The record-union., 1896-06-22
RARE FEMININE LONELINESS.
II is to be Found Among the MaidenS Of
Japan.
There Ere Many Striking Differences
Between the Lives of Japanese
and American Women.

Japan. Her advent in the world is
often heralded several weeks in ad-
vance Of the event by gaudy flag from
the hOusetop. On the seventh day after
birth her head is shaven and kept part
| ly SO until she reaches the age Of d.
During infancy she makes pretty pic
ture with her little bald head bobbing
about while strapped to the back of
her Lilliputian grandmother or elder
sister-alWays some enc too old or too
young to perform manual labor. Later.
all outdoors is her playground, and
her rope jumping, battle-door and shut
tIecock and romps in the parks develop
an undersized 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,
poetry, the various lessons of flowers
and rigid rules regarding obedience to
man AT ii she bursts forth a full
bIoomed cherry blossom, rosy-cheeked,
velvety eyes, with the least suspicion
of obliqueness, and bright as day. yet
dark as night.
Like all her sisters, she has an olive
complexion and beautifully tapered
fingers. While her face is pleasant to
lcok upon, it denotes little intelligence.
Her forehead is too broad. and the
cheek bones too prominent to meet the
requirements of the European idea of
!, i,7xrn n~isoh
alar, and Of pearly whiteness.
Becoming accustomed to accepting
the topsy-turvy Of things japanese,
one thinks nothing of blue that in
Western esthetics is becoming only to
blondes, being the universal color for
these dainty brunettes. Her dress va
ries dn texture and design according to
| her station in life. Those who can af-
ford to wear d long flowing kimono Of
silk or soft-toned Grape, which falls in
graceful folds to the feet, and is held in
place by 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 enor-
nous 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 obj is the only defect in an
otherwise very becoming garment, for
it is apt to give the wearer hunch-
backed appearance.
The trim little body Of the japanese
woman has not yet been subjected to
the steel stays of her supposedly more
civilized Western sister A thing of
beauty while sitting or kneeling, the
illusion is dispelled when she walks.
With several pounds Of wood in her
Shoes and her toes turned in, all posi-
bility OF a graceful carriage is preclud-
ed Her raven black treSses are every
few days subjected to a bath of rape
seed oil, and with the assistance Of in
Vulnerable pins, combs and wads are
formed into several waves and mounds.
She sleeps on a wooden pillow, mako
pa" on which the neck alone rests,
and as her nerves are of iron, the haAr
once dressed has a fresh appearance
for several days. The shaving Of the
cheeks, nose and eyelids are but part
of the hairdressing process.
Mild hirtations are not one Of the
pastimes of the Japanese maid. She
may go TO the theater, flower shows
and festivals, but the acquiescent chap
eron of America is here superseded by
d stern father Her acquaintance are
only Of her own sex. She smokes tobac-
CO as generously as an American girl
ckews gum, but her grace enables her
to inhale from a long slender pipe in a
manner that does not strike one as un-
far i'm inc n Ch he iG q WA re bnr
ways are not your ways, she cannot
discriminate. She sees no impropriety
in arranging her toilet stripped to the
waist. before a foreigner. When seen
this way she faces a stare with mod
esty. This may not seem an appropriate
| term TO the mind that makes the COM
mon mistake of associating modesty
more with her raiment than the thought
that prompts her expression. But in
this case it is.
Affection, position or love Of money
are little considered in Japanese mar
( riages. The fundamental principle of
/ marriage is a dreadful. deep seated
| fear of not having a family, and allow
! ing. in this way, the family name to be-
/ come extinct. Centuries of Buddhism
1 have made the perpetuation Of a family
name Of vital Importance and a mans
/ first duty to his ancestors. No greater
/ misfortunes can befall a couple than to
| be childless and to avert it marriages
are arranged early in life; proving bar
rem a divorce follows. another marriage
/ is arranged, and so on, until the family
/ is of sufficient size to avoid all possibil-
( ity Of such a calamity. An old maid or
bachelor is unknown in Japan. The girl
| has no choice in the matter of selecting
a husband, an absurdity largely respon-
sible for the existence Of one divorce to
every three marriages.
All is arranged by the middlemen, or
''nakado," whose importance cannot be
over-estimated. He is not only consult
| ed as to the adaptability of the young
/ people, but in turn interviews all the
! relatives OF both parties as to their
| preference, carries on the courting, Off
| ciates as 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 final appeal in all
family matters; has power to grant di-
yorce and arrange the settlement OF
| property and all details. He brings the
young couple together for the first time
/ the girl submits to inspection. brief
conversation follows, and if she proves
satisfactory to her future absolute lord
and master all is well. If not the man
simply leaves. With an engagement
there is an exchange of gifts of cloth
ing. flowers, etc.
on the wedding day the girl covers
| her face with q thick rice paint, rouges
ner lips and dresses in a garment OF
" hite-the mourning eolor-in order te
| signify her death to her fathers fam