Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1877 — A Japanese Play at the Parts Odeon. [ARTICLE]

A Japanese Play at the Parts Odeon.

Tun curtain rises on the interior of the humble country dwelling of Kami, a Japanese poet, who gains his livelihood by selling bronaea and ivoiy at Yeddo, but who steals away from his commerce, once a Week, to bis rural nest in Order to labor uninterruptedly upon a.poem in which he celebrates the charms and virtues of the beautiful Bainara, to whom lie has given his heart. Kami U seated on the floor, pencil in hand, transcribing the ten-thou-sandth line of the poem. He has just compared the eyes of his love to ‘ the light of the moon reflected in the waters of a peaceful lake,” when it suddenly occurs to him that it will be a good idea to step out of doors ancNree If bis image is correct. The moon is up; a lake is near; he believes in copying nature, and he leaves for a few moment. When he returns to hls house, overjoyed in discovering that he was right, he finds his hearth taken possession of by a painted and bedizened young woman, who boldly anUQunces herself as Musine, a danse use at the capital, who, smitten with his charms, has come to offer him her affection. The poet Kami regards this intruding personage with unaffected disgust. “ What,” he says, ” what is this butterfly that has come to flutter around me?” and he is about to bid her begone, when there is a terrible commotion at the outer door, and a demand for admission. Kami, chagrined at this interruption of his labors, is compelled to hide Musine in a closet fortunately near at hand. He has no sooner done this than a swaggering officer of the imperial Japanese guard, Taiphoon by name, bursts in the door and announces that he is in pursuit of Musine, and that she must be delivered up. The poet Kami orders the noisy Taiphoon oat of the house, whereupon the soldier smites the poet on the cheek with his fan and departs, muttering vengeance. Now, this is a mortal insult, yet Kami, being only a poet, and of course the inferior of so great a dignitary as a military officer, cannot challenge Taiphoon to mortal combat. The only manner in which poor Kami can satisfy his own wounded honor is by committing hari-kari, and he at once makes preparations for the performance of this melancholy duty. While bidding adieu to life.

and sharpening the weapons of sacrifice, Kami is surprised beyond measure at seeing the beautiful Bainara, who has heretofore repelled all his advances with scorn, enter his house. This vision of loveliness informs liitn that she has been touched to the heart by his prolonged adoration; that she loves him, and that she counts on him for a service. Her uncle, Kash, isheavily in debt, and will be ruined unless the poet Kami can lend him the sum which his creditors demand. The beauteous Bainara names this sum, which happens to be the total amount of the poet’s savings. “Certainly! let Uncle Kash have the money, and farewell, Bainara,” says the f allant Kami. "At sunrise, to-morrow, shall be no more; honor demands that 1 should die.” Bainara endeavors to dissuade him, but in vain. At this critical point Musine, the danscuse, and Taiphoon, the soldier, reappear, only to announce themselves as lady friends of Bainara who have condescended to act the part of maskers in order to test the little poet’s heart to the utmost. " Now, Kami!” cries the ingenious Bainara, “ take me, I am yours; Uncle Kash never existed; the soldier and the danseuse were not real; your fidelity, your courage and your generosity have been tested I So 4 pure from the combat come, to take its prize, my heart!’” And the curtain falls on this delicate bit of sentiment, fresh as the dew, and most exquisitely acted —Edward King's Letter in N. T. Evening Post.