The Glenwood post., 1924-06-05

xazz NJ
Marakito Was About to Do Honor u
the Foreign Engineer.
straw. You send 'em all my love,
Ray" He paused. "This'n give me q
chance to brush up my bushido: that's
the code Of honorable conduct, Ray,
and it's some long-winded affair"
The little shell-curving rooted tea
house of Fushiki was gay with Ian
terms. All of the panels had been re-
moved, and Wells took his place with
cut speech or welcome upon the zabu-
tom Of silk Marakito was about to
do honor to the foreign. engineer.
The room was brightly lighted,
which, Wells knew. was unusual, but
probably intended to give him the
white lights" which the Yankee ID
supposed to hold dear.
Finally Marakito, a. the host, broka
the silence with the consecrated
formula: "O-somatsu degozsrimssu
gal dozo o-hashi!" and all bowed ST.
lently, picked up their chopsticks and
began to eat the preliminary rice and
vinegared fish. The maids poured
warmed sake into the cups; not until
several of these had been drunk were
tongues loosened.
Then. with burst of laughter,
geisha entered. glided among the
guests with the triple prostration, and
began serving wine or brandy. All was
subdued, decorous. The dance, first,
of the great Shotgun Go-Toba, SO Sc
date, so wholly Oriental. Songs, ca
denced ancient Chinese poesy
And always wine was poured, that
warm, yellow drowsy wine that Allied
the guests with contentment, making
a faint sense of ecstasy through
which, as through some scented veil,
the geisha became more lovely, more
alluring and seductive.
Three geisha postured after famous
statues. Marakito remarked, as thu
second girl stepped down from the
little platform with a swishinE Of he,
silken kimono, that only the Orientala
could assume steady position fol-
minutes. Wells disagreed, asserting
that the nerves and muscles of the
Occident were just a. steady. Mara
kito challenged him to prove his point
Amid much laughter and gigglIna
Wells stood on the platform. A geishs
directed his pose, keeping him com
pany.
Wells did not hear, because Of thu
applause, the double click of the time
exposure Of camera. Marakito wal
making certain.
The white men. SO willy Marakitc
had discovered. were very different
from Japanese. They would not keeI
one In their employ who acted thus
no matter II 1t were after his day'l
Iaborings. The employers might dc
such things with impunity. provided
their women did not discover, but
what was permitted to themselves II,
II men were different, Notwithstanding
that one have money and the other
none, as Marakito knew was forbid
den their servants. And he knew, also
the Scotch were the sternest and mos
unforgiving. 1t would take time t.
send another engineer. That other
Willlams-would listen to gold In tht
meantime.
When do these birds get enough 2
Wells asked his chief some week
after the drst festival. "They aren'
such bad boys down In TakusakI
where I was born. Four weeks Wow
You know, Ray, when your hos
drinks, you drink. That's bushido
Honorable conduct. And my host hal
hollow legs. don't Just get the drif
Of 1t all. and must say that he's don,
things right. The wrestling matchs
I've seen. BY golly, there was q bl
boy last night that could swing 'sr
up by the belt and drop 'em ten fss
with q thumpi He looked fat, bu
strongl But you say they're lsavin
us In psace. and the Jobs going alon
In good shape now. That's worth
headache. anyhow"
II think this will be the last nigh
Bob," Williams said nervously. y
this came today"
Wells read the brief TELEGRAM
"Some one spilled the bsans,r he con
msntsl. BET It was old Narahit
himself. Thought you wrote Uncl
jim about II. Ray. xou did, dida
your