Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1908-06-18

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spurns her. and the curtain is drawn,
To the solemn banging Of a drum, and
the high pitched mournful song OF
some one In the distance.
DanIiro owns the finest curtain In
japan. presented TO him by the Geisha
Of Toxic. who each gave a hundred
yen. IL 10 Of silk. embroidered as only
Japanese know how. and to see. well
worth the price Of admission.
The entire lower npor OF the theates
In divided into little boxes. about four
feet square, By partitions not more
than four o. 1--WE inches high. About
I'VE yen are paid for these boxes, and
they hold four people. who knee, ON
mating rugs.
The best seats are the boxes along
the sides OF the balcony, which also
hold four people. and cost six yen.
As a yen Is worth so cents OF Amer
lean money. II may be seen that the
prices OF japanese theaters, by com
parison with those OF Europe or Amer
lea. are very reasonable.
At this juncture our ears are as
sailed by the most heart -rending
sounds that chill the blood In our
veins. II is the European orchestral
The smiling guide tells US: Euro
pean orchestra very nice-Japanese
people like very much"
Who's meddled NIT my drom-
bone?" roars a musician.
"oi did" said Paddy. Here ye've
been for two hours tryin' TO pull II
apart. an OF did IL In wan minut!"
A sharp noise. made by striking two
pieces OF hard wood together an
nounces that the next act Is about
TO begin. The intervals between acts
are usually about ten minutes.
AS the curtain is drawn aside, the
pieces OF wood tap together faster
and faster, until the stage IL dis
closed
This time II il a house, the front
open. chrysanthemums growing about
the door. At intervals the shrill note
Of an insect is heard.
sata, the great actor, is seated on
the eoor; he Is In q state OF intoxica-
ton. and keeps drinking from q bot
tie In front Of him.
His fsther-in-law 10 pleading with
him to grant a divorce to his daugh-
ter. Is his constant intoaication and
nl-treatment Of her are hard To bear.
The drunxard refuses. and the scene
between the men Is a powerful one,
. knowledge Of the language being un.
necessary In order to appreciate their
really great acting.
The revolving stage, used In all
japanese theaters, is seen In this act,
As the entire stage turns. bringing into
view different scene, the old mans
house.
The play proceeds through several
acts. to European or American, In
rather a dis1ointed manner. and with.
out much sequence. but with no lack
o. nne acting.
Just before the last act, the ushers
bring in the sandals and clogs that
have been checked. SO there will be no
and delay when the theater
s out
But three days are allowed for re-
nearsal. and in that ums they must
~ letter perfect. for a Japanese audi |
nee Is q critical one.
Appreciation is announced by clap.
ne the hands, but audible comments
ire frequent.
When We 20 out, our rickshaw-
men. wrapped in their rugs. hurry
rom the gallery where they have
'een enjoying the play. The orches.
IA and the electric lights are not
he only Innovations In this theater.
he idea Of a play Of modern japan
So life Is entirely new. and wa were
ortunate in seeing the frst perform.
nee OF one of the few modern plays
yer enacted IL Japan.