Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-09-28
From the Home Journal.
HOME LIFE IN JAPAN.
traits of japanese BeautIe.

By Prof. William Grifis, author of ''The Mi
kadO's Empire" etc.
The japanese usually partake of
three meals a day. The noon meal
is more substantial than in the early
morning, but that at evening, after
the labors of the day are over, is the
chief. Many spend hours over their
evening cups and dishes. At this
time probably a majority drink sake
In greater or less quantity. This
drink is brewed from rice, and CON
talns from two to eight per cent. of
alcohol. The afternoon is generally
chosen as the time for visits to the
houses of friends or relations. the
temple, sick persons, or attendance
at festivals, pic-nics, boating or
drinking parties, or in shopping.
Theatres, temples and shops are
open every day from sunrise to sun
set. There is no regular day of rest,
though there are many holidays,
business being, however, but slightly
interrupted.
After the noon meal the ladies sit
down before their mirror, and with
the requisites around them, make
their toilets, powder their faces,
necks and bosoms, have their cOiffure
arranged by the hair-dresser, and
proceed to dress. Into the details
of this elaborate. time-consuming,
fearful and wonderful triumph of
feminine intellect and art no mascu-
line pen dare enter. The Japanese
lady wears no jewelry; earrings,
brooches, bracelets and buckets be-
ing unknown in Japan. No buttons
are ever used in dress, the robes be-
ing held entirely from the shoulders,
and made to set easily on the person
with the aid of a girdle. Suffice it
to say that after several hours, with
the aid of a metal mirror and often
of many pairs of critical eyes and
nimble fingers, the young lady emer-
ges "dressed." The many details,
each of which may have cost her a
heartache, blend into one radiant
unity of loveliness. Let me attempt
description of this flower of Japan
ese womanhood, nor let it be sug-
gested by any of the Americans who
have so often asked the writer,
'Now, tell me, did you ever see a
really pretty woman in Japan-one
whom we would call beautiful" that
l am painting the lilly or adding
depths of blue to heartsease or ViO
let, the picture l give is that of
many a japanese young lady whom
l haYe passed on the streets, or seen
at the temples, or in her fathers
house, or serving as Ganymede at
the feasts in Fukni. The portrait l
give is one as seen by an alien eye.
Some of the adiectives would not
suit native of Japan.
In height she is undersized, in fig
ure short and well developed. Her
eyes are black and lustrous, often
wide open and capable of speaking
the language of many emotions-un-
mistakably of one. They are her
chief weapons. "Though the daim-
10 may employ soldiers, swords and
spears in war, the maiden," says the
poet, ''need but send dart from her
eye to conquer" Says another,
"One look into those eyes, and you
lose your city; another and you for
felt your kingdom" Their line of
beauty is oblique, their shape that of
an almond. What seems to mar the
visage in our eyes is beauty itself to
the children of Japan. Her nose is
aquiIine, her mouth small, lips are
cherry red, teeth white as pearls,
cheeks round and tinted carnation.
Her hair is jet black, glossy, and is
dressed with skill, symmetry and
grace. Some anatomists say. the
cheek bones of the Japanese are dou-
BILE, making them an anomalous peO-
pie; but cheek bones too high, SKIN
too dalk, lips too thick, eyes not Of
classic shape, or dull, eyebrows not
arched, or low, spoil the ideal. The
Japanese maiden likes them not, nor
her lover. l have seen not few
Japanese ladies who were really
beautiful.
The outer dress of the japanese
lady is of silk, Grape, or cotton cloth,
in summer of. thin gauze, or stuff of
silk and hemp, or cotton. The in
ner clothing is of muslin or silk,
made to show a white or crimson
fold at the throat and bosom. In
winter many folds are thus seen, lap
ped over from left to right. Over
all is the plain velvet or gilt-embroid-
cred collar of the outer dress, reach
ing to the girdle. The sleeves are
long and flowing, cut in a square
shape, making excellent pockets.
The robe is simply long wrapper,
reaching from neck to feet. In full
dress it flows out in circle on the
floor for a foot around the lady,
whose feet, though never bound like
the Chinese, yet are delicately small.
Neither opium-smoking nor feet
binding are known in the Sunrise
Kingdom, fact which differentiates
them strongly from the people of
the Middle Kingdom. For six in
ches or more from the bottom in
front, the inner robes are made to
fold backward, without exposing the
white sock encased and sandalled
foot, making elegant contrast of col
or, usually deep crimson and pure
white. The dress is of sober tints
for the street. States, dark blues or
greens, blacks and grays predomi-
nate. Indoors the colOrs are rich
and splendid, riyaling the rainbow.
Only the singing girls, semi-pubie
characters, put on gay colors out
doors; the lady never does, except
on some certain special occasions.
The dress fits the figure finely from
waist to shoulders. The flowing
sleeves are graceful, just freeing the
plump little hand with its tapering
fingers. From waist to knee the
dress is absurdly tight, preventing
graceful motion in walking,a and turn
ing a walk into a waddle. The. gir'
die, the most important part OF the
dress, clasps the waist with a gor-
geous periphery of satin, EN- mbrolaer, .,,l,
ed silk, or rich damask, ana serves