Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-08
The Japanese Girls.

1
returned TO America, and in his official capacity
as commissioner of the island Of Yesso, concluded
arrangements which resulted in securing the
services of Gen. Horace Capron for the benefit
Of Japan. During his two brief visits TO this
country he became so deeply impressed with the
happy condition of the American woman that
he began TO inquire in;o the cause of such a
state Of things, and was told that it was because
the women of the country were educated, treated
with the highest consideration, and are regarded
equal to men in all the higher qualities of hui
| manity With his friend, Mr. ArluoI Mofi, he
| held several long discussions on the subject,
| took the advanced ground that the Japanese
ought to intermarrv with the people of the more
| enlightened foreign nations, and, in his
| zeal went so far as to inSis. that Mr.
Mort should marry an American lady
without delay. To this the youthful minister
replied that he considered himself Il true prtriOt
and would like TO oblige hi, friend, but did not
think it necessary for him to 90 into the marry
ing business quite so suddenly. From that
time, however, Mr.. KurOda thought and talked
increasingly about the importance of educating
the women OF his native land. What was new with
! him. however, was al old story with Mr. MuTi
who, if a little less enthusiastic was quite as
| deeply interested as the commissioner. On his
| return to Japan he preached the idea TO his gOy-
| ernment of sending a number of young girls to
| America to be educated; reported the fact that
| he was fully endorsed by Mr.. Mori, and having
| obtained the hearty cooperation of TomOrni
| lwakura, the junior prime minister OF Japan,
| an arrangement was made by which five Japan
| csc girls were permitted to accompany the great
| embassy to Washington. As the American
| minister, Mr.. Charles Delong, was about TO visit
! the United States on private business, he very
| naturally joined the embassy; and as he was
| accompanied by his wife, it was still more nat
ural and appropriate that she should take charge
of the Japanese girls during their long journey
from Yedo to Washington; and that this GOOD
lady treated them with the greatest kindness
and attention, and received their q latitude in re-
turn, is a Sell-eNident proposition.
The names of this delegation of JapaueSa
girls are as follows bio Yoshlmas, AIRED Is;
Tel Wooveda, aged IS; Stematz Yamlgaw:l,
aged 70; Shige Naga, aged 10, and Unie Tsuda,
aged years. They represent i'm their persons
five distinct families, and while they are NOT i'm
mediately connected with the imperial family OF
Japan, they do belong to that particular class
which would IN this country be called the arts
tocracy of intellect and wealth combined. How
these particular girls happened TO be selected is
not important; and although their fathers or
friends were abundantv able TO send them
abroad they have in reality come to this cuun-
try as the wards of the japanese government.
They were consigned TO the care of the japanese
minister, Mr.. Mori, in Washington and in view
of very numerous applications that were made
by educational institutions throughout the
country to take them in charge, and while de
ba,ing what was best to do with the girls, Mr..
MOri resolved to keep them for a few months
comfortable and cheerful homes for them i'm
Georgetown, under the general supervision of
Mr.. Charles Lanman, the warm personal friend
of Mr. Mori, and the American secretary of the
Japanese legation.
With regard to the kind of education which
the government of Japan would have bestowed
upon these girls that is a ques ton which viii
probably he decided BY Mr.. Mori, and his per-
sOnal views hav" been freely expressed in Wash
ington society. He would, in the first place,
h.,rv than, 10 I
in@s of home life in the United States; and in
the second place, he would have their minds full
ly stored with all those kinds OF information
which will make them true ladies
The glitter and FOLLY Of fashionable life NAV
| do for those who have no love or respect for
| what is called true culture; but that is not the
arena in which he would place the briTht-eved
| daughters of his native land. That the tenno of
| Japan is in hearty sympathy with the education
| al movement now under consideration is proven
| by one of his recent declarations, in which, to
| the aStonishment of the world, he has uttered
| the following sentiments
| "My country is now undergoing a complete
| change from old TO new ideas, which sincerely
desire, and therefore call upon all the wise and
| strong-minded TO appear and become good guides
| 10 the government: During youth time it is
positively necessary to view foreign countries so
| as to become enlightened as to the ideas of the
| world; and boys as well as girls, who will them
| selves soon become men and women, should be
allowed to 90 abroad, and my country will ben
| eft by the knowledge thus acquired Females
heretofore have had no position socially because
| it was considered they were without understand
| ing; but if educated and intelligent they should
| have due respect"
We are pleased to hear that since their arrival
in the district, they have appeared very happy,
| and have expressed themselves well pleased with
| the temporary arrangements which Mr. Mort
| has made for them. They are all eager TO lie IN
the English language, and they have already
| become acquainted with many common words
| and their uses. The most interesting feature
among them is probably the fact that the
| youngest was sent by her mother who yolgp-
| tary makes the sacrifice of her own happiness
| for the benefit of her child Her father is a
| good English scholar, and has already taught
the little one many words; and among her val
uables, carefully packed away by them for her
is an illustrated cyclOp9 liza. in two large Japan
ese volumes, in which is written. "Aly dear Unie.
from father; Yedo, Dee. 1, 1871" and 90 ID
supply OF letter paper. pencils and india ink,
which she seems to appreciate. She is very
bright and quickly learns what she is taught
They have all been more pleased with sclec-
ton OF American primers than anything they
havebeen shown Their time seems TO he most
cheerlully and satisfactorily employed, which is
devoted 10 the spelling of words expressing the
common articles in daily use on the table and
about the house, and the oldest assists in the
duties OF the household at her own request.
| They all know the English alphabet, and are
| apt at forming words therefrom.
They have brought with them several hand
| some dresses, which are of elegant materials.
and embroidered in gold and colored silks
mostly upon fabric OF Canton Grape.
| The youngest has brought from her home
| pictures of her fathers house, with the family
all on the porch or balcony in front; in one
| scene the house looks upon a rice field; in an.
other, upon beautiful lake, and another lives
| glimpse of river seen Try, with the banks lined
| with cherry trees. Her mother is seated, with
her little sister in her lap, her father by her side
and her mother, very old person, beside him.
| There is also another picture OF the mother with
her little Unie's hand in hers, and this seems 10
| be pleasant picture to the little wanderer.
| She does not seem to be at all homesck, and
| her companions say that she has never been nm
| happy since she left Japan The two older ones
| are graceful, sprightly and attractive although
not beautiful, and are very neat in their habits
and persons. The two Others are fnl of mis-
chief and glee, making the house ring with their
merry laughter. They are anxious to assume
the American garb, and are impatient to have
their wardrobes completed at once. They do
not use any paint or powder, as has been as
serted, and have abandoned their pomatums
hoping thereby to be better enabled to arrange
their Luxurious hair in American bushv stvle.
They are exceedingly polite and gentle in their
manners.