Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1863-11-18
Japanese Women.
From Harper's Monthly.l


daggers or cross bars or tortoise shell. l
can not describe it exactly, but rhere aP-
pears to be this plan: Brushsd-hack in
two lateral and one central mass from the
forehead, it meets with the back hair
brushed straight up, and the consequence
is a series OF rolls intertwined with gold
thread and silk stuff, and curiOusly fas-
te Led up with cOral-headed pins. gilt
combs and tortoise shell bars. 1t really
has very pretty effect. The married
ludies further adorn themselves by pull
ing out their eyebrows and bIackenIng
their teeth, though 1 believe the origin
of this was with the husbands, who. al
ways free themselves, wished to make
their wives unat,ractiye to others. Any
infdeIity is punished by death; but be-
fore marriage women are PERFECTLY free.
Their faces, when they don't powder
thenselves--Which they are very fond of
doing, and painting their lips red--are
very pretty when you become little ae
custoned to the genuine Mongolian type.
Their figures are aEsolute.y perfection,
and their hands aud feet smaller and bet
ter shaped than any l ever saw in Euro
pre-. This is owing to their dress, which
Is never tight; and to their never wear.
ing boots, but only straw sandals or a
kind Of patten in wet weather.
COSTUME.
The dress Of the men and women is al
most the same A long keemouo, de-
scending to the ankles on men, and to
the ground with women though tucked
up any height in walking out, is like a
night gown, open in the front down, fol-
ded over the breast and secured at the
waist by girdIe. The sleeves are very
large, and hang down nearly to the knee.
In addition, the women have long piece
Of figured silk, which they wind twice or
thrice around the waist, and then hang
up behind so as to droop in kind Of
rectangular iestOon down to the back OF
the knees. CoIors are generally sombre,
and, as we'll as the patterns, which are
commonly checker, are regulated by the
laws for the different classes No cap is
worn, hut the coolie class generally bind
round their heads piece Of coarse stuff.
The Yakonins wear closer kind of ke-
mono, and over this a kind of mantle,
generally Of gauze and Grape, and mark
ed with the devices of the Daimio to
whom they belong. They wear various
shaped hats, and always carry two swords
at the left side, one longer than the 9TH
er, and both generally in admirable wor-
king order You must always keep an
eye on these two-sWorded men. If they
draw, you must shoot them sur Ie champ,
for there is a law Originally, doubtless,
with a humane object, (that if they draw
their sword they must use it, otherwise
they are either decapitated or commit
hari-kari, that is, slit up their bowels.
DIET.
The japanese eat like the Chinese,
with chopsticks, and appear to lie chief
ly on rice and fish. With this simple
diet, however, they have very robust
frames, and though not tall or lean men.
appear able to endure much fatigue. If
you enter a house, they rise up and make
a deep salaam, saying, % no 10, and do
the same when you leave, saying, Sly
MOrrio, (may sou be hapPy They
generally bring you something to sit on,
in delerence to your European customs.
and present you with a cup Of tea. The
lady will then take sweetmeat between
her fingers, and You will be expected to
open your mouth, swallow it and say,
'a-rig-a-to, (thank you) to which she
will bow and say, Do-it-Eshi-masti,' (e.
quivalent to there is no Oceasion.)
A WRITER in Godys Magazine, Philadel-
plria, says:
A friend Of mine advertised for girl. Size
was called down to see a lady, who wanted
to see tue person who advertised. and went
into rhe parlur. The lady wore plaid silk,
handsome cloak, richly trimmed bonnet, kid
gloves. and thickly worked black lace vail
down; carried an embroidered handkerchief,
and amoIher OF pearl card case. She made a
great many inquiries about the plare, which
were politely answered. as my. friend 'honght
size wanted 70 recommend somebndy. AT last
she said: We'll, III inquire and see il any
better place offers; If not III come and try ii.
I leave my card in case you wish TO send any
word. And throwing back her veil disclos-
ing bright mulaito she took out aeard, ,eonr-
tested, and left. The card was :, Miss Lavina,
Lady Attendant, Laundry Department, G. H.
! Possibly Continental HOTEL -
An, Jenny, said sympathiEine
friend to a man who was Just too late fol
the train, You did not run fast enough
Yes, I did, said Jenny, 4 ran fasi
eDoUgb, but did not start soon enough.