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28 THE WONDERFUL CITY OF TOKIO.
The elder of the musicians had two instruments called
tsudzumi, one of which she held over her right shoulder, and
the other under her left arm. The younger played the
samisen (guitar) with a piece of ivory, shaped like a fan. The
dancer performed some graceful evolutions that quite pleased
the spectators, then suddenly, the trio began to sing.
Oh, dear! " exclaimed Mrs. Jewett. "Let us move on.
I knew the}' were going to do it! Their dancing is pretty
enough, but why do they not learn our music?"
"I am sure we are endeavoring to do so," smilingly replied
"
Oto. Have we not a musical college in the Kaga yashiki,
and good Professor Luther W. Mason to teach our rising
generation what you call music. We are doing our level best
to civilize ourselves after the American fashion/'
"Just listen to them," said the Professor, who was regarding
the performance with profound attention. "There is a
world of meaning in their songs. Fitz, you have a quick ear,
what does the sound convey to you?"
The boy laughed and bluntly responded,
"Well, sir, they are saying that the mist vanishes swiftly
before the glory of the rising sun, but, if I did not know the
language, I should imagine they had eaten some unripe fruit
and were describing their symptoms.*'
"Fitz," sternly replied his father; "do not indulge in
levity. The music of the Japanese is a study well worthy of
your attention."
The boy looked very penitent, and as he quitted the place,
said,
" I did not intend to be disrespectful, sir. I only said what
I thought."
" He is quite right," remarked Mrs. Jewett.
f
Their songs
sound more like the wail of an agonized spirit than anything I
ever heard."