Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-04-05
Washington Correspondence oil The Buffalo


washiug ton Correspondence oil The Buffalo
Courier, March 10Th.
Heathon Beauty-The Dress and Ap-
pearance of Iwakuru's Japanese
Girls.
Yesterday L called upon the feminine
branch of the Japanese embassy. The
young ladies are five in number, their ages
ranging from eight years 20 fifteen. Little
Tuda Ume, the youngest of the group,
might easily be taken for a four year-old.
Her size is not an inch above that of the
average American child at that infantile
ace, and her manners are quite as artleSs
and engaging. It is pleasant to notice in
these children the indications of superior
training. Those who have compassion"
ately imagined that We were to become
custodians Of some uncultured scions OF
rude and unciyilized race are doomed to
most agreeable disappointment. 1t has
never been my pleasure to meet more
charming manners among children than
greeted me yesterday afternoon. The
utmost refinement evinced Itself in their
every movement. The magnificent robes in
which they arrived are now laid aside
for the simple habiliments Of their new
home Not a vestige of oriental drapery is
retained in their American makeup. For
the voluminous wrapping of silk, crepe and
embroidery, which are at present displayed
Oh h4SIIOIS,
substituted bustles, and paniers with
| fiounces, and furbelows, I'D infnitan.-
And very pretty do these naidens appear
| in their fresh and iaunty costumes. Al
| ready they have learned to manipulate that
most indispensable fashionable adjunct
| known as the overskirt. They lift It as
| dexterously as the most expert pale-taced
! belle; while the short street dress, which
! they have never before known, seems as
familiar to their experience as to our own.
| Verify these are a marvellous people
! They have but to observe to correctly lmi-
! tate. In consideration of which it is to be
hoped that they will never have the misfOr-
| tune TO observe anything unworthy of imi-
| tation. Perhaps they will have the good
sense TO discriminate between the worthy
and the unworthy, in which case we may
trust for their wholesome escape from the
! defornities of the Grecian bend.
The eldest of the group, Umeda Tai, is
also the handSOInest. Her sweet round
! face, in it's framework OF rich, black hair.
would be absolutely beautiful but for those
| Objectionable almond eyes. Possibly We
may learn 20 find even that feature attract
| i've in time, but for the present they I'M
| questionable are a draw back in the Ameri-
| can estimate Of oriental beauty. The three
remaining names are Yamakawa Suite
| lnatu, NaGai Shigc, and HOShimaSu 1.-Two.
! These cognomens are unfamiliar to \ an
kee tongues, it IS true; but though they
may prove unpronourceable they are II sue
the less musical, and we shall probably de-
rive q certain consolation from the assur-
ance that each one Of them is significant
of some poetic sentiment. 1t may be in
terestinc to know also that ii Japan our
order of naming is reversed, the surname
having precedence. Plans for the future
of these young ladies are row under con-
sideration. 1t is presumed that they will
be placed in Vassar College, but as yet
their future is not definitely decided upon.
By instructions from the japanese Gov
eminent, Mr.. Mori relieves Mrs. belong
of their charge, and while awaiting his viii
in their disposal they are in the care of Mr.
Charles Lanman, Of Georgetown, where
they will form the centre of quite a social
circle. Still, in society proper they have
no place. In the festivities Of the occasion
they can take no part whatever. The
world to them is an unknown book, will
which i'll their native land they might ney-
er hope to become familiar. Five years il
America, however, will doubtless accom-
plish much different results, even though
the time be spent within the protecting Ell
closure of college walls.