Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-14
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Daily eagle
WOMAN AND HOME.
WONDERFUL PROGRESS OF TIE WO-
MEN OF THE FAR EAST.

WEN UT
Something Personal About Women Who
write-How and Where the Clubs Have
Grown-How to Administer saIerntus
Bath-Eints to Wives and Mothers.
In Japan women have always held posi-
ton superior to that of their Asiatic sisters.
Their seclusdon, even in the old days, was not
so strict. They led freer and more out
door life and they were educated to GER
tain extent. The family idea and rule pre-
vailed, and with the exquisite politeness Of
those people exalted Difference was paid the
mother of the family. The Confucian 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 ard upper
classes were taught to read and write the
common language in the hirakana, or simple
running characters, instead of the square
characters of the classic language. All novels,
plays and newspapers are written N the hira-
kama, and women are still the great novel
readers of Japan. No woman attended the
theatre before marriage, and the upper classes
not at ALL the realism and license of the stage
being given as a reason. A japanese wornan's
education formerly comprised endless lessons
and practice in the mysteries of etiquette,
learning 70 play the koto and sanlisen, and TO
arrange bouquets. Women of literary taste
were not uncommon at court, and the screens
in the empress suite IN the old Kioto palace
are covered with autograph poems dashed off
by herself or her ladies in waiting The pres
ent empress of Japan is poetic in her tastes,
and has shown q great interest in western
literature. 1t is under her lead that such re-
forms in the condition of women have taken
place, and in the court life she moves and acts
as any sovereign lady of a European country.
Since 1870 new laws have been made re-
garding the legal status of women in Japan,
and the people are still in transition between
the old customs and the new condition of
things Under the present laws women can
hold property, dispose of it, and manage their
affairs on much better terms than are possible
10 the women of some European nations.
They can testify in court. although they sell
dom do ii, Old prejudices not being sufficient
IL overcome TO allow a wonaH's testimony to
have much weight with a japanese Judge.
The advancement of women has been the
Japan during the last twenty years. The
Empress Haru has led most of the movements,
and founded institutions and schools destined
TO assist japanese women to a higher and
more nearly equal intellectual and social
plane with men and with western women
Besides these institutions the empress is at
the head of the Futiu Kiofu Kwai, a society
for the advancement of women, and aiming
to secure them higher social and legal estate.
( Many japanese men are members of this
society, and earnestly devoted TO its ends,
more especially those who, having occupied
official positions abroR5, have had the oppor-
tunity to see and feel how different the posi-
ton Of the women of their own families has
been in foreign countries compared to what
they enjoyed at home The late Vfscount
Mori, the minister of education, who was as
sassinated in February, $780, was an ardent
worker in this cause. He organized society !
Of literary men, the Meirokusha, that |
through its publications urged the advance |
ment of women, their emancipation from the /
old customs and etiquette, and Viscount !
Morris great point was the social and legal |
equality Of men aud women. He was the !
first noble to make the new marriage cere-
nony conspicuous civil contract being |
drawn up before the governor of Toxic and !
Dy MOTT anu MIG. l1IOS-.
In his death the women of Japan lost their |
abIest ard 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 sat
isfactory standing. No one among them has .
Vet aspired to be a student of law, and while |
there have been women writers Of novels, !
poems and dramas, history tells of but one
Portia, a rlurdereSS who defended herself in .
court, and won her acquittal by the force |
and eloquence Of her arguments. The excit- |
ing melodrama OF her life and trial is an old |
fayorite with all theatre goers.
The women of Japan have always occupied .
the highest plane of any Asiatic women, and .
the future promises them position and con-
sideration equal 20 that of their American
sisters. Oriental and Occidental reformers .
can ask no nore-Eliza Ruhamak Scidmore I
3n Harpers Bazaar.