m36_i_a_2b_i_94_05_02

lamps and then the more brilliant lights in some of the stores.
A great many places had a large red and white lantern outside,
nearly a yard long, and we thought maybe it was the sign of
a bar or eating place. As we walked along one quiet street, a
man in long kimona (or skirts) stepped out of one of these places,
{pencil drawing of described string instrument on right column}
plucking a stringed instrument
something like this. As he walked
down the street he plucked on air,
and am older woman, probably a
Geisha (for some are older) joined him
from across the street, and sang the song
very low. They walked fairly fast and popped
into another place further down the street. It was fun though for
it added greatly to the whole scene. Some streets were quite dark
and very quiet, though the city was all around. The houses
were so artistic {letters struck out} in every way. Little door ways with some
piece of natural wood put in to the mantle or frame. A levey
stone perhaps for a step, and though there was barely a foot
of room between the bamboo fence on the edge of the street, (there
were rarely sidewalks) and the house itself, yet one or two
trees or shrubs were always growing, some as high as the
roof. Usually a lighted lantern by the door and often the
soft light coming through the paper screens. often with a
grotesque shadow thrown onto the windows by people moving
about inside. Practically every house is of wood, various shades
of gray and some new wood of a fence or addition. Often a
few shoes outside or perhaps the screens were opened and
one could look into a sort of vestibule. A {word struck out: 'few'} number of
stores were on each street, just wherever there happened to
be one. and nearly all so fascinating I hardly dared look
in the windows. Some were full of shoes, rows and rows
of them all colors. materials and designs. Other stores had
a few ties for men. or perhaps brocaded bags. Then there
was the store where they were busy making paper lanterns.
A {letters struck out} matted floor a foot above the street level, but dilly
enough to have the sliding windows closed to the street. We
looked in and watched two young boys painting {letters struck out} with