Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-11
JAPANESE ADJUSTMENTS
How the Gentlemen of the Country Pass
Their Time
An Elaborate Feast Followed by Two
Visits to the Thenter-One
r Days Pleasure.
From the Forum.

From the Forum.
While connected with the Third Higher
Middle School, in Osaka, l was called on
one afternoon by one of my scholars, who
had been sent by 81 gentleman TO In
vite me to spend the next day with him
and some of his friends in the pursuit of
pleasure, after the japanese fashion / was
told that my host would send for me about
8 o'clock and that my young pupil himself
would be in attendance to act as interpre-
ter, in case my knowledge of the language
was insufficient to assure me that clear
understanding of the conversation and of
the play-the theater was to be the scene
of our frolic during much of the day
which would be essential to my enjoyment.
Next morning promptly at the hour NAM
ed arrived a handsome jinriksha, drawn
by two men in livery; and l was taken to
my entertainers town house, where l met
some of mis- friends. We were served with
cigarettes, tea, cakes and tiny emp or two
of the finest sake At IL We went to a
very fine restaurant. and the first course
of an elaborate meal was served-a cup of
sake and some comfits. Then the geisha,
OF professional singing and dancing girls.
and the samisen players appeared, to add
to the entertainment. They did not devote
themselves exclusively to their arts; for
some of them helped in serving the sake
and engaged in conversation with us. l
found the young woman who had been
detailed especially to attend to me to be a
bright person, well able to
make me- understand her conversation, and,
what was even more satisfactory, able to
understand my japanese fairly well. SO
that while at the restaurant l had little
occasion to call In the aid of nv interpre-
ter.
AT about > pm. the bowl of plain boiled
rice and the cup of tea, which mark the
end OF feast in Japan, as in China We're
served and we were then asked TO get
ready for the theatar, Unlike China build
| ings used expressly for Thespian purposes
are common in Japan, although out-of-door
performances on temporary stage are
also given. The theaters of Osake are in
the Dotom-bori district, and are surround
ed by side shows of every description We
went to the largest and best-a plain wood
en- ouiidihS, not in any way attractive as
regards It's exterior, nor ornamental in its
interior. The auditorium is a large square
room; the fiat floor being divided into many
small sections by low ratings each sec
ton accommodating six or eight persons
ana being equipped with mats. fishers are
IN attendance, also peddlers of play books
1rult and lunches: for a theatrical day is
long one, lasting from early morning
until late at night. Everybody smolS I'd
women as well as men; and at intervals
tea and sweetmeats Were served to our
party. L noticed that some of the specta-
tors sat along the edge of the stage. as
| they used to do in England in Shake
SpeareS time.
our geisha accom- panied us from the res
taurant; and mine appeared to be highly
amused that I understood so much of the
pray. AT about O'Clock one play ended
The actors suspended operations for sun
per- ana We went to a restaurant next door
| for ours
we returned to the theater about 40 To
md another play going on. [ STAYED until
~, When 1 thought l had had enough and
W7ht nome. My host appeared to be lit
Tie disappointed at my early departure
ana expressed regret at his failure to af-
ford me enjoyment. l assured him that
he had been eminently successful.