thin white paper, and tearing it so as to obtain two small
square bits, each an inch and a half in size, he rapidly twisted them so
as to rudely represent butterflies, and tossed them into the air.
Instantly drawing a fan from his girdle and spreading it, he kept them
suspended by its action in so remarkable a manner that it seemed as
though they must possess individual vitality. They were not permitted
to separate any great distance from each other, but the delicate force
of the fan was so scientifically applied as to guide them sometimes
from, and sometimes towards each other, now fluttering aloft as though
pursuing some object, then turning together as in a loving embrace, and
again separating, so that it was a marvel how the same hand could impart
the dual motion. Presently they were made to light upon an object close
at hand, the arm of one of the group of spectators, then dexterously to
rise again. But, most difficult of all, they would rest for an instant
on the tip of the fan itself, until promptly aided by the performer's
breath, the bits of paper were again launched into the air to go on with
their gyrations. The adroit performer never for one moment took his eyes
off the artificial insects: it would have broken the charm at once. In
using the fan, the juggler seemed scarcely to exert the muscles of the
arm at all. The effort came from the wrist, as an adroit swordsman
handles his weapon. Years of patient practice must have been required to
enable that man to impart vitality to bits of paper in such an
extraordinary manner.

Tokio, the political capital of Japan, is situated about twenty miles
from Yokohama, and November 3d, being the Mikado's birthday, we went
thither to see him review the local troops. A large field near the
citadel was chosen for the display, and all Tokio turned out to witness
it, forming about as conglomerate a mass of humanity as can be conceived
of; brilliant in its array of brightly dressed and painted women, not
ladies, for Tokio, like Paris, has its _demi-monde_. The number of
babies present was amazing. There were young mothers with their infants
strapped to their backs, and old women with their grandchildren
fastened to theirs. Each young boy and girl of nine or ten years had a
baby brother or sister secured to his or her back, and there were men
with babies in their arms, though this is unusual in Japan. The infantry
among the spectators outnumbered the infantry in the field. No ma