Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-11-09
ODD SIGHTS In YOKOHAMA
Impressions of Tourist in Japan's
Chief Seaport City.
HaiidresSers' shops for Women-An
Eighteer-M0nthS Old Child with
Its Face and Neck Enameled-
Rayisning 0rbs of the Pc
tite JapenSe Maidens.

Yokohama is divided into three parts
the cid and the new town and the bluff,
which is quite high and commands beau
tiful view. 1t is hers that the most axis
tocra'ic o. the Europeans, or those who
consider themselves such, live. In the
new quarter are the banks, foreign con-
sulaees ana largest stores, while il the old
the natives live.
A aesori ption of one of the streets
here will answer for all the streets in U.s.
par. In the first place, there are no side
walks, and the houses are directly on the
streets. These are very low, generally not
more than story and half high.
Though sometimes two, built of wood,
and rico paper for the windo vs., l don't
hink the walls Of the houses can be more
than two inches thick. All the fronts Of
the houses throw open in such a way that
you look directly in on TO the front room,
where, if 1t is dwelling, you may set a
whole family seated cross legged on the
floor, as thoy 10 not use tables and chairs,
working, with the inevitable boxes of
charcoal - hibaehio, l think they are
cslied-to light their pipes, beside them.
Perhaps another will be q hairdressipg
establishment.
The manner of wearing the hair in
Japan is SO elaborate that japanese
woman cannot do up her own hair, but is
obliged to go to one of these establish
ments. Il is quite interesting to watch
this operation. The woman seats her
self on the floor before O round mirror
made of polished metal, and the hal.
dresser sets to work. It is really quite
formidable affair, as the woman is apt to
be very critical and insist on each hair
being arranged just SO. The whole ar
rangement may be described as kind of
& huge bow knot, and beeSwax enters
largely into this material used for the
dressing. This has the effect of making
the hair very stiff AID shiny. The reason
that the peculiar pillow is so much used,
is so that the hair may not be disturbed
while asleep. This pillow is a block OF
wood with a notch cat in il for the back
Of the neck to rest in.
You see that even out here women are
the same, snd Just as much g slave 70
fashion aud vanity as in our own coun-
try; yet one thing must be said in favor
of the Japanese women that cannot be
said of our countrywomen, and that ia,
| they do not like them-poor misguided
creatures that they are-ruin their health
by corsets and tight lacing. European
influence has had the good effect of driv-
| ing out the horrid custom of blackening
| the teeth and gliding the lips. The
Japanese women are really beautiful
when you once get accustomed to their
| fares. The most of them have good
though slight figures, but TO me the chief
beauty lay in the expression of the eyes,
which are as soft and plaintive as a
| does.
The Chinese women, or at least those |
! saw, were the homeiiest and most dis
| agreeable looking set I ever saw in M
| life. IL my own mind l am convinced
that if apy one should seek the true ex
PLANTATION of Joseph's conduct he would
fad that Mrs. Potipher was Il Chinese
! woman. l know that the bible does not
! back Ine up in this assertion, but never
! jheless | think that was tbs true solution
l saw one child of about IS months old
that was certainly remarkable in its get
up. The poor little thing had the face
euf m led white to the base of the lower
| jaw; from there down the neck wes paint
ed yellow, and the lips were gilded.
do not know with waat feelings the PROUD
mother regarded the artistic work she
had done on this poor young one, but tt
me the effect was extremely disagreeable
and reminded me of a hideously ugly
doll which bore but slight resemblance
to 4 living creature.