“Captain Kawashibara and officers of H.I.J.M.S. Kasagi at home, Monday,
March 15th.”
The Kasagi herself is an American-built ship.
The peculiarity of this ship lies in the tremendous amount of
electricity there is on board her. The ammunition hoists are electric,
the lights and bells, of course, are, the engine-room indicators
are, and, finally, electric fans are all over the ship. So, too, are
telephones.
On the afternoon in question the fair ones of Portsmouth were initiated
into all these mysteries, and probably regarded the electric fans as
some new and horrible war device. I heard a remark to that effect,
anyhow!
Not all the visitors, however, were so inclined to regard everything as
a war machine. On Sunday a good many visitors of both sexes found their
way to the Kasagi, and peeped into the wardroom, where the officers
were wrestling with naval Kriegspiel.
“Race game,” said one lady; “how babyish these foreigners are!”
“I don't know, my dear,” replied her companion, apologetically.
“Perhaps they gamble on it for high stakes.”
“Oh,” was the response, “of course that makes a difference!”
For the “At Home” the Kasagi was _en fête_, draped in flags, and
generally looking her smartest. Even the engine-room was on show,
though I only noticed one visitor venture there—a lady in a light
fawn-coloured rig-out, not the best thing to penetrate the mysteries of
an engine-room in. Perhaps, however, she contented herself with peeping
in.
The main feature of the “At Home” was an entertainment given by the
bluejackets. There was quite a long variety programme, with fencing
between each “turn.” As these encounters are accompanied by wild
yells every now and again on the part of the combatants, they are
particularly interesting.
There was a conjuring entertainment, which mightily amused the crew,
but perhaps puzzled the visitors somewhat as to what it was all about.
The best thing of all was a song by a Japanese sailor—a monotonous
chant that grew gradually louder, accompanied by various movements with
a sword, suggesting that something exciting was about to happen. Then
came in English, “That's all; you know!” It was well done, and its flat
finale very amusing.
There were dances of various sorts, sack races, egg races, and a few
other sports with which we are familiar, interesting here because the
performers were Japanese, and also because of their intense zest and
evident pleasure. Some English songs by Japanese sailors were one of
the interesting bits, too.
Finally, on leaving, each lady guest was presented with a paper
chrysanthemum. They had previously been asking the Japanese officers
how they managed to get them to bloom in the summer season! The
imitations and colouring were perfect. The material for construction:
odd bits of paper and—Japanese bluejackets.