The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-16
BAR SLEEVELESS DRESSES.


Ihefe is a wall OF protest going up
from foreign residents In Japan at the
dress reform inaugurated by the offi-
Gals under their added power snce the
treaty revision. The foreign residents
are bewailing that the line is drawn at
sleeveless dresses. with them, whereas
some or the natives 20 stark naked and
others wear clothing that could easily
DE packed In pill box. The following
chpping from the Weekly Box OF Curl
os. an English paper published at Yo-
kohama, suggests the manner in which
uress reform is being carried on:
Ihe stark nakedness of many ma
tives and the translucent summer cos
TUNES of Others have evidently so
shocked the sensibllitics of an osaka
ponee,nan that when treaty revision
gave him the authority TO boss foreign
ueeaIs' ne concluded to teach them
.oiIiilon decency, and train them in the
"ay tney should go. 1t did not take
niiii more than three days To lind an op-
~ unity TO get I'm his work. and he did
~ il such a thoropgh manner that his
.s.i n-nie mas become household word
Taaons the pure-m minded and prudish
mentioned by the foreign press as a
worthy candidate for a leather medal.
an ling about as incompetent a Law
suaruian as Japan could rake up.
ne occaslon for the exercise OF his
uuenority was when MrsJonas conclud-
"a TO make a call on a friend. and in
uoihs 50 TOOK with her her little 1-year
81, ~. ~ me day was hot and the little
on sleeveless dress. AS She passed a
po,lce pox the policeman ran out and
oruered the iickshaman TO stop. He
, .,ohlihenced TO lecture the lady. and
hept pointing at the child's bare arms.
aHu hnaIiy IL dawned upon her that he
", Was ppJecting to the dress. but a she
cru a no, speak the Language. she did not
lihu out until she had been sompelled
10 return home that ~ was the chIld's
pare arms to which he had objected
ne police curio's action had attracted
crowd of natives BY his side s,ood
I stark naked Japanese OF the yame age
as the girl and we have no doubt the
'Very-day sight of mother bare 10
me wa ST nursing a babe. or the conn
non @ one OF a narrow piece OF cotton
covering the loins OF many a ,nan yera
IN exhibition. but these were NOT seen
Nhlle the pare arms OF a little child SO
Knocked this petty official that he clean
orgot the nakedness that adurns the
'treets or Japan from morn till night.
hr. Jonas was naturally very indignant
ma complained TO the chief of police
ma the British consul. and we have |
therefore, no doubt the matter will be |
ttended 10 and this officiouss Bobby |
aught his duties.
III - the most absurd display of au- |
hority we have heard OF even In japan.
nd has caused many foreigners To feel
nat the annoyances they had feared
rom petty officials are sure to come. n
ceiling that had nearly disappeared
through the painstaking efforts of the
uthorities to do all in their power to
nake matters as pleasant as possible
We afe-Hot disposed TO take any such
lew or the situation. for among so
many low-paid officials ii Is but matt
Iral TO expect that some such official
as the Osaka policeman is
ound To crop up. Strong i'm the belief
hat the head officials are striving to do
heir best, we feel confident that such
will be weedei out from |
he force, and that the example will i'm |
ress the others with higher sense OF
heir duties and the limits Of their pow
rs.''