The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-08-25

When we went to Osaka, says Mrs.
j. X. Goodrich in the Boston AdrerttSer,
the only foreigners there were two
Italian officers III the arsenal, who
could speak no English. We managed
to exchange ideas in French, but our
intercourse was very limited, and for
a time | was reduced to nearly abso-
lutte silence when my husband was oc-
cupied. In about three months, how
ever, had absorbed sufficient Japan
csc to go shopping and visiting, and
then | began to enjoy life. shall al
ways be glad that these first two years
were passed in the interior, because
the treaty ports have lost so much of
the national characteristics. Why, in
Osaka there was not chair to be
found. We drew sketches of the fur
niture that we required and Japan
csc carpenter made it for us-just some
chairs, beds and tables. Fortunately
we had taken our hair mattresses with
us. For some time we could get no
cups with handles and at last by good
fortune found a small service in store
on exhibition rs foreign ware. We
found servants, however, who under
stood European cooking, and to my
joyful surprise | found that we were
not compelled to live on rice and tea
| found in calling on japanese ladies
that my American dress was extreme
~ awkward, rs chairs were unknown,
so | speedily adapted the native cos
tune and very soon could 'suwarr (sit
down on the floor as well as any Of
them. | have always felt, too, that
my doing so gave me peculiar advant-
ages in my relations with them. They
regarded it as 4 compliment and were
more at ease with me sitting on the
floor in dress like their own than if
had retained my American garb. l
do think that the very sweetest women
in the world are in Japan! Such gem
tie. tender little mothers Such de-
voted little wives, Such bewitchinglY
childlike little creatures! assure you
that some of my very warmest friend
ships are in Japan.
Another circumstance that placed
me on an especially favorable footing
was the edict of the empress, soon after
my arrival in Japan, that no one
should appear at court except in Euro
pean dress, which enabled me to be of
real service. The poor little things
did not know how to dress themselves,
and although, of course, there were
missionaries and their families, the
feeling of caste is very strong in the
upper classes, and they regarded the
missionaries as below their own social
standing, so would not come in con-
tact with them. My husbands official
position, however, gave me the entree
TO the governors circle, and they took
me to their hearts very readily. Con-
sequently my wardrobe was on exhi-
bition to all the women, and, indeed,
the men as well, because they were
anxious that their wives should have
every thing correct, and showed much
interest. OF course | could help them
tremendously in this way.
One day, for instances lady received
me in superb Paris gown and wear
ing mems boots and socksi / showed
her what she ought to wear and won
her eternal gratitude. But they never
have become really reconciled to the
dress, and the shoes are particularly
Objectionable. Many times ladies cali
ing on me have asked my honorable
INilhioSitil W AIitlpNC LiltlI DpotS. anu
ON one occasion at a garden party
given in my honor the hostess asked
If she might remove her corSets. and
on my begging her to make herself
comfortable, proceeded to divest her
self of them then and there, much to
my amusement. The empress re-
seinded the edict about three years
ago, and now it is optional whether
they wear European or native cloth
ing. They have adopted the wearing
of rings and breastpins, but not brace
lets. The empress never appears in
public in native dress, except at GER
tain yearly festival. at which both she
and the emperor wear it, She is a
pretty woman, with a very sweet ex-
preston, and is well educated. She
dresses Handsomely and in GOOD taSt.