The Opelousas courier., 1893-04-29
FAIR WOMEN OF JAPAN.
uowE LIFE OF PICTURESQUE
ORIENTAL BELLIES.
pacpIiar Walk-Bathfns as a Social
rustom-How Widows. Maids and
Matrons Are Distinguished.

a - suffered some neglect from
most writers is the home life of the wo.'
men of the well-to-do middle class in
that country. The doings of women in
one part of the world is almost always a
source of great interest to her sisters in
the other. c.
No japanese lady with any claim to
nosition in society dreams of walking IN
3 rational rnanner. The step must be
very short and "~choppy," and care is
taken that the shoes shuttle at every
movement. TheJapanese dudines haYe
an elastic band joining their knees in a
manner that prevents them from taking
vulgar every day steps like their poorer
questionable sisters. An erect carriage
Is also regarded with horror by a Jap
anese belle; it is considered ''mannish;"
the staid, true, aristocratic elegance is
thought to be embodied in a somewhat
stopping, roundshouldered attitude.
japan can truly be said to be tie prom
ised land of baths, and in these do the
ladies of the land indulge to their hearts
content. Strange though it may sound,
it is nevertheless true that clubbing" has
developed into a social kind of sport and
recreation among the women of leisure Of
Japan. Little square bits of rice paper,
covered with hieroglyphics Of the spor-
tive tadpole Variety are sent out by some
society bud or blossom. They read,
nYour delightful company is desired at
informal luncheon" At the lower left
hand corner is the 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 chat and
then annoits her with some delicate per-
fume. Soap Is carefully eschewed, as the
ladies say it makes the skin dry and
hard. Now the shampooer, as the mas.
seur is called, is brought to perform her
duty. which also includes the Office of
manicure. Her ladyship is given a thor
ough kneading and rubbing, and comes
out of the ordeal with q color that rivals
the glowings petals of the deep-blushing
poppy. Now she is provided with two
inv aprons tied about her swaist and
swathed in a soft, clinging bath robe OF
sn exquisite shade. Assuming a kneet-
inc posture, her maid takes a curiously
CONSTRUCTED box, containing a movable
ball, with which she rubs Or rather pol
ishes the skin of the neck and arms OF
her mistress.
After this comes the most important
part of the toilet-she dressing of the
hair. All japanese women, high and
low, are extremely proud Of their halr,ot
which, as a rule, they possess a very
Iuxuriant abundance, but they do not
hesitate to increase its wealth should ma
ture have been negligent in its supply.
The Japanese ladies do not 'tgo in" for
the b~etwitching, tantalizing Aufiness OF
hairdressing that our American youn2
women indulge in. But there IS prob
ably a reason for this in the fact that,
notwithstanding Sir Edwin's rhapsodie'
about "Glistening silken tresses," thell
hair is rather 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 opel
for proposals, part their hair in two o.
more strands, while the married one
simply comb theirs in a solid ~pompadoul
roll. For state occasions the youn!
girls affect very artistic combinations
In one the hair is coiled around a larg,
ring of tortoise shell which is permitted
TO CLEAN between the tresses. With thl
styIe superb tortoise shell pins and COMB
are the only ornaments permitted. Il
other arrangements gold and slLve
threads are skilIfully introduced as wei
as exquisite flowers Of silver or gold NIL
gree, many of which are ingenlousl
constructed to open and shut as tn
fair wearer moves her head. A marrle'
woman scarcely ever has any Jewel
in her hair. If she does they mos
not be over fashy. The matrons gen
erally arrange their hair in a deep faliln
chienon. Ii a widow wishes to signll
her desire to once more assume the bono
of matrimonial bliss she deity slgnalize
her wish by arranging her hair IN
heavy braid through which she puts
very long pin. This braid is arrange.
horizontally near the top. of the heae
and is so pronounced in its character
to be almost aggressive. Again, Shout
a widow prefer to cherish the memorie
Of her past husband and intends to r
main apart from wedlock she muteiy tel
her desire to the world by comblng ne
hair straight back from the fcreneao 81
cutting it short in the reck.
When a lady is preparing for son
aswell' entertainment she, Ike her 81
tiers in other parts Of the world, seeks Il
rouge pot as a beautifer. Her neck
given a touch Of nice powder, her cheei
q tinge Of rouge; then a few iii dots
gold paint are put or the under Il
which, as well as the upper one'
uainted a bright vermillion. Her ey'
brows are made as slender arches as pc
sible and carefully darkened. Even q
eve lashes and nostrils are given carer
attention, the former being curled, 9
latter tinted.
Now she puts on her u~ndergarrnen
of soft tinted silk An outer wrap, 60
kImono, of as superb material IS .
lady's purse can afford, is then put Q
mn. ~,la nnnhoIlIe1A0 1