The Detroit times., 1909-01-16


VI TO John Foster Morden. a free
born American. visiting Nip
pom. for the first time, on the, other
hand, they were pregnant with mean
Ing. Translated into the vernacular
of the well-intentioned but somewhat
impulsiye young man they would have
stood for bower OF beauty, crea-
ton OF nature as nearly approaching a
mundane paradise. as II Is possible for
earthly things To do. Filled TO the
full with a realization OF the floral
splendor OF the realm OF the mikado,
Morden resolved TO take trip from
Toxic TO kxnto- TO view the celebrated
Gion night cherry In the latter city and
10 join the admiring throng OF natives
that gathers around the famous tree
nightly during it's Towering period.
The evening after his arrival found
him early at the post Of observation
comfortable seat In jinrickisha
that was yet uncomfortable. as he had
TO bend his head far backward in or
der TO get a good view OF the graceful
blossoms. Vari-colored lanterns had
been elevated on the roles among the
branches and shed feeble light on an
animated scene. The rich and the
Loor-all were here assembled in wor.
ship of the beautiful. Though they
talked in tongue that was unintelii-
gible TO him, he felt that he was
sharing their sensations and thinking
their thoughts. And when the full
moon broke through the stragg Inns
clouds and flooded the whole pano-
rama with her silver light. even the
chattering multitude was impressed.
Voices and laughter were hushed and
for the moment Flora, queen of spring,
reigned supreme.
When Morden returned to the Gion
cherry afoot the following afternoon.
he was not yet free from the spell OF
the previous evening. He was in the
mood some psychologists have term
ed receptive and not disposed to quar-.
rel with the Creator for having made
the land of chrysanthemums.
Traversing the grounds OF little
park In the vicinity on his way 10 the
beautiful tree he was suddenly rooted
10 the spot by sight upon which he
gazed' with unfeigned delight. In a
jinrickisha. drawn by one of the UNI
firing human horses of Japan. sat a
geisha engaged in a conversation with
another public dancer, as Morden read
lily discerned from the latter's butter
fly garments. With her jet black hair
fair regular features that were bare
ly tinged with a touch of olive, and
pearly teeth she appeared to him the
incarnation of all that is beautiful in
Japanese womanhood. The girls, OBJ.
liyious 10 his presence, were engaged
In an animated conversation, punctuat.
ed with laughter He watched every
gesture of the pretty occupant of the
little cart and mentally observed that
II was the poetry OF motion. So Ell
crossed was he In the contemplation
Of the pretty scene before him. that
he did not notice the signs OF restless
ness on the part OF the maidens. that
indicated plainly the interview was
drawing 10 a close. When he did. he
felt alarmed. Ii was mere
matter of curiosity. he said TO himself,
that he wanted 10 see where the pref
~ girl lived A look al the robust
jinrickisha man, who was stolidly
awaiting the word OF command that
would start him on the run OF a mile
or two, convinced Morden that he
would have to select man OF equal
vigor did he not want 10 lose sight of
his little beauty, Luckily. in Japan,
wherever the foreigner Is. there is the
jinrickisha man also. No sooner had
the jin-son beckoned TO one of these
fellows in the distance, when they
came running from all directions. Gag
erly profferlng their services In fact
their ardor in quest of fare came
near precipitating a fight which was
only averted when the foreign gen
tleman" scattered small coin widely
among them. This maneuver ex-
cited the hilarity OF the ladies',
and the one In the conveyance
was still laughing when she gave
her ricksha man the signal to start.
Ii was as though a statue had come
10 life. The stolidity OF the fellow
vanished In trice sHe had observed
the hiring OF his rival and guessed at
the gentleman's purpose. Al sign
from Morden his jinrickisha man was
ready to take up the pursuit OF his
fair countrywoman. Both OF these
sturdy fellows took a deep breath
and then the race began. The speed
these iron-sinewed men developed
was marvellous. In and out OF mar
row lanes, up and down garden paths,
now lodging this obstruction, now
avoiding that. nearly coming into col
lision with other 'rickshas, vending
tnel way Ill anu OUT VI the suIslle
population. past playing children. as
IL guided by intuition thus this race
of the painting rivals OF Kyoto was
run. AT first the geisha. not under
standing the object OF this celebrity
was alarmed. When backward
glance brought comprehension, she
was amused and finally interested.
Her eyes glistened and she cheered
on her human steed TO greater exer-
ton. But the pursuer was spurred
on by a promise of extra reward. in
case he should overtake his rival
Gradually he gained on the latter un-
Ill il was clear that persistence had
won again, as 1t has so many times
the world over. Slowly the two jim
ricKlishas. one following the other, ap-
preached the dwelling of the geisha
reaching which the graceful woman.
sprang lightly TO the ground. paid the
man quickly and vanished into the
house. Morden. unconscious OF the
fact that he was being observed by
dozens OF mischievous eyes from be-
hind drawn jealousies. had the disap-
pointed look OF man who Is sudden
ly transported from the delights OF a
dream to grim reality. But he knew
enough OF the iniexible etiquette OF
Japan to be aware that an Intrusion
into the dancers and singers abode
was out of the question. He might re-
sort TO the nearest teahouse and send
for her to entertain him, but to do
that ne would have TO know her name.
SO he engaged the man who had sery-