The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-11-10

would lose much Of their charm and
pleasing unconstraint. Except on very
rare occasions the wives or daughters
Of the japanese hosts never appear
at any OF the social gatherings among
the japanese of Honolulu, and but for
the geishas these affairs would be stag
parties 10 the limit. And the fair
geishas take full advantage Of the OPP
portunity their calling gives them. ana
many a match, interesting to the Cos
sips of japanese town, has been made,
for not infrequently have prominent
men shown their Partially for the
fair warblers In the most practical way
by marrying them The geisha girl
alone. of all her countrywomen, has
OWNED something Of the art of con-
versation and upon her powers as
conversationalist, more. possibly, than
her skill as a musician and her grace
as dancer, does she rely as an en-
tertainer-and as a wooer in the SUI
perman style.
There are twelve geisha girls in Ro-
nolulu. winsome maidens according TO
Japanese standards of winsomeness.
There is, owing to the fewness OF the
sisterhood in the city, almost a trust,
and the price for the services Of the
geishas for singing and dancing is
,rf9Ia oud c,,a67rrIa 4ha+ char0ed ir,
the homeland, being at the rate of
three dollars per hour. It is no won
der, then, that the income of these
girls ranges from one to two hundred
dollars a month.
The gelsha girl, as q result of the
training she has received, sometimes
beginning at the age of seven years,
is always beautifully costumed, the
colors of her garments harmonizing
beautifully. Bright and gaudy colors
find small favor, the kimonos in color
ranging from steel gray TO dark
brown, but the material used is the
very finest of silk and the obi and
the neckerchief are invariably of hue
that blends exquisitely with the main
garment The costume IF the Homo
lulu geisha girl seldom costs less than
one hundred dollars, exclusive of the
costly coral, tortoise-sheil and golden
hair ornaments. which cost almost as
much more. Fortunately for the girls. f.!
fashions change rarely, and two or |
three such costumes with care will |
last for years.
The dancing of the geishas is not /
dancing at all in the European sense
OF the word, but a series of graceful |
posturing, a pantomime illustration OF |
the song which always accompanies |
the dance. While one or more of the
girls dance, others play the samiser
and sing the story, for the dance and |
song are always illustrative of some
story. The fiuttering OF the butterfly
is illustrated by the futterfng kimono
sleeves and the quivering fans OF the
dancers; the plungrng of the waterfall.
the swaying of pine trees. wind toss
ed, and the ripping Of the waves. all
are portrayed in the graceful uudula-
tons OF the dancers. keeping perfect
time TO the simple notes of the musi-
clans.
The favorite subjects of the japanese
muse are the flowers. the birds. the
STOW, tne moon, the falilng leaves Of
autumn, the mist on the mountains: in
fact, the outward aspects of nature
love. Of course, and the shortness of
1'nan life. Songs TO the eyebrows Of
a beloved mistress or odes to the
Cupid bow of her lips are unknown,
while TO even hint at kissing would be
so decidedly improper that no poet,
however ardent with poetic fire. has
even dared to hint at such. Many of
the odes. to the singing of which the
geishas dance, are mere exclamations,