Most Members Not in Reporters' Good Graces Geisha Girl v.
Taxi-Dancers Frost Ovn Ows The ministers of war and navy may Tokyo, Des. 2.) bbe the most powerful members of the Okada cabinet but they are, at the same time, the most unpopular os far a Tokyo's newspapers and Newspaper Feporters are concerned. This was Proven beyond any doubt by a straw Vote taken by the "Hanashl," magazine.
"The most popular member of the cabinet is-Mr. Korekiyo Takahashi Finance Minister, the only man, Japan of any importance who has fever come out openly to attack military. budget. He" was given, 8 points, The most unpopular mem Mr. Kawashima, War Minitser, fained but 43 points, followed by Mr. Osum!'s Navy Minister, 50 points, Mr. Hirota, Forel Minister, obtained 77 points.
'Ax far og "it" is concerned, COkaita, Premier, is head and shoulders above the rest of the members of the cabinet. He received 90 points. Mr. Kawashima, War Minister, next the bottom' of the list, received only 43 points. By "it" "Ig—meant_ that quality' which enables "a person to get on the "feature pages" of the Rewsnapers, Mr. Okada's drinking, whick by the way is not regarded anything! to be ashamed of in Japan, and the fact that he is a widower and extremely frugal, - combine to make him ood copy for the reportrs. The premier takes, suck stories about himself' In good humour, According to the reporters. neither the premier nor the war and navy ministers have any future, In fact, among the Important members of tre Okndn cabinet only. Me. Hirnta_and Mr. Chuin Machida, Minister of Com merce and. Industry, who heads. powerful Miniselto party, are likely to yo further up the ladder, the porters. fee!
"The questionnaire next brings up the interesting point that the Ok: enbinet Is composed of extremely poco linen. Heading the list is the premier Himself with "absolutely no property." Messrs, Hirota and Kawashima, also poor men, rave "no property." Mr. Gmumf is said to possess "some propery. but Mot much." When its Feealled that a cabinet member Sapan receives n salary of amy ¥. 007 he difeult financial straits in which these men must be In farsily may be understood.
Mr. Takahashi is regarded wealthy, but the only millionaire is the Minis. ter of Commerce, are able to master ordinary Western Jdance steps in an our or so. At practically all of the larger parties Rowadays many of the girls may be seen daneing Western steps with the guests {0 the accompaniment of music furnished by an electric phonograph.
Early Tratning is a fact that tke geisha gie] readily takes to Western forms. of dancing. This Is because her feet are nimble through years of painslakirg: daneing apprenticeship. "Tt shoul be Temembered that mest of the girls jate recrulled from the age of ten or Jeven earlier and are put through Figorous dally dancing exercises.
In the meantime the taxi dance halls continue to nltraet the younger men. here are scores of such Lalls ili the larger cities. They differ considerably from such places of ent {ainment in other countries, however.
'A children's dancing party. is what most visitors. from foreign lands call reso halls, T.ttle girls-—most of then borely' Ave feet In height—dance the Tales American and British 'As the musie stops the little girls! ati Curry to their side of the room, for the patrons, who are almost ex-elusively' men, are not permitted to mingle with thei partners during Intervals.
'The discipline of the dance halls corresponds' 0 that maintained in the best itis seminaries abroad. Tels due to the over-watchful—police who, it Is said, have an "understand ing" with the geisha houses and the} owners of the Ieenced quarters.
All dance halls must close at 11.30 pam. sharp. If any dancer is seen with man in the street or even in a taxicab after this hour, she spend: the rest of the night Inthe nearest police station. This rule Is strictly]
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.