The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-23
vrom the Chicago Record.


The life of a woman Of the middle
class is the most striking OF the many
differences between America ana Japan.
Her advent in the world is often her
aided several weeks in advance OF the
event by a gaudy flag from the house
top. On the seventh day after blrth
her head is shaven and kept partly SO
until she reaches the age of six. Dur
ing infancy she makes pretty picture
with her little bald head bobbing about
while strapped to the back Of her Lilli-
putian grandmother or elder sister-al-
ways some one too old or too young to
perform manual labor. Later, all out
doors is her playground, and her rope
jumping. battle-door and shuttlecock
and romps IN the parks develop an
understood. but well-knit woman.
True to the instincts of nature. the
girl is more modest than the boy. She
Is invariably polite and knows no such
thing as disobedience to her elders. Al
though she may inherit precocity from
bright parents, mental development is
denied her. Her education Is little else
than the essential parts Of etiquette,
and rigid rules regarding obedience to
man. At fourteen she bursts forth
full -bloomed cherry blossom, rosy
checked. velvety eyes with the least
suspicion Of obliYccpess and bright as
day. yet dark az night.
Like all her sisters she has an olive
complexion and beautiful tapered fin
gers. While her face is pleasant to look
upon 1t denotes little intelligence. Her
forehead is too broad and the cheek
bones too prominent to meet the re-
Quirements OF the European idea Of
beauty. Her teeth are invariably regu-
lar and Of pearly whiteness.
QUESTIONS OF COLOR.
Becoming accustomed to accepting
the topsy-turvy of things japanese one
thinks nothing of blue, that in Western
aesthetics Is becoming only to blondes,
being the universal color for these
dainty brunettes. Her dress varies in
texture and design according to her
station in life. Those who can afford
1t wear long flowing kimono Of silk or
soft-toned Grape, which falls in grace
full folds to the feet. and is held In place
by a cord around the waist. Over the
cord and holding it is an enormous sash
or obj" ten inches wide and twelve
feet long, wound many times around the
waist. and tied in an enormous bow at
the back. 1t Is of silk material, woven
with gold thread and is the woman's
chief ornament. When covered by the
"haori," or outer winter coat, the
"obi' Is the only defect in an otherwise
very becoming garment, for 1t is apt to
give the wearer q hunch-backed ap-
pearance.
The trim little body of the Japanese
woman has not yet been subjected to the
steel stays of her supposedly more civ
ilized western sister. A thing of beauty
while sitting or kneeling, the Illusion
is dispelled when she walks. With sew
eral pounds of wood in her shoes and
her toes turned in, all possibility of a
graceful carriage is precluded. Her
raven black tresses are every few days
subjected to bath of rapeseed oil, and
with the assistance of innumerable
pins, combs and wads are formed into
several waves and mounds. She sleeps
on wooden pillow, ''makora." on
which the neck alone rests, and as her
nerves are of iron, the hair once dress
ed has a fresh appearance for several
days. The shaving Of the cheeks, nose
and eyelids is but part Of the hair
dressing process.
LOvEMAKING AND MARRIAGE.
| Mild fiirtations are not one Of the pas
times Of the Japanese maid. She may
go to the theater. flower shows and fes-
tivals. but the acquiescent chaperon Of
America Is here superseded by stern
father. Her acquaintances are only of
her own sex. She smokes tobacco as
| generously as an American girl chews
gum, but her grace enables her to inhale
from a long, slender pipe in a manner
that does not strike one as unfeminine.
While she is aware that her ways are
not your ways, she cannot discriminate.
She sees no improperly In arranging
her toilet stripped to the waist before q
foreigner. When seen this way she
faces a western stare with modesty.
This may not seem an appropriate term
to the mind that makes the common
mistake of associating modesty more
with her raiment than with the thought
that prompts her expression. But in
this case II is.
Affection, position or love of money
are little considered in Japanese mar
riages The fundamental principle Of
marriage is dreadful, deep-seated fear
OF not having a family and allowing in
this way, the family name to become ex.
tinct. Centuries of Buddhism have
made the perpetuation Of the family
name Of vital Importance and a mans
first duty to his ancestors. No greater
misfortune can befall couple than to
be childless. and to avert it marriages
are arranged early in life: proving bar
ren a divorce follows, another marriage
Is arranged and so on until the family is
OF such size to avoid all possibility Of
such a calamity. An old maid or bach
elor Is unknown in Japan. The girl has
no voice In the matter of selecting a
husband, an absurdity largely RESPONSE
BILE for the existence Of one divorce to
every three marriages.
All is arranged by the middleman. or
''nakado," whose Importance cannot be
over-estlmated. He is not only consult
ed as to the adaotability Of the young
people, bu. in turn interviews all the
relatives Of both as to their preference
carries ON the counting. officiotes us
master Of ceremonies at the wedding
and finally acts as moderator In all
questions Of discord between husband
and wife.
He Is the court Of i'ral appeal In all
family matters; has power to grant d.
vo'ce and arrange the settlement Of