Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-15
ODD SIGHTS In YOKOHAMA
Impressions OF a Tourist in Japan's
Chief Seaport City.
HairdreSsers' Shops for Women-An
Eighteer-MOnths-0 old Child with
Its Face and Neck Enameled-
Ravishing 0rbs of the Pc
tite Japense Maidens.

Yokohama is divided into three parts
the old and the new town and the bluff
which is quite high and commands beau
tiful view. 1t is here that the most axis
tocratic Of the Europeans, or those who
consider themselves such, live. In the
new quarter are the banks, foreign con-
the natives live.
A description of one of the streets
here will answer for al the streets in ia
pan. 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 rice paper for the windo VS., don't
think the walls of the houses can be more
than two inches thick. All the fronts of
the houses throw open in such way that
you look directly in on to the front room.
where, if it is dwelling, you may see a
whole family seated cross-legged on the
floor, as they DO not use tables and chairs,
working, with the inevitable boxes of
charcoal = hibachio, I think they are
called-to light their pipes, beside them.
Perhaps another will be hairdressing
establishment.
The manner of wearing the hair in
Japan is so elaborate that a Japanese
woman cannot do up her own hair, but is
obliged to go to one of these establish
ments. It is quite interesting to watch
this operation. The woman seats her
self on the floor before round mirror
made of polished metal, and the hair
dresser sets to work. It is really quite a
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 the material used for the
dressing. This has the effect of making
the hair very stiff and 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 block of
wood with notch cat in il for the back
of the neck to rest in.
You see that even out here women are
the same, and just as much slave to
fashion and vanity as in our own coUn-
try; yet one thing mus6 be said in favor
of the Japanese women that cannot be
said of our countrywomen, and that is,
they do not like them-poor misg guided
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
faces. 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 ny
life. In my own mind l am convinced
that if airy one should seek the true ex
PLANTATION of Joseph's conduct he would
find that Mrs. Potipher was Chinese
woman. 1 know that the bible does not
back me up in this assertion, but never
theless think that was the true solution.
saw one child of about Is months old
that was certainly remarkable in its get
up. The poor little thing had the face
enameled white to the base of the lower
jaw; from there down the neck was paint
ed yellow, and the lips were gilded.
do not know with what feelings the proud
mother regarded the artistic work she
had done on this poor young one, but te
me the effect was extremely disagreeable
and reminded me of hideously ugly
doll which bore but slight resemblance
| to a living creature.