The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-02-10
FAIR WOMEN OF JAPAN.
HOME LIFE OF PI0TURE5oUxl
ORIENTAL BELLIES. -,
Peculiar walk-Bathing as o Social
Custom--How widows. Maids and
Matrons Are Distinguished.

len about japan, but Tea
" ture which feems to hav
s suffered somo neglect fror
). most writers is the homo life OF the wo
men. of the welI-to- do middle class II
= that country. - The doings Of women "
one part Of the world Is almost always q
source of great interest to her sisters In
tho other.
No japanese lady with any claim to
position in society dreams OF walking in
rational manner. The step must be
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
unfashionable sisters. An erect carriage
is also regarded with horror by Jap.
anese belle; it is considered "mannish !"
the staid, true, aristocratic elegance Is
thought to be embodied in somewhat
STOPPING, roundshouldered attitude.
Japan can truly be said to be the prom
ised land Of baths, and in these do the
ladies of tho 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 e.wanNo. afJe'pal,vr'
covered with hieroglyphics OF tho spor-
tive tadpolo variety, arc sent out by somo
society bud or blossom. They read.
"Your delightful company is desired at
informal luncheon" At the lower loft
hand corner is tho word "Tnbbing."
Everyone accepting is expected to bring
her maid and the necessary parapher-
MALTA. The baths arc taken extremely
hot, and arc supposed to bcautity tho
complexion. After the bath tho maid
rubs her ladyship with rice chaG and
then annoits her with somo delicate per-
fumc. Soap Is carefully cschewed, as the
ladies say il makes tho skin dry and
hard. Now tho shampooor, rs the mas.
sour is called, is brought to perform hcr
duty, which also includes the Office OF
manicure. Her ladyship is given thor
oueh kncading and rubbing, and comes
out of the ordeal with color that rivals
tho glowings petals of tho dcop-blushinS
poppy. Now she Is provided with two
tiny aprons tIsd aRont hGr 6,t5 tTIist roho ~
nm exquisite shade. Assuming knccl-
ing posture, her maid takes curiously
CONSTRUCTED box, containing movable
ball, with which sho rubs or rather pol
shcs tho skin of the neck aud arms of
her mistress.
After this comes the most important
part of the toilct-the dressing of tho
hair. All Japanese women, high and
low, arc extremely proud Of their hair,o
which, rs rule, they possess worry
iuxuriant abundance, but thcy do not
hesitate to increase its wealth should ma
turo have been negligent in its supply.
The Japanese ladies do not ego in" for
the betwitching, tantalizing flufiiuess of
hairdrcssing that our American young
women indulge in. But thero is prob.
nbly reason for this in tho fact that,
Notwithstanding Sir Edwin's rhapsodcs
about "Glistening /silkcn tresscs," their
ihair is rather coarse.
Embarrassing mistakes rs to the mar
ricd or unmarried women arc cleverly
avoided by arrangements of tho hair.
The young women supposed to DO opon
for proposals, part their hair in two or
more strands, while the married ones
simply comb theirs in solid pompadour
roll. For state occasions tho young
girls affect very artistic combinations.
In one tho hair is coiled around large
ring of tortoise shell which is permitted
to glcam between the trcsscs. With this
style superb tortoise shell pins and combs
arc the only ornaments permitted. In
other arrangements gold and silver
threads are skilliully introduced as well
as exquisite flowers Of silver or gold fill
gree, many of which arc ingcniously
constructed to open and shut as tho
fair wearcr moves her head. A married
woman scarcely ever has any jewels
in her hair. If she does they must
not be over flashy. The matrons gen.
orally arrange their hair in deep falling
Ichignon. Ii q widow wishes to signify
iher 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
horizontally 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 wcdlock she mutcly tells
her desire to the world by combing her
hair straight back from the forehead and
cutting it short in the reck.
When lady is preparing for some
"swcll' entertainment she, like her sis
tcrs in other parts of the world, seeks the
rouge pot rs beautifier. Her neck is
given touch of nice powder, her cheeks
a tinge of rouge; then few thin dots of
..Nv Il ,,.,f Ah@ H. 0
'ssl.i.l., 80 wen as tho upper one, Is
painted bright vermillion. Her eye
brows are made as slender arches as pos
sible and carefully darkened. Even the
eve lashcs and nostrils are given careful
attention, the former being curlcd, tue
latter tinted.
Now she puts on her underSarmcnts
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, cmbellished by
the family crest or monogram in