The Land of the Tatami
by George T Murray (9780217085397)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: I really do believe that if an enterprising Japanese would start one of our " Nigger Minstrel" performances, the idea would take. The sons (and daughters) of this land like broad humour. It should of course be in the native style. Niggered, that is blackened, foreign clothes; samiscn, koto, and Japanese music, Japanese puns, innuendos, are takusan. There is a fortune here awaiting an energetic man in that line I anticipated with mixed feelings of joy and anxiety the event of a Gotzo being given in my honour, by my numerous friends, previous to my departure, and right enough, it was to be. A feast f As things turned out, I came away with comparatively little damage. Let me describe it: The formal invitation accepted, you are asked which of the many fine tea-houses is your favourite one. Having ascertained that fact, steps are taken to make the feast a grand success. At the appointed date and hour, one of the hosts will perhaps come to your dwelling and fetch you. When I arrived at the festive hall my friend F asked me if I would not like a hot bath. Nothing loth, I agreed, and there and then was led to one of the many bathrooms, where I boiled away for about ten minutes. I was then asked if I had any mortal objection to donning a kimono, or rather yukata, to which I replied: " Kashikomarimashita " The first things I saw on entering were my old friends the tatami, of which there were over sixty, and seated on their broad bosoms were my genial hosts, flanked on both sides by numerous friends, who had come there to meet me. The seat of honour was reserved for me. Kneeling on a soft leather cushion, I gave greeting in the ceremonial style to all and everyone. Everything is quiet;the hosts sit like sphinxes: mute, solemn. Then a flight of pretty little maids make thei...

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