. Japan, a record in colour . f wood 8 or 9 feet in length, 3 feet broad,and about 6 inches through, and have it carved in themost beautiful and magnificent chrysanthemum patternever seen—for the hall was of chrysanthemums. Hiseyes sparkled as he said, You are going to have berrynumber one house ; must have one big number onepiece chrysanthemum carving—better than any othercarving, better than temple carving. The Sake passedround, the geishas danced, and Inchie talked, whilewith every cup he grew brighter and brighter, and hiseyes sparkled like jewels. I was beginning to see thereal Inchie. Wa
. Japan, a record in colour . f wood 8 or 9 feet in length, 3 feet broad,and about 6 inches through, and have it carved in themost beautiful and magnificent chrysanthemum patternever seen—for the hall was of chrysanthemums. Hiseyes sparkled as he said, You are going to have berrynumber one house ; must have one big number onepiece chrysanthemum carving—better than any othercarving, better than temple carving. The Sake passedround, the geishas danced, and Inchie talked, whilewith every cup he grew brighter and brighter, and hiseyes sparkled like jewels. I was beginning to see thereal Inchie. Was this really the litde man, the laughing-stock of the hotel, bullied and sworn at by every one ?He talked of Hookosai, who, he asserted, was not thegreat master that he is universally considered to be inEurope. Hookosai was too realistic; many otherartists were far finer. Yet another cup of Sake waspassed round and drained. I will demonstrate someHookosai pictures, said little Inchie, in a tone of 184 A SWEET-STUFF STALL. Workers suppressed excitement; and, stepping behind a screenas he spoke, reappeared almost immediately with ahandkerchief rolled round his head and his kimonotucked up, posing in the attitude of one of the mostcelebrated of Hookosais pictures. Twenty or thirtypictures were represented, and in each he was a differentman merely by changing the muscles of his face. Neverhave I seen such acting in my life ; he was like a galleryof Hookosais pictures rolled into one, with all theirqueer exaggeration. More Sake was drunk, and later in the eveningInchie became so excited that, in order to work offhis condition, he made the remarkable proposal thathe should show me a devil dance. When he emergedfrom behind the screen, the geishas were frightenedand drew back in alarm ; for he was no longer thegentle little monkey merchant, but a real devil. Asfor the dancing, I never saw anything so superblyfine! It almost took my breath away. He seemedalmost superhuman, an ether
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