A Japanese Present To The American Minister

The Yokohama eorrespondcnee of the Nevada BnterptiM, in an account of an entertaininent friven to Minister DeLong by a power Japahese Princo, says : Upou alighting, wc were greeted with cordial welconic and especial politeness, and at once wero cscortccl to the reoeption and entertainment room, where we found actor., jufrgfler3, musicians, and at least fiftj1 d.lrk yod, singing girls, inBtruOted to minister to the wants or amusement of the guests. Aftcr a brief prelude from their orchostru the troupe of jugglers appeared btííoré us and porfonned countless feats of legerdemain with a doxteiity surprising to na all. The most peculiar and artistic foat was called the " Magie Butterfly" nnl as I had seon tho tilch attüiuptod by Japanese and '"hini'K!! t home, wie surpassing skill n 1 nLatne3 of the gruv.' and serious looking performer provokcd my wurmest admiiation. Indeed, the scienoe of this fellow as i'ar exceüdod'the weak iittempts 1 h id beforu witnessedj as tho wondrous dniinatic rcpri'suntiitions of ïloit. Boli Dowefy or UeOru,'.! Oaiíl, lííq., did the stalü eloquenco of Poivst, Booth, or MoKeatH Buuhaoaé. 'lile artiat tooh pieoeg of silk gfttfee and Jnode them int imitotion Imttuill en. Ua u low table liu amuiiföd ome böuquets of flowors, and his preparatiuni -wfTv uomllc-ti:. pteppjrig back a fow paees he unfoldcd a fan, und instantly tho air was tilli'd with tliu automaton inseets. Slow[y waived tht air endowed wand and wliili: some of tho lutterlies ciroled iround and above his hèad, others songht thecarUation budsof the bemquets, lingorod lovingly oh e;ieh bright blossom an instant) groupod on a largo rose, ftuttered as in Higbt, and at last ut a geutle motion of tho muiter, flew to his side and were slowly gftthered together. It was simply iwtouishing, and our hearty applause obtaiaed a repetition of the artist's ikill. Muanwhile the feast had begun, ftnd as the wino eirculated actors displayed their uiorits, young girls touched the national Buitur with tender molödy, national and war songs Were chantt-d, flreWorks of exceediög beauty gleamed in the entwining foliagei at least two scoreof lovely youiig gitls swayed liither and thither in the volüptuous dance of thcir clan, and, in brief, we were entertained in a style far eseeadingf that of iny provious feast which. it has been my gwod fortune to attend. As the sparlding wiue telaxcd the soaiability of our keen-ejad host, he asked the intertiivter to inquirí! of the Minister which of tUe girls hc deemed the loveliest. The question was a delicate one, and the diplorat hesittiied ; but on being pressed he pointed out a tall, lithe, graceful mrl, whose eyes, shaded by drooping lashes, di"olo(?d OCcasionally flashes of lightning fervor, and whose carnation lips, faultleSs features and ill-concealed bust would have thrilled an iceberg. " Slie is yonrs ! " cried the Takonin. " Advauce to your inastor ! " Instautly, With face dyed with crimson, she advanced to the soat of the Minister, pros. trated her buautiful face to the matting and knelt, his willing slave. We were all filled with astonishment, s this episode unfolded a curious and novel phase of Japaneee life. L'pon being questioned the host said it Was ttsu.il to make such gifts to honored friends ; that tho next day he should visit the pareiltsof the girl, pay them twoor threo tiuudied ríos (a rio is onc dollar and six conts, gold), secure her future plotlUng and food, and ill was well. So that, wli:Uiür tho girl bo taken as a concubine or as a servant, it w'.is all that Va requirod. PeLong, öf course, dnr.lincd the lirtflijtiful gift, with manyeMMfuwsiOBKtf Uiahks; but I snw HiS eve gliston, :md I knew h' wus hUntiin ■- yet anybody would bt.' hnm:m- und I knew that the ïvfusal to u:cept the thrilKtlg tribute was on a pur with my invn youthful disciplino, whon my sa'nted motlior used to cautioii. int' nijver to accept the second ]i(ec of ïilinco lic when ilitiing out. It' 1 liad boen sta ïgnorant orphan, 1 should döiibtlesa have iot töo iiiUoii píe.