The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-04-10
A JAPANESE PARTY.
THE BIRTHDAY FEAST OF A BRIGHT
LITTLE TOXIC GIRL.
An Interesting Picture Of tho Innocent
Diversions OF a Clever People
Entertaining Amateur Theatri-
Gals by the Little Folks
Toxic Cor. Philadelphia Times

Miss Yona Imayo having reached her
9th birthday, her fond parents determined to
celebrate the auspcious event in q manner
worthy a senator's only child, and to take
advantage Of the opportunity to introduce
the little lady into society. So Mrs Imayo
forthwith sat down to write notes OF invita-
hon to all her friends to attend an entertain
ment on that uay. Ono Of thsso little notes.
traced with a tiny brush made'0 mouse's
whskers on gossamer paper and inclosed in
Q long, narrow envelope, ornamented with
pink cherry blossoms, found its way to our
house, inviting US to be present on the happy
occasion.
On the bright morning Of the day desig-
mated we found ourselves, in company with
a Japanese lady friend, at the door OF the
Imayo mansion. In due time we were pre-
sented to the young heroine Of the day, q
dainty, rosy-faced child, with black fringe
of hair hanging over her slender eyebrows,
while her back hair was done up like q
princess, and arrayed in wonderful robes,
all covered with embroidery.
We made our profound bows to the party,
who bowed simultaneously to the iocr as we
entered and took our seats q Ia Japanese
amongst them on the: floor, 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 a song
to the accompaniment Of two guitars, played
by noted musicians Of the capital She re-
tired after this and returned in a new cos
tune, looking like an escaped bird Of para
disc.
The first performances on the stage were
elaborate kinds Of dances, one Of which,
called "Manzai," Is considered to have such
q lucky significance that no New Years
party or birthday fete Is complete without it
A very amusing comedy followed, the prin.
cipal characters Of which were dashing
young Toxic dandy, who strobe unsteadily
about the stage, shouldering a Towering
branch Of q cherry tree land who paused
ever and anon to admire himself in mirror
which he carried in the hilt Of his sword); q
young lady In q pink dress, who was evil
IDENTIFY trying to fascinate the dandy, and a
talkative tooth-powder merchant This lat
ter character offered to show the young gen.
tleman how they few kites In Osaka, from
whence, he said, he had just arrived. The
little man retired O moment and returned
wearing q most ridiculous mask, supposed
to represent q boys face, with the eyes
turned upward.
LII LulS uhSk Inc IuoTCnAut eX6CuUeo u
very graceful dance, descriptive Of kite-fy-
ing, every motion Of which was perfect,
from the hosting to the frantic pulling in.
When the kite was pulled safely In the little
merchant exchanged his upturned eyes for
a pair of staring optics, and stretching out
the wide, flowing sleeves Of his dress began
a second dance, representing the movements
of kite in the air, became lodged in an i'm
aginary tree and finally fluttered In the
most natural manner to the floor, the dandy
and the young lady in pink looking on mean
while lost in admiration. The dancers and
actors were all little girls from to - years
old, and who. by the liliputian preparations
Of the stage, were made to resemble grown
men and women. After this the stage man
ager appeared and announced that Miss I'm
ayo would appear in the next performance,
which caused q great futter Of expectancy
among the admiring aunts and cousins Of
the infant prodigy.
Finally the curtain rose ON a fierce bri-
gand, who was piroquetting about the stage
in q very short robe and with q very long
sword, which he slashed about rather rsck-
lessly. Soon fair princess, in a magnih-
cont red robe and gold paper crown, came
sailing in. She carried two very substan.
tial-looking paper pals on a bamboo pole
across her dainty shoulder and moved with
much difficulty, owing to her robes and
crown, to which she was evidently unaccus-
toned. This was Miss Imayo, in the char
acter of the lovely and iIl-ussd princess In
Hamamatsu-kaze. The fair creature paid
ting with his back toward her-supposed to
be invisible, but watching her narrowly over
his shoulder. She nearly stumbled oyer him
twice, but went ON dancing and posturing
and filling her paper pals with imaginary
water. ..." .@
Those innocent gambols, however, were
suddenly arrested by the abrupt appearance
Of the brigand, who, whatever his first In
tentions might have been In regard to the
fine robes and gilt paper crown, was wholly
disarmed by the beauty Of the princess and
commenced making awkward but friendly
advances which she did not seem to relish
at all She jerked her flowing sleeve from
his grasp and sent him sprawling on the
ground several times by graceful wave Of
her folded fan The robber endured these
rebuffs good-naturedly for time, but
finally, becoming exasperated by continual
defeat, he whipped out his long sword and
fourished it about over her head In the
most ferocious way. The maiden, however,
did not seem in the least disconnected, but
parried the thrusts with her fan and finally
obtained possession Of the scabbard, with
which she belabored the unmannsrly fellow
until he was glad to drop hts sword and run
away. The unwelcome foe being completely
vanquished the fair princess had peaceful
dance all by herself and succeeded in filing
her pals without further mishaps
A sumptuous Japanese banquet followed
this little scene and was served upon little
dishes Of lovely porcelain upon tiny tables
Of exquisite workmanship.