Salt Lake Tribune | 1904-05-01 | Page 24 | On the Street in Japan

On the Street in Japan. When one's work Is done, there is left the mild excitement of walking up the great alimentary canal of Nlkko. All that Is doing in Nlkko may be seen. On the-'veranda of a house madam Is having hav-ing her bath, hor head sticking up above the steaming water. The youngsters young-sters in their original suits are hailing you. "Sinko san, ohiyo!" "Mr. Stranger, good day." An array of great gilt lotus flowers and leaves on long stems shows that a member 'of the family within Is dead. In the front room, unprotected from the street, one sees tho square kagoliko box In which, with knees against the breast, the last Journey Is taken. A bevy of gaily dressed geisha girls, with attendants carrying kotos and samlsens, are bound for some dinner or entertainment, their halrv black and shiny and fined with brlglit ornaments, their faces and necks white with rice powder and their lower lips bright with scarlet paste. They are chattering in the shrill, penetrating voices which are peculiar to them. Tho merchant steps out from his shop to tell you he has some new Kakemona or carving to show, antiques from 300 years old to those so recent that the lacquer Is hardly dry. "Step In, sir," cries a young man, waving his hand In ,the air as he paints "with an imaginary brush an imaginary picture, "and seo how Japanese artist using his brush " He hands you his card and you are pleased to read the motto of his house Is "Earnest Is the best policy." "I was waiting for you," sayo a pretty girl, smiling, will you please come my shop. I have brack racker and red racker trays. Yes, very pretty." She spends all her time In front of her shop between be-tween the two bridges. If she sees ono cross either bridge she Is already waiting wait-ing when he has crossed. No one escapes. es-capes. Charles Hovey Pepper, In the World of Today.