The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-05-11
THE GEisHA GIRL.
Belle Of Japan--the Least Underst,,d
institution Of Mikado's Empire.

Belle OF Japan--the Least Understt,d
institution Of Mikado's Empire.
Yone Noguchi, Japanese writer,
says In part in the Theater Magazine:
The Gsisha girl is, perhaps, the most
interesting and the least understood
abroad Of all the national institutions
of the Mikado's Empire. Nowhere in
the world Is there a woman exactly
like her. She is not mere waitress
or attendant, as many writer's have
described her nor is she a common
dancer, entertainer or musician.
She Is far more than this. From
her early childhood she is trained to
be the companion OF cultured persons.
She is educated. accomplished. intel
lectual and rehned. as we'll as beauti-
ful and graceful. In her every step,
gesture, expression, in the very cos
tunes she wears, SO elegant and har-
monious in color, there is the facna.
actress taught for generations to
delight the senses.
The Geisha girl is the belle OF japan,
and without her Japanese social gath
erings would loose much of their vi
vacity and charm. But although the
Gelsha is so cultivated and accom-
plished, II cannot be said that she
Is quite respectable according to the
conventional standards. She has, in
deed, a moral code Of her own. She
belongs to a class which has no equiv
alent In any other country. The only
approach In history is that Of the
Hetaera women, who existed In the
day of ancient Greece.
Mr.. Noguchi gives description OF
the tea houses to which the Geishas
are attached; then he continues:
The Geishas make their appearance
with their habitual air Of amiability.
grave and vivacity. Each as she en-.
ters utters the word "Konbanwa,'
which means good evening. She then
proceeds to make herself at home,
and is soon as intimate as II she had
known you since childhood. All the
Geishas sit before you while you
smoke, each taking a samisen (or
guitar) in her hands-beautful hands,
like the hands OF a waxen doll. Then
each bows to you politely, thanking
you for your kind summons. You
,ourteously reply by empting your cup
of Shake Japanese brandt, which
you plunge into a bowl Of clean water
on the tray and then you present tho
cup to the Geisha whom you most al.
mire, saying as you do so: III pa
agemasu" q present the cup to yru).
The favored Geisha receives your CO
! In her very graceful manner, and V -
her dainty hands lifts it to her fore
head, thanking you for your kind love
The attendant. standing by, imla2-
diately fills 1t with Sake. The Geisha
sips little Of the Sake, then returns
the cup to you with the words, Cohen
pal" Q am honored to return you the
cup), which you receive back with
marks of the greatest appreciation.
While this exchange Of cup courtesies
Is going on, one Of the other Geishas
lifts her samisen to her knee and
plays a melody, accompanying 1t with
love song which is delightful to the
ear.
When you are tired of the song you
may ask for dancing. Now, the dane
Ing OF the Geisha girl has nothing in
common with the vulgar skirt dane
ing so popular in Europe and America.
In Japan such an exhibition would be
considered barbaric vulgarity. The
Geisha's dance consists mostly Of a
rhythmic, graceful movement, es-
pecially with the arms, and Is so con
trived and performed that 1t suggests
the most beautiful poetic ideas. 1t is
at times dramatic. Poems or dramas
relating to history or legend are often
recited by the Geishas, who express in
striking or graceful attitudes the
tragic or comic situations. From the
viewpoint Of true art this eXcels any
known dancing. At your request the
younger Geishas then proceed to the
more dainty dancing, while the Older
Geishas sit in the background, and
play their samisens and sing poetic lit
tie songs. The younger Geishas, in
their scarlet petticOats and flowing
sleeves fan and parasol In theii
hands, initiate the butterflies fitting
from flower to flower, or the maple
trees scattered by the autumn
wind. Sometimes fast, sometimes
slow. now backward, now foreward
from right to left, now merrily, now
sadly-the dancing girls glide ovel
the soft mating, waving their flowing
sleeves. When dancing the Geishs
looks lovelier than the white lilly
more graceful than the hanging bios
SONS blown about in the breeze o
spring. She is the living incarnation
of the picturesque charm Of all Japan