Smyrna times., 1892-01-27
SIR EDWIN ARNOLD'S LATEST TRIBUTE
TO THE SEMI-ANGELIC JAPANESE.
NEWS OF INTEREST TO WIFE AND
SWEETHEAR


comes, all things considered, nearest
to her sex, ss regards natural gifts, to
what we understand as an angelic dis
position. This, be it stated, is not aG-
vanced with the idea of comparison or
with her sisters in other parts
of the world. l would as soon, in nv
capacity OF writer, speak disrespect-
fully of the gulf stream and the equa-
tor and expect to be forgiven, as imply
any disparaging parallel between var
lous national representatives of the
fair sex. All that l feel obliged to
maintain is, that taking into account
their surroundings. the daughter of
the Land of the Rising Sun might
pass, | really believe, into sta te of
higher existence, with very few
changes of nature, manners or heart,
and find herself and be found there.
quite at home.
BUT THE MEN DON'T APPRECIATE
THEM.
The only people who don't appear
to appreciate the japanese women are
the Japanese men, and no doubt this
ought to make us pause before we
praise them too highly, since their own
husbands, fathers and brothers must
know great deal more of social and
domestic life in the country, than the
best informed foreigners can ever
learn. Yet | am inclined to believe
this Is really case where the Gods
have been far more bene6cent to
people than that people can well under
stand. Still, since we find in Japan a
general absence of reverence to the
sex, and a lack of almost all the higher
feelings which have found expression
with ourselves in chvalry and the
literature of of civilized love, it is hut
natural to ask why outsiders alone
should become enthusiastic about the
merits and virtues of Japanese women.
IN THE MATTER OF BEAUTY.
From the point of view of physical
beauty, 1t is not to be pretended for a
moment that the japanese woman
excels her Christian sisters. Seldom,
or never, indeed, does one see among
them any perfect example of feminine
beauty. Compared to their stately
sisters of England and America, they
are what a delicate ivory carv-
ing is to marble statue. They are
nearly all very small, with short lower
limbs, with little nose, pressed into
the face, with sleepy, slant-lidded eyes,
an almost ridiculous gait, and for the
most part of very limited education
and very narrow ideas.
WHAT IS THE CHARM?
How then shall we analyze the
secret Of the charm which this unique
specimen of her sex possesses over all
apprecative and cultivated minds
when they enter her sphere for the
first time? It lies no doubt in her
moral rather than in her physical or
intellectual nature. She is in point of
fact the most unselfsh, the most deny
ing the most dutiful and the most pa
tieDt woman in the world, as we'll as
the most consideTate and pleasing, and
l truly believe, more faithful to her
own limited, but ancient and earnest
ideas of rectitude than any of her sis.
ters among the nations.
ENFORCED PATIENCE.
Practically they have no rights from
birth to death. They belong through
out in theory, and to a great degree in
fact, to some man or other, first their
father, next their elder brother, after
wards their husband and his male
relations. Out of 500 marriages, 200
at least end in some sad or capricious
separation, for the husband can get rid
of his wife on the ground of too much
gOssiping or because of disagreement
with his mother-in-law, and the worst
of it is that the children afterward
belong to him exclusively. That is
the reason why these Japanese wives
are so divinely patient. Too patient,
indeed, we should all here say, but
| there hangs over their heads the per-
petual sword of DamOGles, the fear of
dismissal, and to maintain their posi-.
ton they must please their lords and
masters.
MARRIAGE A DOMESTIC ARRANGE
MENT.
In point of fact there is no marriage
at all in Japan. There are ceremonies.
presents, family dinner parties, put.
tings on and of, of pretty dresses, but
the sO-called nuptial alliance is a
mere matter Of domestic arrangement.
and has simply no legal or civil force
at all. When the nakOdO or agent has
arranged match and all is settled
between the two houses, the bride and
bridegroom drink nine little cups OF
saki together, aud the brides name is
transferred at the registry office OF
the Ku from her fathers abode to the
one of her husbands father, when she
will henceforth become her lords con.
slant body servant.
DUTY HER LAW.
The Japanese woman, like the Jap
anese man, brings out of her education
in a marked degree, the virtues of self
respect, high spirit and resolution
the fact being, that she sees in all thi
the ideal of her duty, and that whicl
ensues-the submission of her Who'll,
life to her father first, to her HUSBAND
next, and then to her grOwn-up NAL,
children-is the willing and accepted
submission to duty, not the accept
ance of bond.
navboId no;n, IT., c,;k al