The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-21
SOME JAPANESE ADJUSTMENTS
HOW THE GENTLEMEN OF THE
COUNTRY PASS THEIR TIME.
An Elaborate Feast Followed By Two
Visits to the Theatre-one Days
Pleasure.
CThe 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 a gen.
J tleman to invite me to spend the next
day with him and some of his friends
/ in the pursuit of pleasure, after the
japanese fashion. l was told that
my host would send for me about 8
o'clock and that my young pupil him.
| self would be in attendance TO act as
| Interpreter, in case my knowledge of
the language was insufficient to assure
me that clear understanding OF the con-
versation and of the play-the theatre
was to be the scene of our frollc during
much of the day-which would be es-
sential to my enjoyment.
Next morning promptly at the hour
named arrived handsome jinriksha.
drawn by two men in livery; and l
was taken to my entertainers town
house, where L met some of his friends.
We We're served with cigarettes, tea,
cakes and a tiny cup or two of the
finest sake. At IL we went TO very
fine restaurant, and the first course
of an elaborate meal was served-a cup
of sake and some comfits. Then the
geisha, or professional singing and
dancing girls, and the samisen PLAYERS
appeared, to add to the entertainment.
They did not devote themselves ex-
clusively to their arts; for some of
them helped in serving the sake and
engaged in conversation with US. |
found the young woman who had been
detailed especially to attend 10 me TO
be a remarkably bright person., well
able to make me understand her con-
versation, and, what was even more
satisfactory, able to understand my
japanese fairly we'll; so that while at
the restaurant ! had little occasion to
call in the aid of my interpreter.
At about p. m. the bowl of plain
boiled rice and the cup of tea. which
mark the end of a feast in Japan, as
in China, were served, and we were
then asked to get ready for the theatre,
Unlike China, buildings used expressly
for Thespian purposes are comp1on in
Japan, although out-Of-door perform
ances on a temporary stage are also
given. The theatres of Osake are in
the Dotom-bori district. and are sur
rounded by side shows of every descrip-
ton. We went to the largest and best
"a plain wooden building, not in any
way attractive as regards its 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
section accommodating six or eight
persons, and being equipped with mats.
Ushers are in attendance, also peddlers
of play books. fruit and lunches: for
a theatrical day is a long one, lasting
from early morning until late at night.
Everybody smoked. women as well as
men; and at intervals tea, and sweet
meats were served to our party. |
noticed that some of the spectators sat
along the edge of the stage, as they
used to do in England in Shapespeare's
time.
Our geisha accompanied us from the
restaurant: and mine appeared to be
highly amused that l understood so
much of the play. At about o'clock
one play ended. The actors suspended
operations for supper; and we went to
a restaurant next door for ours.
We returned to the theatre about
80, to find another play going on.
stayed until 10, when l thought l had
had enough and went home. NV host
appeared to be a little disappointed at
my early departure, and expressed re-
gret at his failure to afford me enjoy
ment. I assured him that he had been
eminently successful.