The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-30
WHAT A GEISHA REALLY Is
Not Necessarily the Improper Person
Supposed.


Japan nowadays, and most persons know
that 1.-The JaDs" are highly intelligent
and cultured race. They are also polite
ard artistic and small of stature. And
they know how to fight-and win. All
these things and more we know about
the japanese, but most of us are more
interested in the clOisonne vases and the
geisha than in anything else indigenous
to the land of cherry blossoms. Osman
Edwards recognizes our limitations Of
curiosity. for he gives the geishas chap
ter to themselves in his recent book on
Japan. He says it is useless to contro-
Vert the popular notion that the gesha
is generally pretty and always improp-
err. Her detractors," he points out "have
seen an English opera bearing her name
enough, they know. Nevertheless, this
opinion is founded on imperfect knowl-
edge and requires much modification be-
fore it can be received as even partially
true. Etymologically, geisha Is an ac-
complished person; socially, she is an en-
tertainer who has been trained from the
age of Or years to dance or sing for
the amusement of guests at dinner par
ty. Probably her parents have leased her
for a certain number of years to a teach
err, who undertakes to board and train
chaperon her. to pay fixed sum to her
family as well as a tax to the govern
ment, in return for all of which a sufh-
cient recompense is assured by the fees
which talented artist is able to earn.
Less frequently she lives at home and
obtains enga gements through an agent.
who receives only a percentage of her
gains. The training is continuous and
severe.
The social status of the geisha GORE
spends more exactly with that of a Par
isian actress than of an Athenian he
taira. Convention having banished the
actress from the japanese stage. the
geisha takes her place as the natural re-
cipient of masculine homage. She is
much courted and sometimes makes a
| brilliant match. There are large num-
| Der who make the profession an excuse
| for attracting rich admirers, just as the
| name of actress in more Puritan chimes,
! will cover a multitude of sins. But her
| favors are not always for sale to the
| highest bidder. When her short reign is
| over at the age of Is she generally i'm
| parts to younger generation the secrets
| Of professional success Among these
! the art of conversation is not the least
important. To parry indiscreet advances
| into her role as the playing of 'Kitsune
/ ken or 'fox-forfeit,' in which no little
| agility is needed to represent the right
| moment the fox. the man and the gun
| Of facile fingers. Childish, of course. the
| geisha is like most Of her younger coun-
| trywomen: sometimes dangerous and
| tickle. as her popular nickname Of Mex
ko,' the cat, testifies, but virtuous as well
| in many cases where she has enough
| independence and strength of character
| to resist the f1attering importantly OF
! fame's innumerable suitors.'
The Japanese dance. it has been said
with everything but their feet. Their
dancing consists partly of exquisite pos
ing, partly of pantomine. OF the dane
ers at the celebrated Maple club at To-
kio the globe trotter speaks with bated
breath as old timers used to speak Of
| Jenny Lind and Mario. The most cele.
brated dancing of all the year is thai
which takes place at Kyote every spring
when the cherry blossom is at its height
the famous Miyako-Odori. This Mr.
Edwards describes very happily.
The dance is preceded by a ceremon.
ious reception of great interest to the for
| eign visitor. He IS conducted to an anti
! room and requested to participate in {
i
twelve utensils employed must be separ
| ately cleansed and waved in the air b!
! the demure but smart damsel who pre-
sides with becoming dignity and science
| every gesture. every operation of he
deft hands being prescribed by rigi'
| etiquette. After twenty minutes Of 81
lent incarnation. as it seems, the daint.
sorceress has brewed her potion. Thel
= a careful sub-sorceress who has atten
lively waited on the principal witch
prostrates herself at the feet Of each o
q the guests. touches the floor with he
forehead, and. as she presents cup o
4 thick, green bouillion. murmurs: 'tOf
; gracious stranger. deign to taste thi
honorable teal" Long As the tea cere
monies appear to the uninitiated. the
are considerably shortened and impes
. fectly observed BY the tea drinkers. wht
it Is feared, break q thousand and on
rules In uncouth efforts to COPY the BET
| ter educated Japanese.
Az seen from the strangers gallery (fo
the majority OF humble coolies and sma
shopkeeprs have been waiting In pa