THE LITTLE TEA BOOK 



thereon. Their programme consists 

 of war-stories, traditions, and recitals 

 with musical accompaniment. Dur- 

 ing the intermission, feats of legerde- 

 main or wrestling fill in the time and 

 give variety to the entertainment. 



These are the leading professional 

 performers. The other classes, while 

 not held in as high regard by the 

 select, nevertheless have a definite 

 place in Japanese amusement circles. 

 One of the latter is the Tsuji-lcd- 

 sJidku-ji. This word-swallower does 

 not belong to any company, but is a 

 " free-lance " entertainer. A sort of 

 "has been," he does not, however, 

 rest on his past laurels, but contin- 

 ues to perform whenever he can ob- 

 tain an audience on the highways, 

 to passers-by, in public resorts and 

 thoroughfares. 



58 



