New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-11
WHITE WIVES IN THE EAST.
THEIR UNHAPPY MARRIED LIFE IN JAPAN
AND CHINA.

SIR In the last few weeks the newspapers nave
rocorded several marriage, between American girls
and Chinese and japanese young men, tie moS'
notable wedding being that Of the charming
daughter of a prominent member OF the society
OF Friends at Philadelphia to japanese convert
to Qualersm Inasmuch as the accounts OF tIds
particular ceremony, well as those OF iho''
Others, have been accompanied ny an announce
mcnt Of the approaching departure OF the happy
couple for the Orient, | venture to INQUIRE Vi
the young lady's parents through the COLUMNS VI
The Tribune what means they have taken 10 ascei-
tain the nature of the future existence of their
daughter in Japan as the foreign wife OF naive
Having made several prolonged stays both IN
China and Japan and having seen more OF na'l'e
life than fall, to the lot of most foreigners,
cannot but view with miSgivjngS the future OF
these young American girls, who have been lea
either by fondncss of notoricty, sentimental en-
travagancc. exotic craze or mere feminine con-
trarncss but certainly not by downright, honest
ST a!flst love, to conf r their hands upon members
Of the Turanan yellow race.
Before proceeding to cnumcrate and briefly 10
discuss the very serious objections which eNlst ID
unions of this nature, | would mention the TACT
that there are number Of poor, delnded WINE
girls in both China and Japan who are living III
material and mental misery rs The wives OF natives
They belong 10 every class Of society, from tho
h.hly connected Pruss,an baroness who riaTrleh
the former japanese Minister n Berlin, down -
the daughter Of the Bloomsbury lolgin?-house
keeper vino considered that she had made n great
matrimonial catch "hcr she led one OF Tie a.
tachcs of the MikaGos London consulate TO the
altar. But in every case their fate has been
equally unhappy and disappointing. On reaching
the shores of their husbands country. ther have
JaH lorilh his
the foreign residents Mcrcilcssly boycotted by
every American and European woman in the place.
they were treated with open contempt as creatures
that had lost caste and every CHM 10 respect, by
tSe men.
They arc thus restricted altogether 10 the
society of the natives whose feelings Of regard
for them are certainly not increased by the treat
mcnt 10 which the unfortunate women are SUD-
icctcd by their own counrymcn and country
women. Moreover the native husband soon no
Gins 10 discover that he has saddlcd himself
with kind of white elephant in marrying an
American or European wife, whose demands for
even the most elementary comforts Of civilized
life constitute drain upon his shallow purse ana
whose invariabr discomfort with her surroundings
quickly hlui>hcs from his tickle heart any tender
fcclin-, toward her. The result Is that he soon
lc1ius 10 neglect his white wife for some Of his
graceful and charming little countrywomcn. who
are never without q smile both in their eyes and
ON their lips. and who understand both his ways
and character 10 degree beyond the comprehension
Of the foreign wife lnasmuch as there is no
japanese synonymc for the ENGLISH word chas-
t,t.." il Will be readily understood that such
thing in Dai Nippon as regard for the marriage
vows. or indeed, for any sort Of morality, Is
conspicuous only by lis absence especially in
tic case Of men. In course of time the foreign
wife discovers that u is useless to resent either
tie neglect or the unfathfulncsS of her husband,
docmiug herself fortunate. indeed II he does nor
attempt 10 impose upon her the society and the
residence beneath her roof Of ono or more native
Iiagars.
1t was only the other day that the English
papers contained the sad story Of a young girl
o. Newcastle. who had fooliShy accepted an offer !
OF marriage from young Chinese naval officer |
named Ling, who had been sent to Great Britain |
- study cunucrv. All protests on the part Of
lcr parents were silenccd by the apparent sin
ccrity Of his professions of attachment and by |
the fact that he protcsscd to be Christian. |
lis mansion in China was most imppssively |
described, and the girls parents were asked to
picture her living in the most picturesque OF
Oriental luxury. amid orange groves and plants OF
exquisite beauty The infatuated girl cast in her |
Iot with the Celestial. and started with him |
49,. = - .,..-,,~;r,. .,l,, r,c..r pou |
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ceased altogether A. length. however, a letter |
was received ~ Newcastle from the chief Of one
of the missionary stations, stating that the gin
Lad first been me- elected then ill-treatcd. and !
en-. l.i.,,,l L,. b.r Cbiresa husband and /
i'''"H "''u''"'" ~ ~" -, .t
iua', after having gwen plrth 10 d emu AT '"'
mission hospital, She was on her way home 10 I,
r,,i,rl
''7 ''' ., .., . .ho, !
oI '"ufs'' IL W'I al on'' "' Pol""u o"' '"'''
the ease jest mentioned Is that OF 'hIn'mai /
and that the japanese are far superior IN every !
,,,,. This however il an argument which |
80, - id ANS. !
I"llH'r Nor any one 'IS' N''' has '''' '''
iMDOrtaut dealing with members Ot both nation !
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