The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-10
JAPANESE SHOW EMOTION
ONLY WHILE IN THEATERS
Intense interest in Plays Without Plots but of Interim
nabIe Length Is ExpIaned--Stage Scenes Bring ears
Simply by Pcturing Events in Everyday Life, Including
the Enlistment and Departure of Soldiers

human emotion on the part of the
actors in their portrayal of characters
chosen from the even walks of life that
1T demonstrated most forcibly. There
were open and unreserved tears and
much lamentation, because sons, hus-
bands, fathers were called to the colors
and going away to war. Even men
sobbed. My friend sat with body bent
forward and head bowed in his hands,
watching intently, as l supposed, the
striking display of feeling. 1t annoyed
me. 1 was inclined to think 1t a gro
tesque parody. 1t was not "bushido"
at all.
81 don't believe it at ALL" I said to
him. rs it true, all that weeping?"
REVELATION IN THE HOME.
He did not reply, and 1 looked down
and saw the big tears falling uncheck-
ed from his eyes. 1t was true, then,
after all. The actors were faithfully
presenting to the public a phase of
Japanese life that the persons they
represented would never have revealed.
1t was a simple scene. The stage
setting represented a room in the home
of jinrikisha man. He was a reserv-
list soldier and the mobilization order
had come directing him to go to the
barracks at o'clock that evening. His
little son was playing in the yard, wav-
ing a flag and shouting "Banyais!" as
the soldier brushed up his. uniform and
prepared to put 1t on. He talked with
his wife, and they gave way freely to
their emotions. Presently came the
landlord, who had heard the news. This
was a good landlord, actuated by
genuine patriotism that made him i'm
mensely popular with the audience. He
assured the sad-hearted wife that she
need have no worry while the soldier
was anywhere should be no rent de-
manded for the house. The soldier
and his wife strove to conceal their
feelings from the landlord, and the
scene became quite cheerful again.
This was "bushido." My friend sat up
and replied to the long unanswered
quotation.
at is quite true" he said. "The old
custom does not permit one to betray
his emotion in the presence of strang-
ers, or even of his friends, but in the
home it is different. There one may
be natural without being impolite."
Then came in three friends of the
soldier, full of excitement at his going,
congratulating him on the opportuni
ty to fight for his country and the en-
peror and all protesting their own de-
sire to go. They bought q supper and
soon had 1t spread out. Their enthusi-
asm was so infectious that no trace Of
sadness could linger in the room. The
supper was very appropriate. First
there was raw fish-the fish called
'katsuo," which is the word that means
victory. Then there was buckwheat,
"seiro," which the audience promptly
interpreted-"sei" being to fight with
and "ro" the first part of the Jap
anese name for the Russians. This
was eaten with chopsticks, "Nihon-no-
hashi'-and "Nihon' is the name of
Japan. Japan, therefore, was swallow
ing up the Russians In victory, and the
palatable meal was washed down by
the wine called masanume. Nassau
ume was the most famous swordsmith
of Japans feudal days, so famous that
he gave his name to the weapon he
made, and now "masanume" means
Sword" throughout Japan.
In an instant all this laughter and
high spirits was changed, even to tears
| again. A bugle sounded and the SOL
der leaped to his feet to respond.
| There was scarcely time to embrace
his wife and he was dashing away.
! cheered on by his friends, when the
| boy ran to him and, clasping his legs,
Confined on Twentv-frct Dora