The Portland daily press., 1895-05-23
JAPANESE WOMEN AND THE WAR.
Their Spirit of Generous SeIf-Sacrifics De
scribed by One of Them.


scribed by One of Them,
miss Unle Isuda of the Peeresses'
School Toxic, Japan, in the New York
independently
We hear daily of many brave deeds.
Now is the time when the air is fuIl OF
generous and courageous acts. Nor is
this confined to the men alone: the
women of Japan are inspired by the
same noble spirit. The gracious en-
press, whose good deeds have already
been sounded across the seas, has set the
example by preparing lint and bandages
for the wounded men within the pre-
cincts of the imperial palace. She has
paid visit to the military hospital in
Toxic, whore many of the sick and
wounded soldiers have been sent back
from the seat of war. In all matters
concerning the struggle, she has taken
the liveliesJ interest. The bandages sent
| to the hospitals from the palace are held
almost sacred By the soldiers who re-
ceive them. This can easily be under
| stood when one considers the reverence
| i'll which the emperor and empress are
held by the people. / do not doubt that
many of the soldiers sincerely believe
that such baudage has miraculous
lowers of healing. At any rate, the fact
their time in such works has provoked
much gratitude on the part of the
nation.
From the outbreak OF the war, he g
has been the greatest desire among me
women to 80 out as volunteer nurses.
So many have been the applications that
the Red Cross society has been puzzled
how to choose from them; for in spite OF
the need for workers and good nursing,
many of the applicants, though inspired
by warm desire to devote themselves
to the work, yet lack experience and
skill. The applications have come from
young and OLD, and many of them from
women of high families. The we'll
trained regular nurses of the Red Cross
society are on duty in the hospitals, and
SO there has bsen less call for volunteer
work, but, should occasion arise, there
are thousands who would come forward
to offer their services, and sucn work for
the country would be considered to con-
fer honor on any woman, whoever she
might Re.
In all the different sections of the
among the woman to furnish comforts
for the soldiers. First among these, was
| one started by the wife of one OF the i'm
| perial princes, Princess Arisu e ava, and
large amount WIS raised from the
women of high rank for this purpoce.
| In Toxic alone. there have been a score
of different projects among women to
the army or navy, who are going
through hard privations in foreign
land. The contri buttons to these have
come from all ranks and sources, servant
women. the wives of coolies, hair-dress-
ers, the poorest of shop women, and even
the children have put in their pennies to
swell the fund. The army and navy de-
partments have special bureau to at
tend to gifts of money and articles to be
sent to the soldiers, and every day we
read long lists in the newspapers of the
things which have been received. All
kinds of eatables and delicacies, cloth
ing, blankets, stockings, gloves, and
many comforts have been furnished by
people who were by no means able to
spare them. One constantly hears of
sacrifices made by poor people who con-
tribute their mite gladly for the comfort
| of the brave men who are defending th g
honor of Japan, and winning glory for
the empire. I have known cases in
which sum as large as the earnings of
| NAIL n mODGu was given away, a
single thought of the matter.
Whenever troops are going down to
the military headquarters at HIROSHIMA,
before starting for China, they are met
at every station on the road by crowds
of enthusiastic people, who put out flags
| for item and greet them with loud
cheers Everywhere tea and all kinds OF
refreshments are brought into the cars,
and are offered freely. When a soldier
al
every one in the place will come to escort
and see him off, as if his going were to
bring glory on the place. Could any
| soldier, sensible of what is expected of
him, fail to prove himself worthy of the
honor which his friends without hesita-
tion give to him? The mother, wife and
sisters of the soldier join in the rejoicing
over the departure of one of their family
for the war, and help to make the part
ing an easy one.
1t is In this that the women of japan are
making their greatest sacrifice for their
Countrywide voluntary Offering of wha t
is dearest to them, in the lives of their
best loved ones. The husbands, brothers
and sons who are sent out to danger and
to death ale given most ungrudgingly.
No woman dares to utter word of re-
greet. Everything that is said or done
must go only to show the Joy that any
one of the family is given the oppor-
| tunity to serve his country; and though
at heart the burden may be heavy, the
anxiety wearing and the pain of parting
un bearable. not word or gesture goes
to show it. 1t is marvellous to see the
self-cont1ol and fortitude exercised. Over
and over again have had occasion to
notice and admire the wonderful spirit
shown by all-young and old, weak and
strong.