Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-05-21
A JAPANESE LApY.
The wife or Japan's Minister Mt wash.
iuUton.


ington.
The Japanese household is one of the
most interesting at Washington, and when
its doors are thrown open 10 sotiety the
curious rush pell nell for glimpse Of II.
Nine. kuki, who presided over the house
hold until about year ago, was fond OF
society, had her gowns tnade by Worth,
and learned to speak English while here.
She was cmincntly Asiastic In appearance,
and II WAS on account of her falling health
that the minister asked to be recalled. Inc
minister's ward, Miss kuki. the daughter
of Niscount kuki, Is still there, ana VIII
remain until she finishes her education;
She is pupil at fashionable schoo! on NJ
street. and il quite Young lady, although
she IN no larger than H-year- old girl. She
is learning to ride horseback, and takes
several morning lessons every week - =, ine
riding academy, dressed IN the regulation
habit and silk hat.
The present minister, Mr.. Muts,,, Is n
typical Japanese, 1.-THE, slender, active,
alert, a polished gentleman and deep
thinker lie is swarthy. and his eyes a,e
black as night. He learned TO speak Eng
lisb in Japan. and while he doesn't speak Il
fiuently, expresses himself very well and
understands readily. He Ia a devoted hus-
band and very proud of his pret y wife, who
has but TO look as II she desired anything
10 get II. He Is In favor Of the highest
position for women. aud advocated their
advancement and freedom. Mr.. Mutsu
was appointed by the emperor governor of
Sok ohaIna, and several years afterwards
political complications arose aud he was
thrown into prison, whore he was confined
for four years and S,half. After the politi-
cal uphcaval he wasfeleased, honors were
conferred upon him, and on the recall of
Minister kuki the emperor mado him his
minister to the United States.
Nine. Muts,i, although she is the mother
Of a daughter taller than herself, and has
not the slightest objection to telling her age
up to the latest date. is very young and
girlish looking far more youthful In fact
than many a belle who has been out OF n
season or two. She is by far the prettiest
japanese lady ever seen In Washington.
She is petite, with pretty, graceful hgure,
and the tinest hands and feet imaginable.
Her skin is of that smooth satiny texture
resulting from the hot baths so universal IN
Japan, and Is a clear olive In hue; her cheeks
are like the dainask rose, and her eyes
large and dark and sparkling with intel.
ligcnce. Her eyebrows are straight and
delicateiy pcnciled, and her abundant coal
black hair IN rolled back from her fore
head and coiled on top of her head Her
teeth are white and even, and her lips are
full and ripe red. Her expression is very
quiet, but when she smiles her whole face
lights up and becomes radiant Unlike
most Japanese, her face Is a perfect oval
aud in the American dress, which she has
assure himself that she belongs 10 another
race. As one of the ladies in waiting to
the empress she became accustomed to
dress and liked il.
She has excellent and refined taste in
dress. She dislikes pronounced or con
spicuous colors, wearing soft delicate tints
herself, and for evening prefers white.
Most OF her gowns are made In Paris, aud
are splendid and costly. She has n natural
preference for sott silks, of course. Her
diamonds are beautiful and the neckl
she wears on state occasions Is n most
curious piece of workmanship. II en-
circles her neck like collar, and is
fashioned of sprays of flowers and
leaves of diamonds that almost con-
ccal the setting, and almost reaches
tho top of a low bodice. II had TO be altered
several times In order Ia get 1t to NJ her
slender throat She wears II only on very
great occasions, such as reception nj the
White House or a state dinner She has
another necklace somewhat smaller that
answcrs for more ordinary wear She does
not often wear decolcte gowns. prcicrring
the V or square neck, and has her gloves
reach the shoulders.
She Is u fragile, delicate little creature,
with scarcely muscle enough to lin an or
dinary chair, and looks with wonder on the
activity of American ladies. She rarely
walks except in the garden behind the
house, and has walked on the street but
once III uaytilne tihen IuSt around the DOCK
with LADY,, and twire ut night for
short distance with her husband.
This Is how the charming little lady from
the Orient spends her day generally: She
has her coffee and roll in bed French fash
ion; gets up about 10 or II, practices talk
ing English, has late breakfast or lunch
con, studies great deal, sometimes for six
or sevcn hours ii she doesn't go out
makes and receives calls, practices on
the koto, writes letters to her friends
in Japan, working for hours Mt long
columns of puzaling Japanese charac-
ters, and. most delightful of all to her,
chats with Nh. Mutsu. Then comes i'm
the evening an elaborate dinner of six or
seven courses, and later some amusement
M home or away from IL. Neither the
Minister nor Nine. Mutsu drink wine, but
always have ii for company. With every
box from home comes Japanese food, but
American cooking ploageS them very wen,
especially our roast beef and potatoes.
They have "A bright daughter of about
fourteeOor fifteen named Sava, pronounced
Si-yahl, She * taller than her mother, a
trilc darker, and has the rosiest of ROSY
checks. She speaks English very well. IL
quick nj ropartee, and full of life and fun.
In speaking she * very dramatic, acting
what she tells and talking with eyes aud
tongue. She has a big mastit, for n pc, that
Is over three feet high and weighs l3s
pounds.