The weekly intelligencer., 1899-08-19
JAPANESE WOMEN.
TAsy Are Dainty Little Creatures
with the Meat cAaFniaE
AaAaers-

The fair sex in Japan are the most
simple and at the same time the most
complicated creatures imaginable. In
their general ideas and knowledge Of
the world they are like childrcn-de-
lightful ehildrea. too-and, In their
love Of enjoyment and simple pleasures
they retain their youthful simplicity
AL their lives. But. on the other hand,
II Is almost impossible for foreigner
really to understand their natures. Up
TO certain point Japanese lady is
apparently friendly. as she greets one
on meeting with that easy grace and
courtesy which Is one OF their peculiar
charms. But one seldom becomes more
intimate There seems to be wall of
reserve. beyond which 1t is impossible
70 penetrate. / have yainly attempted
70 fzthom the cause OF this barrier,
but without success; and i hnd II is
the general experience OF those who,
like myself. have lived among the Jap
snese, and known them well.
Perhaps the natural antipathy which
has so long existed between the eastern
and western races may somewhat ac-
count for this want Of intimacy, and
also, l fear, we Europeans have often
wounded the delicate susceptibiities Of
our eastern cousins by our want Of tact
and our tendency to treat their man
ners and customs with ridieule, IL not
contempt.
l am speaking more particularly of
the ladies Of the upper classes. The
little "musmee," generally considered
by the ordinary globe trotter to be the
recognized type Of japanese woman,
Is no more so than is the "grisette" the
typical French woman or the English
ballad girl the typical English woman.
Nowhere. perhaps, in the world does
one find a more ideal "lady" than
among the wives and daughters Of "fair
JaPonica." A Japanese lady reminds
me OF delicate sea anemone which, at
the first approach Of a rough hand.
shrinks into itself. avoiding contact
with the practical hardness Of everyday
life. She Is almost morbldly sensitive.
but her natural pride and politeness
forbid her In any way TO retaliate.
How little we understand her feelings!
A Japanese never forgets. Sometimes
revenge Is impossible, but have heard
OF more than one case when foreign
er's official position has been lost owing
to his wife's indiscretion, though he.
and his wife also, may be entirely lRnor.
ant OF the cause Of his dismissal. In
appearance Japanese woman Ia
smaller and Of slighter build than a
European. Many are distinctly pretty
when young. but they age very quick
ly, and with their youth every vestiae
OF good looks departs. Their complex.
Ions are very sallow, but their faces are
generally thickly painted and pow
dered. hard line around the neck
showing the point where art stops and
nature begins.
Beauty, from japanese standpoint
consists In long, oval face, regular
features, almond-shaped eyes, sloplng
slightly upward, a high narrow fore.
mead and abundance of smooth, black
hair Their movements are graceful
although the style of their dress pre-
vents them walking with ease; their
ieet and hands are defcately formed
and their manners unquestionably
charming.
They take little or no exercise, and
one wonders sometimes how the little
iadies employ their tlme--there seems
30 little to be done in a japanese house,
-COrnhill Magazine.