The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-10-01
QUAINT SCENES
FROM old JAPAN

Dainty pictures Of old Japan; quaint
costumes of the days Of the daimios;
graceful dancing in which the hands
are revelation in their power of
graceful expression in correlation with
the dance: strange japanese music of
samisen, koto, and bamboo flute, selec-
tons from the classical dramas of
Japan as well as from the modern
Nipponese vaudeville; and all in a
dainty setting Of cherry blossoms, was
the very interesting and engrossing
entertainment given at the Orpheum
last night under the auspices of the
Japanese Benevolent Society.
The audience was one that filled the
Orpheum to its capacity. Every seat
from pit to dome-only that there is
neither pit nor dome at the Orpheum-
was filled.
tracted both Japanese and whites, and
If repeated would no doubt attract
another audience as large.
The particular object of the enter
tainment, as stated by Rev. G. Motto
kawa who made short address in
Japanese in opening the evenings en-
ltertainment. and by DR.. T. Katsunuma.
who presided, in an address in Eng
lish. was to pay for the erection of the
contagious diseases or isolation ward
which has been recently built as a
part of the Japanese Charity Hospital
which has been maintained for a num-
Der Of years.
The decorations of the Orpheum
| were cherry blossoms. At the entrance
under a brilliant display of electric
| lights were Japanese lanterns and
| display of cherry blossoms, and an
array of Japanese and American flags
carefully arranged so that there would
be an exactly even number Of each.
Pendant over the front of the stage
was another mass of cherry blossoms,
gracefully pendant.
Outside Japanese maidens in dainty
mauve, and gray. and heliotrope kimo-
nos. sold pretty carnation boutonnieres
to those attending the entertainment.
Consul and Mrs. Saito were in the
foyer welcoming people as they came.
The audience was composed very
largely of Japanese. They We're of all
classes and came, many of them with
babes IN arms and small children, to
show their interest in the purpose of
the evenings affair. But there were
also a considerable number of whites
And it was certainly an entertainment
that ought to and did INTEREST," those
other than Japanese, for it gave pic
lures of Japanese life interesting in the
extreme.
Besides the purely Japanese numbers
there were several by Americans. Prof.
Kahl rendered a number of piano
selections in a charming way. Al
string quartet composed of b. L. Marx,
w. A. Love, DR.. A. E. Wall and DR..
Carl Ramus, were given an enthusiast
tic encore. So, too, were Sam and
William Chillingworth on mandolin
and guitar. Mrs. Frank ]. Hare sang
Carl Bohm's Still as the Night
The first purely Japanese number
was "Shiokumi, pantomime dance
illustrating the dipping of sea water
for salt making. This was by two Japa-
nese girls and was an exceedingly pref
ty and graceful dance.
"Rokudan," japanese instrumental
music by Miss Akai, Miss Nakashima,
Mrs. Imamura, Mrs Kojima, Mrs. Ha-
ida and Mrs. Yagashita, was very pref
tily rendered and much enjoyed.
One of the most interesting numbers
was an act from the celebrated drama
of the ''Forty-seven Ronin." 1t was
given by Messrs. Yamomoto and Moro
kada.
A most exquisite thing was an an
cient sword dance by young Japa-
nese girl. Responding to a recall she
gave Dance of Despair" ending
with the harikari.
The entertainment closed with a
modern Japanese vaudeville sketch in
three acts entitled Lost Hope" in
which the comedy turns on the ex-
periences of a man who sought sec
ond wife through a matrimonial
agency but his first wife became ac-
quainted with his purpose.