Moving from theater to theater with his magnificent flea circus, The P.T. Thimble Flea Circus, he discovered something odd .. as has every show business-addicted fool in history .. that this season slowly evolves into the booking for next season .. agents are hired .. contracts with theaters are signed .. deposits are received .. the show moves its props into the theater .. the head usher shouts "DOORS!" .. the audience takes its seat .. they applaud, then leave .. the stagehands move in to tear down the lights and props .. the theater manager settles up the box office ticket receipts .. Alex falls asleep in the hotel .. the morning brings a train to catch for a city a hundred miles away .. maybe a chance to catch a few more winks on the train .. and the arrival in the next city .. what city is this? .. look at the sign in the train station .. oh, right! .. the show moves props into the theater .. and next season comes without anyone having even noticed .. and next season becomes five .. and ten .. and twenty .. and forty.

"Has it really been that long?  When did that hair turn grey?  And when did that knee ache spread to other parts?  Maybe next season I'll settle down, maybe next season .. after that week-long run in Yokohama.  Maybe I'll visit those ex-wives and all those grown kids who've forgotten my face .. maybe next season."

Show business refuses to be some mistress on the side; she demands absolute and total commitment.  She leaves in her wake every manner of broken relationship, save one .. the addicting, all-consuming rush of that magical moment .. when the lights dim, the music swells, the curtain parts .. and the audience is revealed once again .. leaning forward, applauding, anticipating, anxious for the show to begin.

There is nothing like it on the planet.
 
 
 

Five women at a stream	Hitomaru Jinsha at Akashi	The Asakusa Park, Tokyo. 1919.

Daibutsu, The Great Buddha  at Kamakura	Cherry Blossoms in Edo River, Tokyo. 1906.	Cleaning ladies

Arch in Tokyo. 1912.	Cargo boat in inland Sea of Japan	Fudo Buddhist Temple,  Noegeyama, Yokohama

Fuji from Tagonoura, a Fuji Tea card	Futatsudo Temple at Nikko	The Lounge of  the Grand Hotel in Yokohama, the height of elegance.

Cherry Blossoms at the Grand Hotel, great granddad's favorite hotel in the entire world.	The Grand Hotel's banquet room. You have to see the bonsai on the table to believe it.	The lobby and front desk  at the Grand Hotel.

The Grand Hotel celebrating the arrival of the "Great White Fleet" in Yokohama, 1908.	Admiral Sperry (not Perry) and Sailors witnessing a Geisha performance at Yokohama, Japan. [The "Great White Fleet," sent around the world by President Theodore Roosevelt from 1907 to 1909, consisted of sixteen new battleships of the Atlantic Fleet. The battleships were painted white except for gilded scrollwork on their bows. Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry was in command of the Fleet. Anchored in Yokohama 18-25 October 1908.]	The irises at Honriki

Hirokojihonmachi. 1922.	Ikuta Temple, Kobe. 1918.	Wisteria at Kamei-go, Tokyo

Kanagawa Namamugi near Yokyohama	Kanaya Hotel, Nikko and Sacred Bridge	View of Shamizawara Train from Kanaya Hotel Garden, Nikko

Wisteria Blossoms, Kasukabe	Cherrry blossoms at  Kegishi, Yokohama	View of Kobe City

View of Kobe	Theater street of Kobe. 1907. There was major theatrical action here, which is why all the traveling shows visited here .. including Alex & Co.	The Kokugikan Riogoku - the Sumo stadium - BIG business. 1910.

The Kyoto Hotel in Kyoto	Mastsubara-koen (park)	The Matsuo-Matsuri Festival, Kyoto

Temple of Michizane Sugiwara	Gate of Minatogawa Temple, Kobe	Cherry Blossoms at Mukajima, Tokyo

Cherry Blossoms at Mukajima, Tokyo	Loading coal in Nagasaki. 1907.	Bronze statue of Nanko, Tokyo

Front gate of Nanko Temple, Kobe	Sailboat, Okazawa	Busy day at the Oriental Hotel, Kobe

Senjukawa Temple	A private railroad car	Rokuji. 1908.

Rokuson Shrine, Kyoto	Sakaemachi, Nagoya. 1906.	Sanmayebashi, Yumoto.  Aug, 25, 1906

Pagoda front, Sarusawa Pond, Nara	Tram on the Shijo bridge, Kyoto	The Temple of Shittenoji, Osaka

Smoking Room at the Nara Hotel	Cherry Blossoms at Ueno Park, Tokyo	The Bund at Yokohama. 1899.

Cherry blossoms in Yokohama	The cherry blossoms at Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto	Three young girls

Yokohama harbor. 1905.	Maeda Bridge (100 steps) at Yokohama	View of pier, Yokohama. 1910

Yoshiwara, Tokyo	Fishermen at wharf, Yokohama	The main street, Tokyo. 1905.

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