day, q
dainty, rosy-faced child, with Hack fringe
Of hair hanging over her slender eyebrows,
while her back hair was done up like .
princess and arrayed In wonderful ROBES,
all covered with embroidery.
We mado our profound bows to the party,
who bowed simultaneously to the floor a. We
entered and took our seats Q Ia Japanese
amongst them on the:aoor, turning our eyes
expectantly toward the curtain which con.
cealed temporary stage erected in the long
apartment. While waiting for the perform
ances to begin tea and cake were handed
round, and little Miss Yona gave us n song
TO the accompaniment of two guitars, played
by noted musicians of tho capital She re-
tired after this and returned In new COS
time, looking like an escaped bird Of para
disc
Tho first performances on the stage were
elaborate kinds of dances, one of which,
called "Manzai" is considered to have such
lucky significance that no New Years
party or birthday fete Is complete without IL
A very amusing comedy followed, the prin.
cipal characters Of which were q dashing
young Toxic dandy, who strobe unsteadily
about the stage, shouldering q towering
branch of a cherry troe (and who paused
ever and anon to admire himself In q mirror
which he carried in the hilt of his sword) q
I.,.l ..f.
IDENTIFY trying 10 fascinate the dandy, and O
tulkative tooth-powder merchant. This lat
ter character offered to show the young gen.
tleman how they flew kites in Osaka, from
whence, he said he had just arrived. The
little man retired moment and returned
wearing a most ridiculous ma H. supposed
to represent II boys face, with the eyes
turned upward.
In this mask the merchant executed q
very graceful dance, descriptive OF kite-hy-
ing, every motion Of which was perfect
from tho hosting to the frantic pulling In.
When the kite was pulled safely In the little
merchant exchanged his uptur. ed eyes for
pair of staring optics, and stretching out
the wide, flowing sleeves of his DIRE " began
second dance, representing the movements
OF u kite in the air, became lodged in an i'm
aginary tree and finally futtered In the
and tho yn,,n,, lad ~ Il, ,,i,,I, ,oo,,;. -, ..s
while 10 t in Admiration The dancars and
actors were all little girls from to ~ vears
old. and who bv the Iilinption preno ct;ons
of the stage were made 10 resembls GROWN
men and women. After this the staoe man.
ager appeared and announced that Miss Inn.
ayo would appear in the next nerformance
which caused a preat f,utter of aYnactoncy
among the admirinp aunts and cousins ~
the infan. prodigy.
Finally the curtain rosa on n sarca br;
pand. who was niroouetting about tbo stoao
in yery short robe and with a vsrv io,,s
sword, which he slasbed about ratber rect.
lessly Soon fair nrincess 1, n y,oonia-
cent red robe and n pold n,ner crown ca ma
sailing in. She carried two verv snbstan,
tial-lookinp p,ner mills on =, bamhoo ,,,.
across her dainty shoulder and movsd ,r;,h
much dinjcultv o,yin, to bor roha, .nd
crown. TO which she was ev;dort,v un.oc,,s.
toned. This was Miss Imavo in tho ch.r.
acter of tbe lovely and ;lI.n. al ,,r;no.ss g.,
Hamamatsu.kaza The fair croatura -. IA
no attention tn tba rohber who ,yas s,,pot
tinc with his b,cL tow.rd har,s,,r,,,.d1 y,
he Invisible but yvatcbing bar M rrn ,pIv ovo.
his shoulder She nearIv stumhIsd oyor hin,
twice. but went on danciny and nosturin
and filling her p,rer nails With ;,oo;norv