Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-05-05
THE TOILETTE IN JAPAN.

Odd and Pretty Picture of Geisha Girl.
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 toilette 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
a separate compartment for the great
toe, that inclose her little feet. "La
mode japOnaise" seems most fitfingly
conceived. To imagine the plump,
childish faces, youthful figures and
perfect 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 iAconvenient
garb of cOnstraining ugliness. The
Empress and her court ladies' ordered
and wore-the fact is really appalling
costumes from Berlin! But forum
ately the reaction of 1887 against the
Occidental included made in Ger
many garments, and since they are
now, happily, only seen at court func-
tions they will not disfigure the charm
ing geisha. By the bye, this poor little
songstress is often cruelty misjudged
by European travellers, who, general
izing from scanty experience, sum her
up with about as much fairness and
accuracy as If Japanese passing
through London docks were to des-
cr1be English women as wearing a
national costume of shawl and
feathered hat, spending their days in
consuming the malt beverage of the
country, and having a limited but ex-
tremely forcib1e vocabulary The
geisha is, in fact, as public entertainer,
in much the position of a concer~
singer or reciter. You want your
entertainment to go, so you apply to
the geisha agency, who send you a
troupe of hardworking little artists
who will sing, dance and ask conun-
drums in turn, to the guests delight.
That they devote their lives to the art
of being charming but proves their
capacity and thoroughness.
In Japan the great unwashed is
nonresident. The nation bathes-or
rather boils-(for 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 secure through
cleansing; and finger nails of even
working hands are delicateIy cared
for The barber plays an important
part in the geisha's toilet Few
Japanese women do their own hair
the geisha never. But before the Golf
feur-amazing fact-the razor! No
least suggestion is intended that the
Japanese, though strangely allied to
the Ainu, share in any way their con-
spicious characteristic Quite the con-
trary; but OSada-San has her prefer
ence 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
the strangely stylish bows affected by
young Japanese women. The style of
couture tells ''the honorable age" in
the far east.