The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-29
Something Abont Japan.
HOW THE MIKADo TRIES TO REGULATE -,
FASHIONS.

| FASHIONS. ID
In review of a late work on Janan
Mr.. Mossman, the Tablet says:
The success of the American exped;.,.
under Commodore Perry In, 1853 wss w.
doubtediy due in great measure 70 ~ ~
tact of it's leader, who had closely stuasa
the character eff the Japanese, and unSs,|
stood how to deal with them and IL s"a
also appeared that the rigid isolation y
long persevered in was in no respect M
result of national idiosyncracy, but ms,ss
a policy adopted in order to meet pecul;:|
circumstances for the Japanese bs,1
shown themselves to be emineptlv rans,1
tive and Initiative, and exceedingly ~
sirous to advance in art, literatare. ss1
science, although reticent to an extrao,]
binary degree as to all that concerns An
internal affairs of their country. Since In
staie"s Intercourse with Europe, thei1
strldes have been remarkable, and II r
probable that their future progress viii na|
be less rapid. Moreover, since Cbr;st;an;
ty is now indirectly tolerated. We hau
reason to hope that a country whera s,1
many martyrs have gloriously shed tbsi1
blood. will, in time, be won over to m
true Faith. 1t is not surprising that n
our early relations with Japan much is1
norance respecting its government shoun
have prevailed, and, as Mr.. Mossman I tyni1
says, ut was not the policy of the Sioooo!
and his representatives to disabuss Ed
minds of foreign ENJOYS of their error
SO we made treaties with "His Maiestv II.
Tycoon" whom We called "the Temnon1
Emperor" quite unaware that we were HI
reality negotiating with mere Generalis|
simo whose acts were at any time liable b
As to the latter potentate, Mr.. Mossms.
objects to his claiming the imperial dicni.
nifty, because Japan had been considered|
merely province, and by no means am
of the largest provinces of China, to wk;eS
country it's rulers always paid tribate hut
since at the ratification of the treaty is.
tween Japan and China in 1878 Soyeshima
the Japanese Minister Plenipotentiary, was|
received in the same manner as the envovs
of Russia, Great Britain, America. Franca
and Holland, and exempted altoeethes|
from the degrading ceremony of Koto,o~|
the exception to the title of Emperor a,
borne BY the Mikado seems unreasonahls
and unwarranted, since he is, now at ali
events. as independent q sovereign "a
Iung Chi himself. The abolition Of the
Sloeoonate: and the consolidation of the
naturally was not effected without much dis.
;urbance the establishment of Jspaness
Parliament, the adoption of the Enrorasn
calendar, the reorganization of the ednca.
slohal institutions, the abolition of fandal
'enure, the reconstruction of the army. th
establishment of mint and the Circulation
u new gold and silver coinage, are .
The position Of women has also mnch 81.
cred for the better, although it would
'ppear that their degradation was never
pProved OF by enlightened Japanese, bat,
o 1ar as 1t obtained, was merely an -oat-,
,rowth OF Chinese teaching. On the con-
rary, no less than eight Expresses are
noWn to have reigned in Japan, and un-
er tnelr wise rule the country fourished
4 high degree. The present Mikado,
a his message to the mobiles permitting
hem to take their wife and daughters with
hem IN their visits to foreign countries, the
ext of which is given by Mr.. Mossman,
bows how clearly the young monarch un-
erstands the necessity of educating wisely
ne mothers of future generations, although
, far as we know, only five young ladies
hose sent by him to the United States)
ave as yet availed themselves of their
ew privileges. The young Mikado, how
yer, not content that growth in civilizs.
on should be a work Of time, proceeded
enact sumptuary laws regulating not
ereiy the dress and couture of the men
ut the toilettes of the ladies also, these
tier 6eing informed that henceforth they
ust dispense with female hairdressers, a
i'd do up their own hair! The decree
as certainly arbitrary, and could NOT DO
celved with favor but even this might
ave been borne could the husbands have
9en permitted to retain the tightly twist.
top knot and bushy ear coverings which
instituted beauty in the eyes Of an adj.
ring spouse! The following amusing
ory, which must not however be taken as
orally true, exempliies the indignation
men these sumptuary edicts were capable
arouslng in the Japanese female mind,
hlch seems to have it's own peculiar no.
ms as to the rights of women. A mag
rate who had visited Koffu for the pur-
Sc of transacting business, and was de-
Ined there longer than he had anticipated,
allowed his hair to grow in European
'hion. This gentleman returned to his
me In the absence of his wife, who, how.
or, shortly made her appearance to vel.
5ut instead of rushing at him, she stood
azeo at the hirsute appearance of her hus.
40 8 mead: At first she burst forth into
u OF laughter at the strange comical ap.
france he presented, in her estimation.
is gave way, however, to a hysterical fit of
ger, and she broke into torrent of abuse,
lch ended in vow not to live with him
more. The lady then started for her
thers home to seek shelter there, but great
ner astonishment to find that he also had