Used is a kind of Chinese drum.
One will be acquired by a song girl of ordinary intelligence in a month's time, in lessons of two hours a day. Thirty or forty lines, or a long fifty. A knowledge of three short songs will consist of sufficient to make a singing girl competent. When her education in this respect is complete, she is put into her brothel and is under the sole care of her purchaser or of a person employed by the purchaser to look after her. The mistress of the brothel provides board and lodging, and the purchaser provides the outfit. The outfit consists for the most part of one principal suit, and perhaps two or three suits of under clothing.
The girl commences business by singing. The first time she sings with an elder girl, and takes only a subordinate part. The fee for the entertainment is one dollar, and she sings two songs. The fee of one dollar is invariable, and is the same for young or old girls. A successful girl will earn as much as fifty or sixty dollars a month by singing. It is probable, however, that of this amount she will not receive more than one quarter, as the visitors to the brothels are very often parties who are remiss in paying the money due.
If half is paid to the mistress, the other half is kept by the girl, who has to pay it to her purchaser. Parties requiring singing girls must be known to the brothel keeper, and upon each engagement, an entry of it is made by the mistress in a book, and a debtor and creditor account started. This account...