The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-01

dustry. During the interval spent many
a pleasant evening In listening to the lit
tie concerts at the homes Of different
Japanese friends, for the native affection
for these insect songsters is great, and
even the poorest native has one or more
of these curious pets to bring solace after
his hard days toll; while among some Of
the wealthier people the maintenance of
an aviary OF singing insects is a fashion
able pastime, as much as stable of thor
oughbreds or fancy kennels In our Western
lands.
RAPID TRADE IN INSECTS.
In due time the next 'en-nichi" came
round, and with my japanese host as a
guide we threaded our way through the i'm
pressionist streets and lanes of Toxic and
wended our way to the night fair at Mita.
1t seemed as If all Toxic and its neighbor
had turned out to witness the festivities; on
every hand the eye rested on fantastic
booths and stalls gaily lighted with long
rows of lanterns, while above all rose the
interminable clatter of clogs and the merry
babble OF the hundreds of pleasure-seekers
At another time 1 should have liked to lin
ger at each stall and booth, for each
seemed more filed with Aladdin wonders
than that just passed, but as our time was
limited we Immediately set about TO dis
cover the real object of our visit, the booth
of the insect fancers. 1t did not take us
long to accomplish this, for, judging by
the excited and pleased throngs around, II
was easily the most poular feature OF the
'en-nichi.' But even the loud clatter and
laughter of these curfosity-seekers was not
sufficient to drown perfect Babel of CHR
ripping and whistling and trilling which
came from the stall of the ~Mushi-ya,"
who was doing a thriving business in these
insect songsters. Managing, after much
difficulty, to pass through the crowd, we
were able at last to catch glimpse of the
booth, gaily decorated, and rejecting in
thousand ways the fantastic fancies of its
owner. The booth itself consisted of a
table fanked on either side with two up
right rectangular cupboards, in which the
insects were kept, while cages of all kinds
and of every manner and shape that Japan
ese art or fancy could devise were dis
played in tempting array. In a large sieve
on one side, covered with gauze, hundreds
of fireflies glowed and faded and then
glowed with dazzling brilliance again like
so many emerald stars. The dealer was
kept busy attending to the wants
of his constant string Of custom
ers, some to purchase this or that
favorite singing insect. which was promptly
transferred from one Of the cupboards TO
one of the smaller cages hanging about;
others to buy the glowing firefiies, which
the ever ready fancier took from the sieve
through a small opening in the top aid
placed them in the small paper bags which
the customers had brought to carry them
home In. The quaint booths. the laugh
ing faces of the merrymakers in their
many-colored costumes, the innumerable
strings of lanterns glistening like many
gigantic glow worms, the bizarre shad-
ows fitting about, and above all, the
round, full moon throwing its mellow ra-
dance over the animated scene formed
an indescribable and never-to-be-forgotten
picture.
A few words from my companion to the
"mushi-ya" elected the information that
the wants of his customers kept him too
busy to give the attention that he
wished: but that if we cared to visit him at
his home next day he would be pleased to
show us his collection of singing insects,
and would give me the information l re-
quired concerning the industry. Accord
ingly visit him we did on the following
morning, his dwelling nesting in a secluded
little grove in one of the suburbs of To-
kio. and in its every appointment in full
keeping with the delicate poesy and fancy
of his occupation. At the rear of his
dwelling lay a little garden, in the center
of which a miniature lake dimpled and glis-
tened like some rare cameo shot through
and through with iridescent sparkles
caused by hundreds of gold fish which
darted hither and thither and gathered
questioningly at the edge OF the pool at the
sight of their owner. Beyond lay the small
| cupboards containing the singing insects,
but as it was well on toward mid
day they were quiet for the time being. In
| front of each cupboard was a little plac-
ard, written in japanese hieroglypics, de-
| noting the name of the insect denizens of
| each particular cage, while in one of the
| quietest and most secluded parts of the
garden the smiling wife and children of
the insect fancier were busily engaged in
weaving the quaint cages to be disposed of
| at the next "en-nichi."
HOW INDUSTRY BEGAN
Having taken us the rounds of the aviary
| our host led us into the cool retreat of his
| summer house, where over the little rice
| cakes and tea he proceeded to acquaint us
with the features of his curious calling and
| to give us information concerning its his
| tory and growth. From earliest times the
| Japanese have loved to listen to what they
/ call the song of these insects, but the
| industry of insect-raising is itself of COM
| paratively recent date-that is, on an i'm
| portant scale, for the trade in insects itself
has been in existence for nearly hundred
years. To poor street vendor named
| Chuzo, who first took up the breeding of
| singing insects as a business, belongs the
| credit of inaugurating this curious industry.
In the course of his labors Chuzo was
| wont to pass through Negishi-a suburb of
| Toxic beyond the Uyeno Park-and the
/ sweet chirruping and trilling of the insects