The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-04-19
L Maple Leaf" Dame.

There were three in our party-tva
japanese gentlemen and myself. The
occasion was dinner at koget>u. one O.
the popular restaurants of Toxic. cele.
brated for its cooking and style. The
building. peculiarly Japanese in model
built around three sides of garden:
trees and shrubs, II lake with bridges and
an island.
The dining-room. n twenty mat room
with not Il piece of furniture and only
three ornaments, II kakemono painted by
Bun-cho, hanging on the wall of yoko-
nOma (the alcOveI. The ceiling low
tcight feet. divided into square panels.
in each lacquered decoration of leather.
The wood work, hinoki, something like
our pine, without a touch of color or
paint, the joinery accurate and perfect.
the screens new and covered with white
paper. Here in this room we, kneeling
OH cushions, were served dinner.
We were enjoying the soup. the raw
fish and soy, with an occasional sip Of
warm cake, when in there came five
japanese dancing girls slowly, one BY
one, the leading two with sweet oval
faces and almond eyes, who dropped
gracefully on their knees, and, smiling
saluted by bowling the forehead almost to
the mats. Then came three young girls
with round, childish faces. these not over
thirteen ysrs old, their dress of soft
silken drapery and tinted crepes, as rich
in color as they were harmonious-as
graceful in flow as they were exquisite in
fashion. The elder ones wore garments
of soft subdued colors. in several shades
perfectly agreeing, but without figures.
After saluting, the geishas. as these
girls are called, arranged themselves
around us, kneeling without embarrass-
ment, smiling and at perfect case, each
movement and gesture graceful.
Japanese cOnventionalities dictated the
flow of early conversation. We wanted
to Know something about woman's world
in Japan the geishas were equally eager
to learn about America.
After complimentary slipping and ex-
changing cups of sake and picking little
dainties from off the dishes, the two
elder girls tuned their samisens while the
three younger grouped themselves and
commenced the dance The theme was
the Autumn Maple Leaf" Two were
walking with hedge between them,
admiritig the warm color of the autumn
maple leaves and spying each other
through the hedge, expressing their
mutual admiration by gestures.
1t is not dancing, it is simply postum
ing, with quick changes of position in
time with the music, in which the grace
full movements of the little bodies of the
girls are emphasized by the exquisite
draperies which seem to flow clingingly
around them.
At the end of the dance they bowed to
the floor, and an interval of rest and con-
versation was followed by Tamaso,
River of Jewels" whose dress was in
some shades of softest greens. who
danced alone the Futariga-Vaka, the
theme an attempt at pantomimic showing
of the friendship between two lovers.
Her gestures and the treatment of her
fan were so graceful as to bring down
the house.
After this came a highly popular
dance, kappOre, quick movement, sing
ing accompaniment, clapping of hands
and many figures.
The dinner. conversation and dancing
the three hours of the after
noon Detroit Free Press.