American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-02-05
A japanese Normal School for Girls.

BY the last mail from Japan we have
received the particulars of one of the most
interesting and important events that has
recently happened in that Empire, name
ly: the opening in Yeddo of normal
school for the education of girls. About
one year ago the Empress became greatly
| Interested in the future welfare of her
couutrywomen, and having given a con-
siderable amount of money to erect a
suitable building for Il large school, and
the same having been finished and the
teaching arrangements completed, the
formal opening of the establishment took
place on the 30th of November No less
than eighty girls had already been adj
mitte1 as pupils and while one foreigner
had been appointed as a Kind OF adviser
the position of Superintendent was given
to Japanese, Mr.. Nakamura Masauawo,
who is said to have become a convert TO
the Christian religion. The circumstances
attending this event were quite as remark
able as the event itself tor the Empress,
accompanied by Okubo, the Minister of
the Interior, and other high dignitaries,
presided on the occasion and actually read
a brief address. The gate through which
the imperial party had ID pass on their
way TO the school was decorated with the
chrysanthemum flower and national
emblem, and they were escorted TO the
ton. Here the superintendent read a con-
gratulatory address, as follows:
I'VE humbly venture to think that the
enlightenment of a country depends upon
the excellence of its government, and that
the excel,ency of its government depends
upon the perfect nature of the regulations
of families. Now the perfect nature of
household regulations depends upon the
integrity of thought, advance of intelli-
IL. e
women. Our land affords from olden
days down TO the present time number
less instances of virtuous women, but still
if we regard the matter in respect to the
whole of our country it must be allowed
that the regulations for the education of
women are exceedingly defective. At the
present moment reform in enlightenment
has gradually progressed, and it is source
of rejoicing to the myriads of our people
that the Toxic Normal School for girls
has been established, and that by Her
Afajesty's presence today the ceremony of
opening the school is favorably carried
out. Our earnest desire is that those who
may, in after time, complete their educa-
ton here may become virtuous women,
and SO assist their husbands; virtuous
mothers, and SO instruct their children,
and that. by giving birth to and rearing
up worthy population, our country may
After this the lists and the keys were
delivered by the Vice Minister of Educa-
ton TO the Principal, who then presented
the school regulations. The Empress re-
piled:
:. Upon hearing last year that this school
was about to be established in order to
foster the growth of education for girls I
was unable to contain my joy. Its con.
struction has now been completed and the
<.s.r of 1,a,
formed. My earnest desire is that this
school may henceforth be prosperous and
that may eventually see the beautiful
fruit of female education appear in pro-
fusion throughout the whole of the land'
A brief address was also made by Tan
aka, the Vice-Minister of Education. He
said:
1.-The construction of the Toxic Nor.
NAL School for girls having been CON-
pleted we have now come to the time for
the commencement of its operations. We
cannot but rejoice and offer congratula-
tons with respect to this. How much the
more then, when our good and gracious
Empress has been pleased to attend here,
should we rejoice over and over again at
the brilliant glory of this school. If we
consider well the words of the Western
proyerb, that girls are the mothers of
education we sum up in few words the
weighty a matter and leave naught unsaid.
From these words the idea is clearly ap-
parent and easy of perception. Why
should We attempt any superfiuous expla-
nation thereof; l content myself with
merely making this one observation"
Other speeches were made and several
of the pupils read pieces and recited po-
ems. One of the pupils said:
The place of learning to-day founded
shall, like the young pine tree, flourish
and exist for thousand years" And
again. sly father and mother will be-
dew their sleeves with tears on hearing of
the joyful fact of my appearance to-day
before the Empress
The Empress aflerward visited all the
apartments of the building, made a pres
ent to all the pupils who had spoken,
gave sumptuous entertainment and re-
turned TO the palace, after which the pub
lie were admitted to examine the new
building. Compared with what is called
the g woman question" in this country,
the ceremony in Yeddo may we'll put to
the blush many people in this Christian
land. -Phitddstphid Bulletin.