The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-07-11
THE TOILET IN JAPAN.
At Least once Each Day the Nation
Bathes-PaiBs Of the Geisha Girls
80 Look Pretty.

=
exquisite prettiness and minute per
lection with which, as we watch the
graceful pOsturings and quaint bow
ings, she enthralIs us, without
trouble. No, her toilet IS as
serious as 1t Is perfect, from the
cFePOn bows and coral pins that
crown her elaborate couture to the
white tabi socks, with a separate
compartment for the great toe, that
inclOse her little feet, says the Lon
don Daily Pictorial la mode
iapOnaise- seems most fittingly con-
ceived- To imagine the plumb, child
ISL faces, youthful figures, and per
fectly turned necks of old Nippon
under a toGPee, OF imprisoned in
tight garments and high collars IS
difficult At one time there was an
absolute scare in artistic circles.
The new Japan arising in the far
east, in her haste TO adopt western
ideas, seemed also about TO embrace
its incOnYenient garb OF cOnstraining
Ugliness. The empress and her court
ladies ordered and vore-the fact is
really appalling costumes from Ber-
lin, But fortunately the reaction Of
1857 against the occidental included
made in Germany" garments, and
since they are now. happily, only
seen at court functions. they win
not disfigure the charming geisha.
By the bye. this poor little song
stress is often cruelty misjudged by
European travellers. who, generaliz-
ing from scanty experience. sum her
s.
accuracy as If a Japanese passing
through London docks were to de-
scribe English women as wearing a
national costume Of shawl and feath-
cred hat, spending their days in con-
Stunning the malt beverage OF the
country, and having a limited but
extremely fOrcibIe. vocabulary. The
geisha is, in fact, as public entertain
er in much the position of a concert
singer or reciter. You want your
entertainment to go. so YOU viii APP
ply to the geishaya agency. who send
you a troupe of Woodworking little
artistes who viii sing, dance and ask
cOnundrums in turn, to the guests
delight That they devote their lives
to the art of being charming but
proves their capacity and thorough
ness.
In Japan the great unwashed is non
existent. The nation bathes-or
rather boiIs-Cfor the baths heated
by charcoal stoves are usually
about 10 degrees Fahrenheit) at
least once daily. Clothes. however.
faded and patched. are always clean
they are actually Unpicked to Sc
cure thorough cleansing; and finger
nails of even working hands are deli
cately cared for. The barber plays
an important part IN the geisha's
toilet Few japanese women do their
own hair-the geisha never. But be
fore the cOiffUre-amazing fact-the
razor! No least suggestion is intend
ed that the japanese, though
strangely allied to the Ainu, share in
any way their most conspicuous
characteristic. Quite the contrary;
but O-Sada-San has her preference
for the removal Of the almost in
visible down on her clear yellow
cheeks, throat, ears and the backs
of her little hands. Tiny razors with
oddly-shaped blades are used. and the
operation usually lasts an hour
Then her hair, always long and
abundant, Is brushed with oil and
gum; when this has slightly stiffened
it is raised into strangely stylish
bows affected by young japanese
women. The style of couture tells
''the honorable age in the far east.
After the barber, the makeup"
| In this O-Sada-San is an artist in
L
fairness racially improbable, even
the sunlight would not betray her,
! so perfectly does the paint lie on her
now micrOscoPically smooth face A
I touch of carmine on the lips-per-
haps a streak of gold also. a line Of
/ anthony beneath the bright slant
| ing eyes, darking oil on lashes and
I brows. a shining hairpin or two. and
] perhaps a flower, are the finishing
/ touches The geisha studies a stres
chic effect, an artfully artIess sim
plicity in dress Her '.kimona" Is Of
I dark silk. her "dogiH or undergar-
ment Of some pale colOred crepon
/ dove. gray or cream; her 't'abi-' pur-
/ est white. and only in her huge "obi. ="
! SASH which IS so large that It
/ needs a small cushion to support II.
Is there any apparent display Her
silks are often out Of all proportion
I to her income. being heirlOOms, the
| products Of old Japan handed down
/ A dark-eolored fan with quiet design
Ia cloud a poem, or famous sigma
! ture-is worn in the "Obbi" Her
hanging sleeves are her pockets. in
which she keeps sachets of pow
dered perfume n store of paper
pocket handkerchiefs. and her little
''kicero" (pipe). When ready to
start she tucLs up her l5imona. dons
I black silk vadded Jacket or ~ryvi-
/ g." and winds shaped piece of
linen over her stiff and shining colt