The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-09-24
MANNERS IN JAPAN.
How the Japs Live and What Kind of
People They Are.

People They Are.
A short time ago some statements
were made public in regard to the jap
anese living in this country which
greatly incensed them and their friends.
A gentleman who has had long and
intimate acquaintance with those who
arc here, as well as with the manners
and customs of Japan itself. says that
the statements referred to were wholly
misleading. "One of the persons men,
toned" he said, "was Mr.. Momoturo
Sato. who was represented as a shrewd
fellow who made money from the curl
osity Of people who wanted to stare at
him. He is the son of DIR. Sato, who Is
the highest medical authority in Japan.
He was the first Japanese to establish
In this country the business of import
ing goods from his native land and ex-
porting American goods thither. He
did not marry a German girl, las stated,
but an American lady of Philadelphia.
The Japanese do not, as asserted, hate
the Chinese particularly. They hate
whatever is small, vicious, and tricky
in them. just as they do in other peo-
pie The statements that Japanese
have harems. regard their wives as
mere chattels, and that no formality is
required to procure a divorce are all
gross untruths.
ut is lawful in Japan to have only
one wife. The marriage ceremony is
q complex but beautiful one. Their
women are just as chaste as our own,
and as TO divorces, while the manner of
procedure is not the same as ours, they
arc obtained by direct evidence, and
without the questionable aid of detec-
tives. Considerable stress was put in
the statements referred to on the en-
ployment in a Front street (New York;
place of some Japanese girls as clerks.
1t was said that the attention paid them
by men completely demoralized them.
The fact is that they were wife men,
bers of troupe of Japanese jugglers.
When the novelty wore off, and they
ceased to draw, the Front street mer-
chant took them simply to draw trade
by exhibiting them. When they were
no longer a curiosity in his place he
discharged them with the Christian
Recommendation already given. Some
of them are still in this country. One
is in Louisville, and has been repeated
ly spoken of as an efficient clerk, who
y
through her modest behavior and her
attention to her duties. Another one
is at the Japanese legation in Washing
ton, but is going home soon. She also
bears an excellent reputation.
''As to the morality of the Japanese
generally, l can testify that parents are
noted for their kindness to their off
spring. Swearing is wholly unknown
in Japan. The worst word Japanese
ever applies to a man he dislikes is
beast There is, in fact, less disturb
ance among them than among any
other people known to Americans.
Their homes, no matter how poor, are
neat, and in cleanliness they set a no.
table example TO the whole world.
Law and order are as much desired and
enforced thSre as elsewhere. The
statement that the faithless wife is
punished with death in that country is
senseless. The law takes q hand in
that as we'll as other matters. As to
the story that the Japanese have no re-
Ggion, the facts are simply these: They
have religion. and are intensely de-
voted to it. and are quite as anxious to
live uprightly as we are. We have
succeeded in making doubters of a few
of them, but they do not propose to
adopt \ now religion without the most
searching investigation. They are in
vestigating the subject now, and doubt.
less good results will come of it. So
far US coming 10 this country for the
sake Of making money is concerned,
they do 10 more than others; and
plenty OF Americans 90 to their coun-
Try simply to mako money, and without
any iHlcnlion of becoming Japanese
citizens. Tho Japanese are in this re-
spect no exception to the rule which
governs human ambition. Their love
of country and attachment to home arc
just as great as they are among the
people Of amy other nation. At homo
they live pleasantly under a gentle and
progressive form Of government, and
arc proud of the distinction of being
Japanese. Thoy are class of people
who have made themselves respected
and admired wherever they have en-
tered an American household. They
do business as We do it. and are fully
as straightforward in their dealings.
and guard their regulations with rs
much care as any people whom l know.
The person who made the statements
referred to is exceedingly ignorant
about the history of japan, its laws. its
customs. and its people. "-Ihiladet-
phta NOrth-Americdn.