The Portland daily press., 1896-05-09
TWELVE PAGES.

moro privileges and broader sphere Of
usefulness. To what extent this will go,
and what the results of the present tide
will be i'll changing thu status Of women
for the future, it is impossible to fore
tell, but there is no doubt that the
women of new Japan are beginning to
take part in outside matters. Soma
of them are well educated, thoughtful
workers, many are working as teachers
in the primary schools of Japan, and u
few as teachers of higher special branch.
Is. A number have gone abroad for
study, and taken college degrees in
America, and others have accompanied
their husbands, who have been sent to
foreign countries on official and other
business. The nurses in the hospitals
are all women, we'll trained in their pro.
fession, and those of the Red Cross Hos
pital Of Japan have been already heard
Of in foreign countries for their good
work during the recent war. Already
some Japanese women have taken medi-
cal degree. and are practioing very sue.
oessfully. Literature and art have inter.
ested others, and there are some names
of note among them, especially in Thu
branch of poetry.
In the homes those who are the wive1
and mothers have a more active part in
outside matters than they had in the old
times. The hostess' duties are numerous
and responsible when guests are enter.
tanned at house, aud there is oppor-
tunity for display of natural ability and
wit. The wives of the Cabinet Ministers
and high officials have their social duties
together with their husbands. They
receive and entertain foreign guests, APP
pear at balls and entertainments, and
are often seen riding in their carriages
on social visits. Women's names often
head the list in many of their charities
and philanthropic projects which re-
started, and nominally, if not In actual
tiers affecting general society.
Within the home, especially in tie mid
die and lower classes, woman's place is
by no means that Of mere drudge, or
of an ornamental plaything-o1e Of
which is always supposed to be the fats
of an Oriental woman. Hidden in the
inner reoesses of the home, power and
influence is welded that cannot be
despised. A woman's influence with her
children is paramount, and her devotion
to them, and their love and respect for
her, are among the striking features CT
home life. A wife has full power in the
minor details of the household, for all
the servants, men and women, are under
her, and act under her. supervision, and,
though not sharing in the higher
| thoughts of her husband, she often has
not only his love but his respect for her
ability aud sympathy in the little affairs
of daily life.
| Every tendency is now toward better
| ing the position of woman. ThrouGh
education, Christianity and the influence
of foreign thought women are being
made more capable, more independent
and more true helpmates to their has
bands in every way. although these is
much that is lovely in tho old Japanese
system of training for women much of
it must give way to fit the plane of
| thought and the civilization of the PIES
ent age, and the japanese woman must
keep up with the men in the progress
which is being made so that they will
tend moro an more to take place OF
equality with them by law and by theory
as we'll as in actual practice.
UME TsUDA.