Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-08-08
WOMEN IN JAPAN.

ly sympathize with them in their condi-
tion of total subsection under the despotic
hands of family tyrants. To this the
Japanese ladies are an exception; they
are never reduced to the same degree as
in other Asiatic countries. They are
undoubtedly treated as the gentler sex,
and. also with repeet and considerate
care. In this, as in so many other
things, we totally differ from the Chi
nese. We see them treated with affec-
tion and Difference; in fact, in Japan as
in America, the ladies rule the house.
They are allowed greater freedom, and
have more dignity and self-con6dence
than any other Eastern ladies /; yet it is
true that japanese lady is deprived of
the privilege of receiving her young male
friends in such an unrestricted manner
as is allowed in this country; nor is,
without chaperon. permitted to indulge
IN the pleasures of strolling or to share
the amusement of theatre-going with
him with whom she may stand on terms
of friendship. or of a more tender rela-
tion. We scarcely hear, in any Japa-
nese family, such free expression of
love and affection as is tolerated in this
country; in fact. it is there considered
too delicate an affair to speak of or dem
onstrate in the presence of parents or
friends, if not violation of the propri-
ETY. of social etiquette. We can easily
infer from these facts that marriage in
Japan is seldom the fruit of mutual love
and admiration. The matrimonial union
is wholly to be arranged and settled by
the hands of parents. and the proposed
husband and wife have to take each
other either for better or for worse upon
the Judgment of others. But it is amaz-
ing to fnd that there are no more un-
happy couples in Japan than there are
in this country, where marriage is the
sweet result of long acquaintance and
mutual love.
Through the influence of Confucianism
and Buddhism, obedience has been in
culcated as the chief and most amiable
virtue of ladies and undoubtedly this
prevailing notion has prevented them
from securing position of equality with
men. Happily, or shall say unhappi-
ly, for US men, our wives have hardly
ever attained such an ascendency as to
henpeck their husbands. custom often
discovered among the so-called civilized
countries. In tracing the history of any
nation, we invariably seem to come
across an age in which the female sex
was more or less brought under suhjec-
ton. The ancient Teutonic race is said,
even during its barbarous times, to have
regarded the gentler sex with the great
est respect and courtesy; but, if We
turn to the common law of England. We
find the assertion quite inconsistent with
it. Unfortunately for them. japanese
women have thus far been deprived Of
many rights, and also of the means Of
elevating themselves but to-day the
education of our girls is receiving the
greatest attention from our educational
department. The prospect is cheering
and it may safely be predicted that, al
no distant day, our scholastic institu
tions will produce myriads of school
marms that pleasing feature of the
New England landscape. japanese
young ladies are generally admired by
foreigners as pleasing and graceful il
their department, and for their gentle
ness, neatness and good taste in dress
AS far as my recollection goes. can say
thus much, that they are generally de
mure and difident in society, and appar
emily fall short of such an activity anC
ease of manner as is shown by American
young ladies. Our misses neither re
duce the size of their feet. like the Chi
nese, nor contract their waists, like th
Western ladies. nor wilfully injure wha
is given to them, that is, by piercin
through the ears, custom prevalen
almost everywhere, both in the civilize
countries of Europe and America, an
the half-civilized countries of Asia
Among our married women it has, fror
ancient times, been the custom to shaw
off the eyebrows and to blacken th
teeth. This invariably attracts the a
tention of strangers, and is not infrt
quently ridiculed as most singular an
unnatural custom. Every nation has il
own customs and peculiarities, and "
: doubt if those ladies who arc inclined
condemn the custom are normally FRI
from the shade of any singular fashion
and peeuliarities attendant upon the
7 persons. We have a common saying
Correct yourself before you civilii
Others" We gladly state that oil
married women are sensible enough
perceive the shortcomings in the custo
1 above alluded to, and it Is now notices
: BILE how rapidly it is disappearing
t Japanese Gentleman az Boston Herald
In the year 1900 We had popul
ton of 5,308,4S3. OF that numbe