Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-05-17
JAPANESE WOMEN.
Curious Facts About Their Life and Hab'
lts-Thclr Devotion and Cleanliness.

its-Thcir Devotion and Cleanliness.
After all the discussions caused by
the advanced woman, it is interesting,
by way of contrast, to turn to the coun
try where woman's lifelong and chief
duty is obedience and submission. A
writer describes the Japanese woman
as really charming, not as response
bic woman, but as feminine curio.
AS wife she is of so little account that
from the most devoted husband she en-
poets but few favors. All the women
are born with natural courtesy. Even
the humblest have slender delicate
hands, and arrange everything with
surprising daintiness.
A Japanese lady's visiting dress often
costs two hundred dollars, not includ-
ing her hairpins, which are always q
most important item. AS the fashiah
never changes, both dress and pins are
handed down from mother to daugh-
ter In each city the women wear
color peculiar to themselves. In Toxic
it is blue, in Kyoto slate gray, and so
on Chamberlain says: at is little
wonder that the woman of the upper
class is adopting European dress,
which is by no means so general as is
supposed. 1t shows that, to certain
extent, she has shaken off the yoke of
inferiority under which she has Ia
bored. For to-day in Japan the great
est duchess in the land is only her hus-
bands drudge. lie treats her more re-
spectfully when in European dress.
The same woman has been observed to
walk into the room after her husband
when dressed la Japanaise, but be-
fore him when la Europeenne.
According to the 'Seyen Reasons for
Divorce" japanese woman can be
divorced for talking too much, which
disturbs the peace of her linsmen, or
brings trouble ON her household. She
shall be divorced for disobedience to
her father-in-law. She must look to
her husband as her lord, and must
serve him with reverence, not despis-
ing nor thinking lightly of him. She
must not enter into irreverent ia
miliarity with the gods-neither must
she spend too much time in praying.
If she performs her duties to her hus-
band she may enjoy the Divine pro-
lection without prayers.
She has no change in fashions to dis
cuss, no shopping to while away her
time, no Easter bonnet to look for
ward to, as she never wears bonnets;
her only ornaments are tortoiseshell
hairpins, her best parasols are made
of paper, her kimono must be of quiet
soft-colored crepe. Truly, she has a
hard time, this little japanese woman.
1t is customary for woman to
blacllen her teeth when she becomes a
bride, to keep away'other admirers and
show her entire submission to her hus-
band. The present pretty empress as
wife has, however, set the example
of wearing white teeth.
1t is said that Japanese crowd is
the sweetest in,the world They never
use soap; the figured japanese silks
and cottons will not stand it. Their
substitute for ironing is primitive.
While the material is very wet they
spread it smooth on boards and stand
them against the houses to dry.
The Japanese are devoted mothers
and excellent nurses, but the poor
little baby never knows the comfort of
a mothers lap, for she uses her knees
to sit upon, and holds her baby stand.
ing to her breast when nursing it. She
always carries it on her back
Drunkenness is unknown among
even the lowest women, but pipe is
her constant companion. She even
takes it to bed with her, while her lit
tie hibachi charcoal box), well filed
with hot ashes, is close beside her for
convenience sake. Her housekeeping
gives her but little trouble, for in the
lower classes rice, varied with tea,
picked vegetables, sauces, and fish,
comprise the three meals.
All who spend any time in the coun-
try are completely fascinated by these
sweet-tempered, gentle, and dainty
women, always easily pleased, and as
light hearted as children. One of their
greatest charms is that the longer you
know them the less you understand
them: their natures are so complex, in
spite of their apparent simplicity
Pail Mall Gazette.