Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1912-05-09

derly plan, and nothing SensatlOnal
or tough allowed to be shown. Far
worse exhibitions of depravity can be
found for little money In any Am
erican city. In Toxic the girls are
on display each evening, in show
windows near the sidewalk or street.
Each establishment presents it's
stock of attractions in row, the
girls being dressed alike. There
would be blue group, a yellow clus-
ter and red bunch. They all smok-
ed cigarettes, had their hair done up
in fancy style, and warmed their fin
gers over braziers. Entrance Is at
a side door, and as we passed along
the street many pairs of wooden san
dals were seen on the stoops, out
side, the owners having gone in.
This same municipal arrangement
prevails in all the larger cities, and
ports of entry, but in the interior of
the country no such plan is followed.
There is much greater laxity.
Moving Pictures
In Toxic the main shopping and
business street is the Gina. There
are enormous steel signs in electric
and other devices; cafes, theatres,
stores and other places are beauti-
fully lighted at night. The street
| cars are crowded. Moving picture
shows abound, and the Japanese peo-
pie are intensely interested in the
sights and stories coming from other
parts of the world. At Kobe we
saw a performance in which there
were motion pictures, the descriptive
story of each being told by an en-
ploye, recited rapidly from the stage
as the picture was unrolled. After
wards there was part or act of an
old play, and dance. The whole
entertainment could be seen for 10
sen Is cents), best seat in the house
k-which was crowded. The men
kept their hats on during the perfor-
nance and all smoked, if they chose.
They applauded liberally. The finest
Theatre in Japan is at Toxic, with
European music, but presenting Jap
anese plays. It draws crowded
houses continually, people coming
from all parts Of the Empire to see
the best and latest in Japanese dra-
ma. The plays are mostly unintel.
ligible to foreigners.
Imperial University
One of the grestest of Tokdo's
public buildings is the Imperial Mu.
scum, divided into four departments
The collections in each are enormous
and some of them surprisingly beau.
tiful. Every art and industry OF
Japan is here fully illustrated by
specimens and materials. The prem.
ises cover 26 acres. The Imperial
University has extensive buildings
and grounds, and is fully equipped
to give students a thorough course
in higher education. Many of the
professors are Europeans. Law
medicine, engineering, science and
| philosophy are taught. In one OF
the rooms of the Museum we saw an
art student carefully copying the In.
dian buffalo hunt design shown on
the skin of an American bison. Close
to the University are horticultural
gardens where; grand chrysanthe'
mum shows are held each autumn.
In Asakusa Park is a favorite popu.
lar temple, dedicated to the Goddess
of Mercy, whose tiny statuette is in
diminutive contrast to the immense
size of the building. Along In the
same street is an aquarium, a high
tower, jugglers' stands, and acrobata
"a real Japanese Coney Island.
The Cherry Blossoms
We passed along the embankment
on the Sumida river, where the cher
~ trees were planted In the 18th
century, but the blossoms were not
out. During April the place is a
scene Of continual festivity, as the
japanese have q special love for the
| white cherry blossom. The annual
wrestling matches occur in May and
January. The wrestlers who are
present champions are enormously
Ifat men. Their contests cause the
greatest excitement Of any sporting
event. The Maple Dance at the Ma
pie Cuba japanese dinner included,
is fashionable entertainment cost
! ing from IS to SIS or $40.
There are newspapers in Toxic in
English. but their local news ia
scarce, the printed matter outside OF
extensive advertising patronage be-
ing mostly reprint Of foreign state