The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-05-20
THE TOILET IN JAPAN.
Bathes-Pains of the Geisha Girls
to Look Pretty.

to LOOK Pretty.
1t must not be supposed that the
fascinating little geisha acquires the
exquisite prettiness and minute per-
lection with which, as we watch the
graceful posturings and quaint bow
ings, she enthralls us, without
trouble. No. her toilet is as
serious as it is perfect, from the
crepon bows and coral pins that
crown her elaborate couture to the
white tabi socks, with separate
compartment for the great toe, that
inclose her little feet, says the Lon
don Daily Pictorial La mode
ceived. To imagine the plumb, child
ish faces, youthful figures, and per-
fectly turned necks of old Nippon
under toupee, or 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
it's inconvenient garb of constraining
ugliness. The empress and her court
ladies ordered and wore-the fact is
really ppalling-costumes from Ber-
lin! But fortunately the reaction of
1887 against the occidental included
made in Germany" garments, and
since they are now, happily, only
seen at court functions, they will
not disfgure the charming geisha.
By the bye, this poor little song
stress is often cruelty misjudged by
European travellers, who, gencraliz-
ing from scanty experience, sum her
accuracy as if a japanese passing
through London docks were to de-
scribe English women as wearing
national costume of shawl and feath-
cred hat, spending their days in con-
suming the malt beverage of the
country, and having a limited, but
extremely forcible, vocabulary. The
geisha is, in fact, as public entertain
er in much the position of concert
singer or reciter. You want your
entertainment to go, SO you will APP
ply to the geishaya agency, who send
you troupe of Woodworking little
artistes who will 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 boils-Cfor the baths heated
by charcoal stoves are usually
about ITO 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 couture 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 'make-up."
In this O-Sada-San is an artist in
deed. Did we not know her extreme
fairness racially improbable, even
the sunlight would not betray her,
so perfectly does the paint lie on her
now microscopically smooth face. A
touch of carmine on the lips-per-
haps streak of gold also, a line of
anthony beneath the bright slant
ing eyes, darking oil on lashes and
brows, shining hairpin or two, and
perhaps a flower, are the finishing
touches. The geisha studies a "tres
chic" effect, an artfully artless sim
plicity in dress. Her "lkimona" is of
dark silk, her ''togi" or undergar-