dual
art treasure, from the Godown in which the host's artistic treasures
are kept in a seclusion that his most intimate friends have never
penetrated. They have probably never seen the same picture or the same
ornament twice in the kakemono. From the soft mellow music of the old
gong which summons them to the repast, on through its various stages,
until the rare and beautiful bowl out of which they have had tea is
passed round for appreciative inspection, an air of refined repose
has characterised the whole proceedings.

[Illustration: General White And Staff On Black Monday.]

These social missionaries might progress from giving us some insight
into these things to the introduction of another institution which
would be an unquestionable advantage to our civilisation--I refer to
the Geisha. Supposing that they were successful in grafting this
Japanese idea, the Western edition would work out somewhat thuswise.
Take, for instance, a bachelor coming up from Oxford or Cambridge, or,
say, a merchant up from Liverpool or Manchester, instead of having a
solitary dinner at his club, if he wished for the relaxation of
vivacious female companionship, he would go to the telephone, and ring
up "Geishas, Limited," and send word that he wanted one, or more, for
dinner that evening. There would in due course, at the restaurant
appointed, appear a girl with the dress, appearance, and manners of a
lady. Whatever her looks might be, whatever her attractions, she would
unfailingly be bright, intelligent, well-mannered, and, above all,
entertaining, for her being entertaining would be her _metier_, her
occupation, her _raison d'etre_. And, contrary to what is frequently
supposed from a mistaken acquaintance with this Japanese institution,
she would not be in the least facile or accessible. Our ideas of
feminine Japan are too much based on the circumscribed experiences of
holiday travellers, or books of the bad taste of Pierre Loti's "Madame
Chrysantheme." We do not judge the women of England by Leicester
Square, nor of Paris by those of the Moulin Rouge. Amongst the
accomplishments of these Geisha girls music and singing would be most
important. There seems much more refinement and comfort in bringing
the music and singing to you than in going to the singing and music. A
party of men dining together would not be driven to adjourn to a
music-hall after dinner. They could order it as part of the menu.

But these Oriental missionaries, i