The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-20
JAPANESE ADJUSTMENTS.
How the Gentlemen of the Century
Pass Their Time---An Elaborate
Feast Followed by Two Visits to
the Theater,

the Theater.
From the Forum.
While connected with the Third
Higher Middle School, in Osaka / was
called on one afternoon by one 90 my
scholars, who had been sent by gem
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. ] was told that my
host would send for me about o'clock
and that my young pupil himself 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 conversation and
of the play-the theatre was to be the
scene OF our frolic during much of the
| day-whlch would be essential to my
enjoyment.
Next morning promptly at the hour
named arrived a handsome jinriksha,
drawn by two men in livery; and l was
| taken to my entertainers town house,
where 1 met some of his friends. We
were served with cigarettes, tea, cakes
and tiny cup or two of the finer 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, or pro-
! fessional 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 serv-
| ing the sake and engaged in CONVEX
sation with us. l found the young wo-
man who had been detailed especially
| to attend to me to be a remarka bly,
bright person, well able to make me
understand her conversation, and, what
| was even more satisfactory, able to
understand my japanese fairly we'll; 80
that while at the restaurant 1 had little
| occasion to call in the aid of my inter-
prefer.
At about p. m. the bowl OF plain
boiled rice and the cup of tea, which
mark the end of feast in Japan, as
in China, were served. and we were
then asked to get ready for the thea
| ter. Unlike China, buildings used eX-
pressly for Thespian purposes are
! common in Japan, although out-of-
door performances on a temporary
stage are also given. The theaters of
Osake are in the Dotom-bori district,
and are surrounded by side shows Of
! every description. We went to the
largest and best-a plain wooden build
ing, not in any way attractive as re-
| CARDS it's exterior, nor ornamental in
| its interior. The auditorium is a large,
| square room. the fiat floor being di-
! Vided into many small sections by low
railings, each accommodating six or
eight persons and being equipped with
mats. Ushers are in attendance, also
peddlers of play books, fruit and lun-
| ches: for a theatrical day is d long
one lasting from early morning until
! late at night. Everybody smoked,
women as we'll as men: and at inter-
walls tea and sweetmeats were served
to our party. l noticed that some Of
the spectators sat along the edge OF
the stage, as they used to do in Eng
land in Shakespeare time.
Our geisha accompanied us from the
restaurant, and mine appeared to be
highly amused that | 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 theater about 7.30
to find another play going on. ! stay
ed until 10, when | thought I had
enough and went home. My host ap-
peared to be a little disappointed at
my early departure, and expressed re-
gret at his failure 10 afford me enjoy
ment. l assured him that he had been
eminently successful