Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-10-29
WOMEN WANT NEW LAWS.
They Have Becn organizing I'm Japan
to Secure Their Rights.

to Secure Their Rights.
"The japanese ladies are really or.
ganizing at last. They are beginnings
strong movement to amend the Japan
csc laws so that japanese gentleman
that supports another woman besides
his legal wife can be arrested. The laws
are now one sided, yes, very much one.
sided. The japanese husband can have
as many wives as he pleases. Not reg.
ular wives, you understand. Japan
law let's the husband marry only one
wife. Otherwise, he is guilty of bigamy
same as here
This announcement of woman's
independence in the land OF silent
wives and maidens that won't be
kissed came from S. Kishi, young at.
tovney of Toxic. Mr.. Kishi, having prac'
ticed some time in his own city, resolved
to venture forth into western lands To
see how it was possible for lawyers tc
make an honest living in Europe
and America. The study of this intri
cate problem detained Mr.. Kishi 81,
weeks in San Francisco, three months
in Milwaukee and some weeks in Chica.
20. He has now arrived in st. Paul
where he will enter the law department
of the Great Northern railroad and re
main several months. Eventually ht
will proceed to Europe.
Formerly" continued the smiling
white-toothed law pilgrim, shat is &c
say, up to 25 years ago, japanese gen
tleman could have as many informal
wives as he wished. He was rather
proud of them and showed them in pub
lie. Now sentiment has so changed that
he keeps them hid away. He would be
thought very immoral to exhibit them
In public. Yet he cannot be punished by
law. But this exception in favor Of the
men is likely to be done away with
There is a commission now revising oul
civil code. That code is based upon the
Code Napoleon, not on the English com
mon law. Our commercial code, how
ever, Is modelled after the commercial
code Of Germany.
"But it is natural for woman to wnnt
less than man IN Japan. We consider
that she is equal to man in quality, bu
not in quantity. That is the way we ex
press it. And she is always by nature
different. Man is strong, rough, brave
Woman is weak, gentle, gracious
timid. She must attend to her home
Man must go out into business, int
government, into war. We do not mi,
occupations as you do here. For exam
pie, the men ride bicycles in Japan yer.
much more now than before. But tn,
woman-never. A woman astride Of
bicycle! 1t would be too rude, too bold
She should be at home, not showing her
self upon the streets.
Her costume? Oh, it is almost al
ways japanese. Years ago, perhap
ten years, one of our cabinets though
they would help Japan abroad by per
suading our people to dress like Euro
peans. Even the court ladies began t
wear foreign dresses. But the cabine
went down. The women took bacl
their native costumes. Now a Japan
csc lady most always wears her ancien
costume. We find that your dresse
are not convenient, as our women 81
about on the floors of our little houses
But the japanese men are using tn
European clothes very generally in GU
cities, that Is, for business in govern
ment offices and in the professions. Blu
when the men get home they take o.
these clothes and put on the good oil
Japanese robes. Then we are comfort
able.'-St. Paul Pioneer Press.