I Never Saw Anything More Completely Like A Fairy
Scene, The Undulating Waves Of Lanterns As They Swayed Along, The
Soft Lights And Soft Tints Moving Aloft In The Darkness, The
Lantern-Bearers Being In Deep Shadow.
This festival is called the
tanabata, or seiseki festival, but I am unable to get any
information about it.
Ito says that he knows what it means, but is
unable to explain, and adds the phrase he always uses when in
difficulties, "Mr. Satow would be able to tell you all about it."
I. L. B.
LETTER XXX
A Lady's Toilet - Hair-dressing - Paint and Cosmetics - Afternoon
Visitors - Christian Converts.
KUROISHI, August 5.
This is a pleasant place, and my room has many advantages besides
light and cleanliness, as, for instance, that I overlook my
neighbours and that I have seen a lady at her toilet preparing for
a wedding! A married girl knelt in front of a black lacquer
toilet-box with a spray of cherry blossoms in gold sprawling over
it, and lacquer uprights at the top, which supported a polished
metal mirror. Several drawers in the toilet-box were open, and
toilet requisites in small lacquer boxes were lying on the floor.
A female barber stood behind the lady, combing, dividing, and tying
her hair, which, like that of all Japanese women, was glossy black,
but neither fine nor long. The coiffure is an erection, a complete
work of art. Two divisions, three inches apart, were made along
the top of the head, and the lock of hair between these was combed,
stiffened with a bandoline made from the Uvario Japonica, raised
two inches from the forehead, turned back, tied, and pinned to the
back hair.
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