The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-28

are never refused. This custom prevails
 in the larger stores and is Acrupulously
 observed at public buildings and col-
 leges. The tea Is served in dainty
 cups and taken without sugar or cream,
 The tea drinking habit is universal
 here, the kettle of hot water sitting on
 the coaIs in the brazier most 1f the
 time. At each railroad station the boys
 sing out, Cha! Cha" (the Japanese
 word for teal and for less than cents in our money they will furnish the trav- eler with an earthen pot of hot tea, with pot and cup thrown in.
 The use of tea at social gatherings
 dates back at least 600 years, when .
 tea ceremonial was instituted by a Bud-
 dhist priest to soften the manners of
 the warriors. It partook of a religious character, at first, but soon became a
 social form, and different schools of tea drinkers vied with each other in sug- gesting rules and methods of procedure. About 300 years ago Hideyoshi, one of the greatest of the military rulers of Japan, gave what is described as the
 largest tea party on record. the invita- l tions being in the form of an imperial edict. A1 lovers of tea were sum- moned to assemble at a given date in a pine grove near Kyoto. and they seem to have done so. The tea party lasted ten days and the Emperor drank at every Dootn
 According to Chamberlain. tea drink | ing had reached the, luxurious stage be- l fore the middle of the fourteenth cen- tury. The lords took part in the daily | gatherings, reclining on tiger skins, the walls of the guest chamber being rich- l ly ornamented. One of the popular | games of that day was the offering of l a number of varieties of tea, the guests l being required to guess where each va- lrfa s4Fau hA aaf wsrfv ming a handsome prize. The tea eere- mony answered at least one useful pur- pose-it furnished an innocent way of killing time, and the lords of that day seem to have had an abundance of time on their hands. The daughters of
 the upper classes were trained to per- form the ceremony and displayed much skill therein. Even to this day 1t is regarded as one of the accomplishment
 and young ladies perfect themselves In it much as our daughters learn music
 and singing. At Kogoshina, Governor Chikami, one of the most scholarly
 men whom l have met here, had his daughter perform for my instruction a part or the ceremony, time not permit
 ting more. With charming grace she prepared. poured and served this Jap
 anese nectar, each motion being accord | ing to the rules of the most approved | sect. for these are sects among tea drinkers.
 The theater is an ancient institution
 here, although until recently the actors
 were considered beneath even the mer- camille class. Their social standing has
 been somewhat improved by the advent of western Ideas. The theater build l Ing is very plain as compared with ours | or even with the better class of homes | here. They are always on the ground floor and have circular. revolving | stage within the larger stage which
 makes 1t possible to change the scenes | instantly.
 The plays are divided into two Kinds. historical ones, reproducing old | Japan and modern plays. The perform ance often lasts through the entire day and evening. some of the audience l bringing their tea kettles and food | Lunches, fruit, cigarettes and tea are also on sale in the theater. The people homes and at public meetings. One oi | the side aisles Is raised to the level oi 1 the stage and the actors use it for ent. | rance and exit.
 | In this connection a word should be
 said in regard to the geisha girls who have furnished such ample material for | the artist and the decorator. They
 are selected for their beauty and train | ed in what is called dance. although 1t differs so much from the American
 dance as scarcely to be describable bJ | that term. It is rather a series oi 1 graceful poses in which gay costumes
 dainty fans, flags, scarfs and some | times parasols play part. The faces l of the dancers are expressionless and
 there is no exposure of the limbs. The I Geisha girls are often called in to en- l certain guests at a private dinner, the | performance being before, not after the l meal.
 Our first introduction to this national l amusement was at the Maple Club din
 ner given at Tokio by a society com l posed of Japanese men who had stu | died in the United States. The name of | the society Is a Japanese phrase which
 means the Friends of America" The
 Maple Club is the most famous restau- | rant in Japan, and the Geisha girls l employed there stand at the head of | their profession During the dancing ] there is music on stringed instruments.