Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-07
YUM.YUM AS SEEN AT HOME.
The Pretty Girls Of Japan, Their Smil
ing Faces and Winning Ways.

Toxic Correspondence New York Tribune.
Where is there pretticr picture than the little
japanese musume as she stands greeting you with
| smile at the door OF her chaya? And what a
smile she gives you! From those dark eyes OF hers
1t seems TO come as much as from the full red lips
1t is such comforting smile; SO promlssory OF tea
and dainties so kindly and full OF good-felowship
with dash Of coyness to enllven it, yet free from
the stereotyped grin Of the barmaid OF civilization
You feel as If your coming alone had caused the
real pleasure you see; that after all you must be
quite desirable person, else why should you be SO
welcomed by such dainty beauty? It is not the
| smile Of one about to receive a favor, but seems
rather greeting to old friend after long absence
You are not beguiled by any empty SMILE for, make
your little bow in as courteous manner as to the
pro udest queen OF christendom and with all fitting
seriousness; sit We down upon the steps OF the
verandah and two neat and comely hand>maidens
| will d1vest You OF your shoes and replace them
with soft fur slipplerS. Enter then the atrtum
where all the ladies OF the house sitting about a
| large square box sunk In the floor, half full OF
snowy ashes each with small vase OF the same
BOWED pipe that gives but two or three putrs at
each filling. You are given a cushion, your tea,
pipe and vase OF ashes In which you find concealed
burning charcoal-this is the Oriental substitute
for lucifer-and then you are at liberty 10 use
your tongue to the best OF your ability.
one 0r tne classes OF Japanese women that In
the gaisha girls. These are said to be the only
| really virtuous women In Japan. They are the
famous dancing girls OF the Land OF the Shoguns,
and anything more graceful than these bundles OF
bright colOrs Is not in civilization They mostly
very petite and generally young, sometimes not
more than ten years old. yet they have an air. a
dignity, certain solemn stateiness, that seems
part OF themselves and is heightened by their rich
costumes. They pose, they walk, they use their
fans they ogie they nirt, they 60 through all the
Kfna. in way and with grace that would bring
tears OF envy 10 the eyes Of court beauty OF many
seasons. Their clothes are always OF the richest
Stun5 and the embroidery Is often rare and COSTLY
They take great pride in their Obiis or sashes and
frequently you see little three-foot nothing NOR
sci OF dancing femininity with an ob 80 large that
with most comical effect between these delicate.
attractive little creatures and the big coarse obese
wrestlers, there seems to exist strange kind Of
favorite, and for him She works her finest embrod-
cries to grace him II he be victor or console him
II he be defeated. 1t resembles the feeling OF the
feudal maiden who worked her knights colors and
watched him bear them well and bravely in the
merry tOust.
Beyond this there is no romance in the life OF q
japanese giri no loye-making as we understand It;
and consequently the japanese novelist is rather
at disadvantage. For lack Of other material he
falls back upon the only caste where intrigue and
adventure are pOssible-the demi-monde; and here
he finds plenty to inspire his bamboo pen and cur
die the blood OF his readers He Is not forced to
to stay his words from any fear OF bringing the
blush OF shame to the most dainty cheek; he can
give free expression to his story; for in Japan a
woman Is not considered an OutcaSt because she
has fallen from grace, nor does she lose her own
self-respect; IL is not looked upon as In any way
wrong or immoral Sometimes even young girl
is apprenticed to evil ways she can see more of
the world and, 1t Is supposed have her wits sharp
ened, her experience enlarged and, In fact, finish
her education, more readily than by staying at
homeland then, being woman OF the world she
Will DO more likely TO attract men and make good
marriage. These girls often do marry extremely
resi- their dayS