The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-02-10
FAIR WOMEN OF JAPAN
ONE LIFE OF PICTURES0UE'
ORIENTAL BELLIES. =.
Peculiar WaIk-Bathing as q Social
Custom--How Widows. Maids and
NIatrons Are Distinguished.

most writer's is the home life of the wo.
men. OF the well-to-do middle class in
Nsthat country. ~ The doings of women in
one part of the world Is almost always q
source of great interest to her sisters in
the other.
No Japanese lady with any claim to
position in society dreams of walking In
rational manner. The step must bo
very short and "choppy," and care is
taken that the shoes shuttle at every
movement. The Japanese dudines have
an elastic band joining their knees in q
manner that prevents them from taking
vulgar every day steps like their poorer
questionable sisters. An erect carriage
is also regarded with horror by Jap
anese belle; it is considered "maunish; !"
the staid, true, aristocratic elegance is
thought to be embodied in a somewhat
STOPPING, rouudshouldered attitude.
Japan can truly be said to be the prom.
ised land of baths, and in these do the
ladies of the land indulge to their hearts
content. Strange though IL may sound,
it is nevertheless true that clubbing" has
developed into social kind of sport and
recreation among the.wauaast af1eipapvr,
covered with hieroglyphics of the spor-
tive tadpole variety, are sent out by some
society bud or blossom. They read.
"Your delightful company is desired at
informal luncheon" At the lower left
hand corner is tho word Clubbing"
Everyone accepting is expected to bring
her maid and the necessary parapher-
MALTA. The baths are taken extremely
hot, and are supposed to beautify the
complexion. After the bath the maid
rubs her ladyship with rice chaff and
then annoits her with some delicate per-
fuu.c. Soap Is carefully eschewed, as the
ladies say it makes the skin dry and
hard. Now the shampooer, as the mas
sour is called, is brought to perform her
duty, which also includes the Office of
manicure. Her ladyship is given thor
ough kncading aud rubbing, aud comes
out of the ordeal with color that rivals
the glowings petals of the deep-biushing
poppY.-No~ she Is provided with two
tiny aprons tied about her ITaist II sto - :;
nm exquisite shade. Assuming kneel-
ing posture, her maid takes curiously
CONSTRUCTED box, containing a movable
ball, with which she rubs or rather pol
ishcs the skin of the neck aud arms of
her mistress.
After this comes the most important
part of the toilet-the dressing of the
hair. All japanese women, high aud
low, are extremely proud of their hair,of
iuxuriant abundance, but they do not
hesitate to increase its wealth should ma
turc have been negligent in its supply.
The Japanese iadies do not ''go in'' for
the betwitching, tantalizing fuffiness of
hairdressing that our American young
women indulge in. But there is prob.
nbly reason for this in, the fact that,
Sir Edwin's rhapsodies
about "Glistening &ilken tresses," their
'HaH = fathef coarse.
! Embarrassing mistakes as to the mar
ried or unmarried women are cleverly
avoided by arrangements of the hair.
The young women supposed to be open
for proposals, part their hair in two or
more. strands, while the married ones
simply comb theirs in solid pompadour
roll. For state occasions the young
girls affect very artistic combinations.
In one the hair is coiled around large
ring Of tortoise shell which is permitted
to CLEAN between the tresses. With this
style superb tortoise shell pins and combs
are the only ornaments permitted. In
other arrangements gold and silver
threads are skillfully introduced as we'll
,as exquisite flowers of silver or gold fill.
gree, many of which are ingeniously
constructed to open and shut as the
fair wearer moves her head. A married
woman scarcely ever has any jewels
in her hair. If she does they must
not be over fashy. The matrons gen.
orally arrange their hair in deep falling
chignon. II widow wishes to signify
her desire to once more assume the bonds
of matrimonial bliss she deity signalizes
her wish by arranging her hair in
heavy braid through which she puts
very long pin. This braid is arranged
near the top of the head,
and is so pronounced in its character as
to be almost aggressive. Again, should
a widow prefer to cherish the memories
of her past husband and intends to re-
main apart from wedlock she mutely tells
her desire to the world by combing her
hair straight back from the forehead and
cutting it short in the reck.
"hoh d iauy 10 preparing iOr 6OHe
'tswell" entertainment she, like her sis
ters in other parts of the world, seeks the
rouge pot as beautifier. Her neck is
given touch of nice powder, her cheeks
\ tinge of rouge; then few thin dots of
gold paint are Rsss Ras r2S 2S tha Upper one,
painted bright vermillion. Her eye.
brows are made as slender arches as pos
sible and carefully darkened. Even the
eye laskes and nostrils are given careful
attention, the former being curled, the
latter tinted.
Now she puts on her undergarments
of soft tinted silk, An outer wrap, the
kImono, OF as superb material as my
lady's purse can afford, is then put on.
This is, as rule, embellished by
the family crest or monogram in
not less than six places-on each
sleeve, ON either side of the
A. x.,;llJo of +ho haolr