Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-02-10

with snld, and always carrying n lot
Of giant symbols which ranged in chDr-
acter from mild Buggcstiyeness down 10
the most outrageous indccenoy. At
ten houses, and above all. ut the num-
berlcss disordcrly establishments which
are 30 universal feature of life m
that land, there was crowd from
morning untn the waning hours OF
uiEht drinking smoking, singing, dane
Ing and revealing In orgies
which baile ali description on this
day the women of the demi-monda
were the chief objects OF regard and att
touliqn. In every house ancient Phallic
cmblema Wore brought out and placed
In prominent places and childless men
aud women resorled to the temple TO
pray for Offspring. Although the leaii-
val has been prohibited, the law even
today ia but lastly Administered, In
the city, the ancient symbols are no
longer exhibited nor are the orgies any
longer hold In fun view Of the public,
The festival "a nevertheless observed
and thoroughly enjoyed by all classes
from the highest to the lowest. In the
country districts In many places the
law is openly dcned ana the old
order OF aGgira Is the same today as
formerly.
In the past centuries sexual morality
has never been recognized as u yttue.
The mobiles, from the great Diamlos,
who corresponded to tho princess Of the
realm. down to the Samurai, ar n;Cu-
nt-arms, selected their wives, not from
AMONG their friends; not among girls
or women OF nnc character and pure
lives. but from the huge establishments
dedicated to immoral purposes The
Social evil" as we term It. was ie-
garded as praiseworthy and uprigh.
calling 1t was, moreover, regulated
by the government, just as civilization
regulates banking and Insurance. The
Japanese system never interfeced with
the institution, but simply tried 10 pre-
vent its becoming contaminated by eNll
people, who were addicted TO such ter
rlhle Vices as drinking, dlce-maying,
profanity and lighting.
They Were Reputable Women,
The inmates were respectable and
reputable characters, while the luckless
wretch who got ,ipsy or resented an
insult with q blow was promptly lock-
cd w as an incouiglble criminal Not
only are these historical facts hut the
official records Of three centuries show
that more than one thousand MOBILES,
! OF whom the mnjonty have lni; do
/ hoendants. started matrimony in this
I manner. and their wives wc'e treated
4 with the same, II not mora vest tVt
| bands In perfect innocence and ehasti-
| ~,
This remarkable paradox has been
partly explained by several native
writer's. Women who remained at
home Ind few or no opportunities to
acquire education, polish, accomplish
ments and n knowledge Of mon and
manners, The Japanese family NE IS
extremely kind and gentle, and the
at.f .ahf1Nwast
are allowed very much to have their
own way, They grow up in Ignorance,
aud too often in idleness. and seldom
made good companions for n man de-
eiroOs OF entering Into the marriage
state.
when they went Into these institutions
they were kept under control and con-
slant superintendent, they were COM
PEELED TO br neat aud attractive IN per-
son and dress. They took turns IN
sweeping, cooking, sewing, serving at
table, hair-dresslng, and the other ac-
complishments which so to make up
good houseSeeper They were taught
etiquette, music embroidery, painting.
singing and dancing, and above all
how 10 make thcmHelves agreeable
and gracious to the other SEX In this
way they received a training which,
though immoral, made them much more
attractive socially and personally than
they were when at homo. When they
came from the country or n small town
to one OF the large cities they lost their
provlnclallsms and gained polish,
which Is only found in large municl-
paNties, il WAS thus thar a woman OF
this class was said 60 have three chan
ces OF getting married while tho stay
at-homc had one
Education Now Emancipatcs Japan
csc Women.
Things are better IN thia regard to-
day, especially since education IN Japan
has been EXTENDED 70 women The
higher classes now select their wives