The sun., 1907-04-21

LONG YEARS or DISCIPLINE IN
A SLAVERY LIFE.
Even Made to sing on tho HOuseISps On
Bttwly Cold Nights 80 a. 60 Become
Hoarse 20 n Proper DeEree-Why They
Are Grave When They Are Dancing.

Httwly Cold Nights 30 ~ 90 Become
Hoarse 20 n Proper Degree-Why They
Are Grave Wnen They Are Dancing.
The geisha girls OF Japan are bought by
their masters when they are little children
and their training begins straightway.
They must learn to dance. 20 sing and
play, to be ape In conversation and to have
bewtching manners.
The training In very rigid. Sometimes
on bitterly cold nights the little girls are
sent upon the housetops TO sing until It is
no longer possible to make a sound. for the
long period OF hoarseness which follows
imparts desired timbre to their voices.
The hours OF their practice are long and
heir lessons hard. They must know many.
many dances and games. and the greater
he number OF their accomplishments. Of
course, the brighter is their future. When
rhey have learned to play sufficiently well
on a musical instrument they are sent out
ro fcasts with the older geisha, and as they
AXE some nttie part In the music which
accompanies the dance. they observe. for
'iture use, the manner OF the geisha toward
The guests.
The money they receive is given over to
their master. He 1t is who provides them
With their garments, often Of indescribable
beauty. Only geisha, by virtue OF their
profession, may wear such elaborate gar
ments, and they heighten the effect by
many little tricks Of dress. not permissible
by other women.
The romances OF the little geisha are
often unutterably sad. says n writer in the
Hou sekeepcr. The brightest future they
NAV look forward to il that they may suffi-
GENTLY win the favor of some man to have
him redeem their liberty. But at the FEAST
while they dance. no sadness is apparent.
Imagine yourself seated on the floor
before tiny table. at a Japanese banquet.
Before the dancers enter. older geisha,
more soberly dressed, take their placea
upon the floor and play upon strnged inA
sirlments and little drums. making sounds
hat seem weird and unmusiCal. yet un-
deniably fascinating.
Are the radiant creatures who follow. in
heir soft trailing silks and brilliant obi.
With costumes an abandon OF rlohnessD
girls or are they women? You do not
know and you cannot know, for the little
girls, under their smiling. childlike faces.
conceal the experience OF women, and the
women are in many ways but little children.
They are puZSling and bewildering and
hesutiful-that is all you know.
Their dance. a series OF poses, expresses
au idea, or a poem. as our music. The
charm Of the motion is in the little feet in
spotless white tabi, in the obedient motion
~ their silken draperiee upon the hoor.
he 1uttering Of the long sleeves. the position
Of the head and the opening and closing
and undulating Of a fan, that speaks and
lives a. q fan can live and speak only In the
hands Of a Japanese dancing girl.
During the dance the geisha do not SMILE
afterward. as they fill your cup and set
viands before you. they laugh and chatter
gsily Their conversation 10 full OF little
personal compliments and solcitude for
your comfort. II you are an American
woman In evening dress they pretend to
fear greatly lest you are cold.
With deep concern they look up at you,
touch your gown very lightly and say that
it is very beautiful; they wish they might
wear gowns Like 1t (you know the while
that In their secret souls they think it
oId aTe COId bow ae sStful S L must @ be to wear @
ones hair dressed So they continue in
Japanese. but with their straight, black
hair they say they would not look we'll
And ahl your necklaoel And may they see
your ringsp Unfortunate. miserable Japa-
nese women who wear no jewelryi
When they resume their dance their
faces again become quite grave. AJapanese
man in comparing the American and the
japanese idea Of grace IN dancing suddenly
the japanese girls during tho danCo and
asked tho reason Of one Of the older women,
WHO played the samiSen.
Her answer was enlightening. When
me geiaha are naVnB Iheu, VoSoohs, Sno
said, they arc strictly enioined not to
smile when dancing; for as they are stand
ing and the guests seated on the floor,
smile from such an angle might appear
somewhat supercihous.
The Reisha dance in it's most elaborate
aspect may be seen In the -Myoko O dor;
given during one week Of the cherry blossom
season by the geisha girls Of KiotO. Several
hundred geisha. dressed alike in the most
brilliant raiment and during a part OF the
dance carrying fans and during another part
carrying branches Of cherry blossoms.
dance contipuously for two hours.
Thelast movement. which is most compli-
Gated and captivating. is elaborated to an
Indescribable degree OF Orien tai splendor
by the radiance OF thousands OF lights and
the falling Of a fiuttering cloud OF cherry
blossoms