Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

32 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

"SKETCHES IN LONDON.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

"SKETCHES IN LONDON. THE JAPANESE JtJGGLERS. (By one of our London Correspondents.) When the Japanese ambassadors were in England they were followed by a crowd of people who stared at their strange dresses and stranger faces. But the am- bassadors were silent men, and the most that the gazers at them could make out about them was that they were queer-looking. When, therefore, men of the Bame grave-looking race, come to our city and perform peculiar feats of legerdemain and acrobatic agility, and at the same time condescend to explain and elucidate their performances in their own language, it may be guessed that the interest is more intense, and the crowd greater than before, and that a London public does not grudge either one shilling or five to behold the marvellous and novel spectacle. The Japanese jugglers have taken up their abode in St. Martin's Hall, and adapting themselves to foreign customs have erected a huge gas transparency over the doorway, which lights up Long Acre like noon-day. But to give the accessories a more Oriental aspect, the entrance-ball has been hung with innumerable paper hnterM of diversifieù shapes and colours, and tbe soft and mellow light from these, falling upon the gay o era cloaks and many-hued dresses of the ladies who pass beneath, presents us with a scene as picturesque as it is unusual. When I entered the hall a consider- able number of people had gathered to witness tbernew strange performances, and as the hour approached which was advertised as the time *or fencing, the audience momentarily increased. The interior had been decorated PaPer lanterns of the same type as those below, upon which were painted landscapes in toiliar to us in the willow pattern plate..bight o clock came, but with it no signs of the Japanese—punc- tuality evidently being a virtue unknown in the far Eaet, or, at, least, if known, not practised by its representatives on the present occasion. By-and- by, the pianist appeared, and treated us to some Bausic of the usual concert-room type. One would have supposed that when everything else was so thoroughly Oriental in character, that Mr. Marquis Chisholm would have been engaged to give us some Japanese airs as studied on the spot. But either Mr. Marquis Chisholm was unwilling to come, or the management was unwilline to ask him, and, instead of the tunes which sound in Yeddo or Kagosima, we had Slap Bang," and Won't you marry me ?" How- ever, the music was well executed, and those who did *i?' Care ^8*en to it could pass the time in studying the scenic accessories. And very peculiar these ac- cessories were. To begin at the top, there was up at the ceiling what appeared to be a very small coffin composed of various coloured woods arranged in draught-board pattern, and round this box or coffin there was a sort of red night-shirt, while from it there Jttmg a cord which reached the stage. Upon the stage there was errcted a concern like a builder's scaffold, Composed of four poles with cross-bars joining them at and beneath there was a long, low table, crvered with a cloth of red and black pattern. In the back ground there was a magnifieent collection °* t°T a from the smallest tee-totum size up to the cart- Whtel stzp, while round the rear there stood, supported on props, what seemed to be a complete miniature Japanese village, with houses and mills, and boats, all many as heart could desire. And the whole was en- closed with a folding screen, on which were depicted orests and highways, and ploughed fields in endless BUrrot)nded by a border of yellow moons on Mr k sky, and red stars en a blue sky. Perhaps his screen was J apanese in execution—I cannot tell— ot the red stars bore a marvellous resemblance to those on the permanent decorations of the hall, and e perspective was rather too good to accord with pre- ous knowledge of Japanese drawing. j. t length, as time was rapidly flying, a British au- took the liberty of enlightening the illustrious eigners as to the British method of showing im- patience, and kept up a vigorous stamping on the floor, until at last the performers appeared. Slowly *ad solemnly they inarched up the little platform Wt-w ,up in» long line before the loot-lights..When all had taken their places, at a wgnal from their leader they dropped down into a lIort of squatting position, sitting upon their heels while their knees rested on the boards, and then at a Second signal bent slowly forward until their foreheads touched the floor. This was their obeisance. Hav- Jog resur ed the squatting posture, the leader J>egan a io jg discourse in his own tongue, and the la erpreter or rather showman informed us) expressed the pleasure which they had in seeing many spectators, and expressed a hope that their crmances would be satisfactory. The worthy Cr»?-8 Ifn^Ua^e resembled bad French, with a dash of ug *nd was uttered with marvellous PB.fi1 i i? aided by a considerable amount of i 011- When he had concluded his oration iinrvT'tQp 1_repeate<^ their salaam, and, with the same J J gravity with which they had entered, trowel e 8t"r again and disappeared. The smr«.l!e™=«.C0*n*H>,S(* twelve members, comprising from fVm nL, v° three women—although, of their national attire, it «« extremely difficult to say which were men and which w £ PeD; This national dress consists of a long e^lvWtoCtb^ie c^e.of^eme/», hangs loosely and into# fi' anm.in women is girt Wore a^tm-f1 f°K'\ mal.e members, as a rule, also brifht wJ•i',hor1t.tlPPet of cloth of gold, or some shoulder to tif w^lc^ Bto°d straight out from each ■eemed to hi 6xtent of about a foot- Every hue .med to be represented on the stage, and the general Were verv r> i indeed. Their faces also We Z7oZ of thafc tyP' to which we domestic tea tray° acca8tomed by means of the ^ter a long and wearisome time of wait- anc'eR■'ch?r8e intimated that the perform- the fo«r, l begin by a national dance, ana two of VIBTT- members of the company appeared. One, uaving seated herself in a corner, began to play upon wnat seemed to be a tin banjo with one string, accom- Paying the discord thus produced by one still greater Bong. Then it became evident that we had been "Pared the Japanese music at the beginning, out of Kindly consideration. The other then began to dance hornpipe very much like a burleeque upon Jacky Aar executed by a drunken fishwife, and when theøe tw° had exerted themselves till they were tired they D4lnl8?hPe"ed; • were succeeded by Asi-Kitchi-Sau the great juggler of the troupe, who Performed some of the national tricks of legerdemain, of tv?n i *J>^fiare(ui l e<lu»tted himself upon the top forr« j i • w ich occupied the centre of the plat. 1an *nd having_ surrounded himself with little black ^Panned boxes, began. He first took up a sheet of th« A' having kindled it, held it in his hand until am* came close. He then, apparently, rolled a»L»Cr*Pv remaining into a little ball, and flung it kiban^i W m 'rom there issued dosens of little n. These were drawn out and out to the usual .terminable length, and at last were gathered together 10 a round ndass, when suddenly the fire was still to be burning among them, and upon beine ■ei*ed by one c«rner and stretched out they resolred rh^mselves into a Japanese lantern. Loud app]aUse ioUOWed this trick, for it was cleverly done. Then •jfere was more and more producing of ribands, 7* greater and greater width, until the juggled "at almost concealed from view. All at onee A explosion occurred among them, and «-J £ itchi.Sau disappeared, leaving in his place a cJlge. extended umbrella, from behind which there on»? monstrous beast which devoted itself assidu- etching rermin. upon unlikely parts of its itself11-' *After a little while, this creature resolved aort ,a fepoy-looking individual who danced a Pullo^ dance, at the conclusion of which he rnjto- °? a mask and revealed the features of the toD.Brt& JUg?ler: ^hen he had retired, Gauesee, the & ier.t0 *he Tycoon, made his appearance, and trick, k ? wonderful performance. To relate all the but th« would only be to wAry the reader, of all tn^Cue ™ent. on a '*w may be interesting. First incr Tr,n4.i„ naving been set a going by receiving a twirl* two litti b1" fingers, kept dancing to tune upon hand • ingB butter sticks which he held in his ahoulA.-0 0 JPJ gyrated up one arm, across his al oUlders,. and down the other arm; tops wandered Points • +m ree twirled steadily upon their i^discrimin.? i*pan °pon their P°lnta °r fl»* ends span oKnv » top climbed over another and k«pt spinning 'whFi* al°u^ the of fan and *lown thin ni™ ? lfc was being opened tops glided the floor l" and hummed heirtily on Cn th« 'nlf aU a ^P twirled away merrily and I,HJ;IT FAAHIarp sword. Gaeusee was loudly »n mn ii j cheered when his performance came to Wa, u-e7edly; „ PQrin8 the whole display he fir^nf T 7 bW° wh0 kePt up a running ?.ra^° wei1 "g0 on Portion nf^ retired, the acrobatic and gymnastic formal? company came on the stage. Their per- be witmfo* ^6-re 110 near]y equal to many which may Penny booth at a country fair in chief V m*y acceuntedfor because the been disabled by an accident which hitoself^ H«Drf v.Voyage' and was unable to exert what he could in the way of encour- *is fine dress, shouting b!1°W the ?cfFoldin? Waving his hand in ^knLl t0P °J ^LlunKB»1 and Which greeted the effortTofe^ A appl^8# SS ss J^thpir mouths, and used them vigorously L the most Jjt.ely positions, whenever opportunity occurred! ES bau% moreover, seems to be at even a greater discount ™ Japan than it is in England, if one may judge from .extraordinary wig composed of a piece of a ver- milion door-mat which adorned the remarkable couaten- of one of the tumblers. It must be confessed that 18 part of the evening's amuiflment was somewhat a t° the flesh, but it came to an end and the exhibitor informed us that we would next be treated to WPareie.b&llad after the style of Lord Lovel.' The *°t°r« Ui this piece were G-aeusee's two children, the whom was a little urchin Besrcely three years ,e elder little better than six. These two themselves down, and the elder began the same J:nelancholy strumming which had ushered in the first bv tk J^eentei-tainment, and was vigorously seconded somT+kil i-.one' kept up a constant bawling, The JaniL of a bad pair of bagpipes, by the sincruT attendant sa«pied to be mightily affected portion cf the °r scr*eohiBg' and tfae ^ritiih edification and instrn1^09 uwere «|Uallyamu8ed; so Well When thev h S n 8 oombmed, all was and performed lianv Jktired' »gain appeared Worthy of mention wa^hinW°- feats. Especially < £ a piece of string, a^ fcpiaTg a °5 perpendicular cord whichT «au*l° £ ascend coffin box at the from thIcheqr^ Wooden Bides into the interfi t ?8t W Was i.nri i his greatest feat caused at y Bome means or other ho cCecteVtuP £ ° »l°Z tramway which CSlthe h0U8f-8 tbe+ W»t«e Japanese vil* it pasTf1 Ze notlctd at the, ^8mning, and made U had^i °u t0 h°U8?' a°d fr°m tower to tower, little door ^ru every e^vation, and visited every PlaudJfp^ t\-u lhl8 doDe be retired amid the heartv Sed t the wdience-but Asi-Kitchi-Sau soon reS w'as°t°kaclu1d1 the Performance. Hia final dis- t)oni off^»i r, ceiebrated butterfly trick." Having {h* w°Uttle scraps of paper h»*et them moving by vawtta of two fep#, antil it actually seemed as if they were alive! They flew high and low; steadily and flatteringly; and danced along the edges of his fans just as pleased him and however he turned his wrist—a more perfect imitation of insect life was never shown. I venture to predict a great success for the Japanese troupe both in London and Paris. Their entertain- ment is in every sense unique—and novelties are but rare. Londoners and strangers ought alike to pay St. Martin's Hall a visit, and seize this chance of behold- ing the amusements and skill of the natives of the far East.

THE SNIDER GUN.

THE FORTHCOMING EXHIBITION.

iARCHDEACON ALLEN'S GRIEVANCE!

PHEASANTS OUT OF SEASON!

A LETTER FROM MR. BRIGHT.

SEVEN THOUSAND POUNDS DAMAGES!

A MURDER BY BUSHRANGERS.

THE FENIAHJAID IN KERRY.

[No title]

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ROSA BONHEUR'S HORSE FAIR…

TEMPERING JUSTICE WITH MERCY!

Family Notices

THE AZTECS. -

POISONING DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

EDUCATION IN AUSTRIA.

A COMFORTABLE VIEW OF THINGS!

ARTISANS' AND LABOURERS' DWELLINGS.

AN EXAMPLE WORTH FOLLOWING!

ADVERTISING FOR CURATES!

GALLANT BEHAVIOUR.

A HORRIBLE DEATH.

A SPECIMEN OF RED-TAPEISM,

SUICIDE OF A YOUNG LADY AT…

SINGULAR ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH…

A CHILD'S UNAFFECTED ELOQUENCE;

. PROFLIGACY AND CRIME.

AN ENTERPRISING AMERICAN!

THE CHINESE IN CALIFORNIA.

A STARTLING FACT FOR THE LADIES:

--, THE MARKETS.