Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-18
cEIsHA GIRLS.
The Fascinating Dance and IT'S Sigui-
flcanre-Trngic Notes in Lives
of SInyes.

Much has been written about the geisha
girls OF Japan-for American comic operas
But this does not answer the question:
Who are the geishes? In the April House
keeper, Marian Bonsall writes from a
personal knowledge.
BY fortunate accident, saw my first
geisha dance from the vantage point Of
a back stairway in japanese inn, and
the dance itself was an Informal rehcar-
sal before large mirror, and was inter
spcrsed by many little giggles, and
many Interruptions for the dancers to
play with tiny japanese baby who was
continually toddling In their way. From
that moment the fascinating little geisha
in their marvellous ceremonial robes, with
| golden tasscls glltterlng against their
| black hair, smiling with roughed lips
were very human girls to me. And when
that evening I saw them IN their profess
sional capacity. dancing before the guests
at the banquet, serving them with food
ard sake. always with the most perfect
Of bows. amusing them by their enchant-
| ing at the coquettish little game of jan
ken-Ko with the men guests, felt a per-
sonal interest in their lives which al
ways gave to the dance thereafter par
tlcular interest and charm.
Proba bly, you know that the geisha
girls are bought by their masters when
they are little children. and that their
training begins straightvay The object
Of their training Is to become beautiful,
graceful and fascinating. that they may
earn money as entertainers at feasts
| They must learn to dance and to sing
! and to play musical instruments. to he
| apt In conversation and to have beWitch-
/ Ing manners. Their training is very
! rigid. Sometimes on bitterly cold nights
the little girls who are TO become gelsha
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 impart desired tmbre to their
voices
The hours for their practice are long.
and their lessons hard. They must know
many. many dances and games and the
greater the number of their accomplish
ments. of course, the brighter is their
future. When they have learned to play
sufficiently we'll on a musical instru-
ment. they are sent out to feasts with
the older s-elsha. and as they take some
little mart in the music which accom-
panioe tho dance they observe. for ftI-
ture use. the manner Of the geisha to-
wards the guests. Tho money they re-
ceivc is given over 20 their master. He Il
Is who provides them with their gar
mohs. often Of irdesrrlbable beauty.
ONLY paisba nv virtue Of their profes-
sion. NAV wear such elaborate garments
and thew hcinhtcn the effect by many 1T
tie tricks Of dress. not permissible by
other women. lives so superficial have
always n tragic note. and the romances
Of tho little eoIsha are often unut,erably
sad The brightest future they NAV look
forward 10 is that tbcy sufficiently win
tha favor of sore man TO have him re.
Doom the,r Iiber.v
pu, n, the faost yh'1n they dance Mr.
sadness is apperen,. Imagine yoursel,
eootod M fine floor before q tiny table
n, Ioraneso honouet. and abou. &c
witness tho eo,sba dance for the first
limo poso,e Tho dancers enter Older
peisba moro soherIv dressed take their