The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-09

WOMEN IN JAPAN.
aoey have Always Occupied the Hirhes,
Plane of Any Asiatic Woman

III the ola days, was not so strict
lhey led a freer and more outdoor
lie, and they were educated to a eer-
tam extent The family idea and
rule prevailed, and with the exquisite
poiiteness of those people exalted def
erence was paid the mother of
the family. The Confuc an laws
were recognized there as well.
and her duties and obligations were
strictly defined by them. Her three
great duties were obedience to her
father, her husband and eldest son. as
they In turn became the head of her
family
Japanese women of the middle and
upper classes were taught to read and
write the common language in the
''fd6dm", or simple running charac-
ters. instead of the square characters
OF the classic language. All novels.
plays and newspapers are written in
the harakama. and women are still the
great nOvel-readers of Japan. No
woman attended the theater before
marriage, and the upper classes not at
all, the realism and license O; the stage
being given as a reason A Japanese
woman's education formerly comprised
endless lessons and practice in the
mysteries of etiquette, learning to
play the koto and samisen. and to ar
range bouquets. Women of literarytaste
were not uncommon at court, and the
screens in the Empress suite in the
old kiota palace are covered with au-
tograph poems dashed off by herself Or
her ladies in waiting. The present
Empress OF Japan is poetic in her
tastes and has shown a great interest
in Western literature. 1t is under her
lead that such reforms in the condi-
ton OF women have taken place, and
In the court life she moves and acts as
any sovereign lady of European
country.
Since 1870 new laws have been
made regarding the legal status of
women in Japan, and the people are
still in transition between the old GUS
toms and the new condition of things.
Under the present laws women can
hold property. dispose of it and man
age their affairs on much better terms
than are possible to the women of
some European nations. They can
testify in court. although they seldom
do it, old prejudices not being suffi-
GENTLY overcome to allow a woman S
testimony to have much weight with
a Japanese judge.
The advancement of women has
been the most wonderful feature in
the progress of Japan during the last
twenty years. The Empress Haru has
led most of the movements, and found
ed institutions and schools destined to
assist Japanese women to a higher
and more nearly equal intellectual and
social plane with men and with West
ern women. Besides these institu-
tiOns. the Empress is at the head OF
the Fujiu kiOfu Kwai, society for
the advancement of women. and aim
ing to secure them higher social and
legal estate. Many Japenese men are
members of This society. and earnestly
devoted to its ends, more especially
those who, having occupied official
positions abroad. have had the Oppor-
tunity to see and feel how different
the position of the women of their
own families has been in foreign coun-
tries compared to what they en-
joyed at home. The late Viscouut
Mort. the Minister of Education.
who was assassinated in Febru-
airy, 1889. was an ardent worker in
this caue. He organized society OF
literary men. the Meirokusha. that
through its publications urged the adj
vancement of women, and their eman-
cipatiOa from the old customs and ETH
quette, and Viscount Morris great
point was the social and legal equality
of men and women. He was the first
noble to make the new marriage cere-
mohy conspicuous, civil contract
being drawn up before the Governor
of Toxic, and signed by Viscount Mort
and Mile. Hirose. In his death the
women of Japan lost their ablest and
most powerful champion.
Japanese women have been quick to
accept foreign methods of instruction,
and prove themselves intelligent and
faithful students. In the hospitals
and training schools for nurses they
show much ability. and take satisfac-
tory standing. No one among them
has yet aspired to be student of law.
and while there have been women
writer's of novels. poems and dramas,
history tells of but one Portia, a muir
1eress who defended herself in court.
and won her acquittal by the force
and eloquence of her arguments The
| exciting melOdrama of her life and
trial is an old favorite with all theater-
goers.
The women of Japan have always
occupied the highest plane of any
Asiatic women, and the future prom
ises them position and con liberation
equal to that of their American Sis
tiers. Oriental and Occidental reform
ers can ask no more. Harper 8
Bazaar.
The old fashion of making bags OF
ribbon joined together with fancy
stitching is again revived. All the
ribbons with pearl feather or lace
edges are useful for this purpose, and
silk and velvet look well together.
Such bags have base of velvet-cov-
cred cardboard about five inches
square, and are made of ten stripes OF
ribbon lined with contrasting color.