The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-02
The WOMEN OF JAPAN.
HOW THEY ADOPT THEMSELVES TO
Y CURIOUS CONTEMPORARIES.
Their Appearance at Home lirtations
and Affectations-No Romance 10
Their Lives Beauty OF the Half
Castes--Honi Soft Out Nal y Pense.

. Toxic Correspondence Of the New York Tribune,
Where is there prettier picture than
tho little Japanese musume MS she stands
greeting you with q smile at the door OF
her chaya? And what smile she gives
youl From those dark eyes of hers II
seems TO come us much as from the full
red lips. II Is such comforting smile;
so promisory Of tea and dainties; so kindly
and iull Of good-fcllowship with dash of
coyncss' to cnlivcn it, yet free from the
stereotyped grin OF the barmaid of ciyiliza'
ton. You feel Ms II your coming alone
had caused the real pleasure you see that
after all you must be very desirable per-
son, else Why should you be so welcomed
by such dainty beauty? II is not the
smile OF one about 10 receive favor, but
seems rather greeting To an old friend after
hong absence You are not beguilcd by
any empty smile, for make your little bow
In az courteous q manner ~ 10 the proud.
EFT queen of christcndom and with all
fitting seriousness sit yc down upon the
steps OF the ycranda, aud two neat and
comcly hand-maidens will divest you OF
your shoes and replace them with soft fur
lippers. Enter then the antrium where
are all the ladies Of the house sitting about
a large square box sunk in the floor, half
full Of snowy ashes; each with small vase
of the same ashes by her sidc, n cup OF
pale tea and tiny.bowlcd pipe that gives
but two or three pulls at each filling. Yon
are given cushion, your tea, pipe and
vase Of ashes, in which you find concealed
burning charcoal this is the oriental sub
stitue for n luciier and then you arr 1T lib
erty 10 use your tongue TO the best ol your
ability.
One Of the classes Of Japanese women
that in many ways in particularly interest
ing, Is that Of the giisha girls. These are
Faid TO I've the only really virtuous women
In japan. They are the famous dancing
girls 81 the Land Of the Shoguns; and any.
thing more graceful than these bundles Of
bright colom IN not In civilization. They
arr mostly verype,i,c and generally young,
sometimes not more than ten years old,
yet they have an air, dignity, certain
solemn siatclincss, that seems q part Of
themselves, and IL heightened 10y their rich
costumes. They pose, they walk, they use
their fans. they ogle. they iliri, they go
through all the first part Of the national
dance Chou Nugi, or Chou kina, in n way
and with u grace that would bring tears Oi
envy 10 the eyes Of n court beauty oi many
seasons. Their clothes are always Of the
richest stuiIs and the embroidery in often
rnrc and costly. They take great pride in
their obiis, or sashcs, and frequently you
see n little ihrcc-foo; nothing morscl Of
L.. Ia
that the upper end OF the bow appears
above the head with most conical effect.
Between these delicate, attractive little
creatures aud the big, coarse, obese wrcst.
hens, thcn seems a. exist strungc kind OF
admiration Every gnisha girl, nearly, has
her faNoritc nnh inr him she works her
!, finest cnhpidrrics To grace him II he be- a
victor or console him II he hc defeated. II
pcscmhlrs the feeling IT the lcudal maiden
who worked her knights cOlon and
watched him bcar them well and braycly
IN the merry joust
Beyond this thcr IL no romance in the
life ol japanese rrl, no love making ~
We understand Il, and consequently the
Japanese novelist is rather at dis,d-
vantage. For lack oi other material he
halls back upon the only caste where in.
triguc and adventure arr possible the
dcni.mondc, and here hc finds plenty Ia
inspire his bamboo Icn and curllc the
blood Of his ratcIs lie * not forced Ia
stay his words from any fear of bringing
the blush II shame Ia the most dainty
cheek, he can give ire expression 10 his
story; Ion IN japan woman II not cOnsid
era'l an ouicast because she hats fallen irom
gracc, nor does She lusc her own self.
respect; II " not looked upon Rs in any
way wrong or immuml Sometimes, even,
young girl Is appwntivcd tO evil ways be-
cause 10 sim can src morn Of the world,
and, II h supposed, have her wits sharp
cncd, Der experience enlarged and, in faci,
finish her educail0n more readily than by
staying vt home, and then, being u woman
OF the world, she will be- morc likely to a..
trct men and make good marriage.
These girls often do marry extremely well
and become gOod wives and mothers ioI
the nst Of their days.
The japanese you see In America ar
mostly of the lower class.oe, aud give ~ In.
accurate an idea Il the rial beauty oi thcir
women ~ the Italian woman 81 The tcnc.
mcnis dDer " the PRETTY flower girls vi
Rome and Naples. The coolies are heavy
featured and rather poinicdly inclined q
well covered bones The others are grncr.
ally beautifully formed, aud without their
shoes arr graceful. Their faces arr ronnd,
and sometime have the most bowi.rhing
dimplcs that come aud ~ ~ unrcwonably
~ the delicate bushes "a their soit.tinic,l
olive checks. Their eyes am deep hafrl
with long dark lashes and beautifully pen
cilcd bruws. The nose n short aud
straight, the lips ~ dash 81 rich full rid
that y always biscctcd 90 show the strong
white teeth. The hands and feet m, Often
small and shapcly, and have deicai,
pink flush. The bust Is generally well
developed, cycn NJ an early age, anil no
corsc: could give such graceful figure ~
The average woman can boast. There /,
ono defect that almost none i free itum
the lcgs arc siuinpy aud shapclc~s, will
heavy ankles and big knee Joints. II /,
only IN th0ec who have European blooi
that this defect Is rcmcdicd. The half
casts arr often very lovely aud would b,
~ considered IN any country. They M,
gcncmlly tall anil wilowy aud have III,
pcculinriics Of the native l0itcncd and NJ
fined by the mixed blood.
They ar clean people. You NIGH
iust ~ properly amusc yourself pancin,
upon the soiiu " modern drawing .fuon
~ enter Japanese house without pmov
ing your dusty boots. Socicty demand
shoes ior indoors and shoes for out door
The mating II always spDilcss. the Whit
paper walls and vanished wool work H.,
IRON the slightest mark and the polishr,
fIoou shine like an I'D English table
Even acapiiom old spinsieg lnum tho Will