Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-09-18
THE JAP PLAYERS.
SCENERY IS STRIKING; cos
 TUNES ARE SPLENDID.
Plays Are PrimItive-Humor Is Ex- pressed by Flip Elops, HeroIcs by Blind staggers. and Pathas by Much
 Snufding. V

In the California theater. San Fran cisco, the other night, Otto Kawakami and Mime. Yaeco and their company of rising Japanese actors and ac. tresses" appeared for the first time in America, in no less than four different pleces. At first sight and sound the native Japanese drama is rather a diff heu't problem. Its tragedy does not make a serious dent in the American auditor, and its comedy does not strike him as the most joyous thing in the world The Japanese actor, one finds, expresses pathos though his nose; be- foles. in blind staggers, and humor in aerobatie fip-faps. He snufies when he is saddest. And as there was great deal of sadness in the first two pieces presented last night, there was a deal of snaffiing. Our Japanese toWnfolk filled the gallery and seemed 10 ind delight in these nasal special ties, but the people downstairs didn't appear to know just how to take them The plays are childishly primitive and with the aid of the arguments, print ed in the programme, quite intelligible. The first one, "The Duel" displays beautiful scenery and costumes and oiYerting sword fight. The second,
 Kosunoki," is full of fights, during which the actors employ themselves in many realistic tumbles from pile of stage rocks some fifteen feet in height. Hypnetism also seems to have place in this piece. as one no- tices that many Japs fall down van quished at the mere glance of the hot eyed hero. The most interesting in plot is The Temjye of Dojoji.' which is built around the Japanese legend of the bell in which the lovers hide and are cremated by the jealous woman's wrath. In this Mme. Yaeeo, who im- personates the yengeful rival. executes dance that is full of unique steps and poses The performance closes with what is arehly entitled Dewey Day Celebration on the Pine Fringed Shores of Miho.a Here the Geisha dances are introduced with pleasing result. An other diversion that comes earlier in the programme is song, accompanied by the characteristic Japanese instru- ment, the shamisen. The song itself Is iong-Yoiced faisetto and painful to the ears, but the accompaniment Is in- teresting from technical standpoint at least. Cut to practical proportions. this Japanese show ought to have curious interest for all play -goers. But in its present shape the Jap auditors seem to have most of the fun As a picture, 1t is well worth taking in, the scenery is striking and the costumes are splendid. It is quite like an anil mated Japanese screen.
 Family of Musical Tastes.
 Iarper's Bazar: 4 gentleman of de- cided and highly cultivated musical tastes. wishing to change his residence. advertised for rooms in "a private fam fly fond of music The next mail brought him the following reply: Dear Sir:-I think we could accom- modate you with rooms, and as for music one of my daughters plays the parlor organ and gittar; another one plays the aecordeon and banjo; I play a cornet and fiddle; my wife plays the harmoniea, and my son the flute. We all sing and if you are a good tenner singing you would fit right in when we get to singing gospel hymns evenings, for none of us sing tenner. Or if you play the base vial we have one right here in the house. If you want music as well as board We could accommodate you and there would be no extra charge for it.