The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-06-07
A TRUE YUM-YUM
Mrs. HIGH Fraser Writes Of the
Japanese Girl.
AN ELOQUENT Pen PICTURE
Strong Tribute to the Better
Types-Side Lights-SimpIe LIE.
The Line OF Duty.
AN ELOQUENT PEN PICTURE

The much discussed and properly
praised American Girl will be inter
ested in reading this that Mrs. Hugh
Fraser. in her Letters from Japan. 90
has TO say of the Japanese Girl:
The Japanese girl. She Is n crea-
ture of so many attractive contradiC-
tons, with her warm heart, her quick
brain, and her terribly narrow expert
ence: with her submissions and self
placements. which have become second
nature. and her brave revolts when
first nature takes the upper hand
again and courage is too strong for
custom-perhaps it is too soon yet for
me to speak OF her to any purpose.
and yet | want to- tell you how deeply
she interests me. how l believe in her.
and hope for her in the new develop
ments which the next few years will
bring forth. The books have read on
Japan have always had a great deal To-
say about the musume. the pretty pie
bian tea-house girl. or the geisha. the
artist, the dancer. the witty. brilliant
hetapira OF Japan. i suppose these are
about as unrepresentative OF the nor
NAL Japanese woman as a music-hall
singer would be OF the European Sister
OF Charity. That they are very much
less Objectionable than the correspond
ing classes at home Is doubtless due to
the innate refinement OF the Japanese
woman: but what gulf Is set between
them and the girls OF whom l would
speak-girls surrounded with punctil-
ious care. and brought up with one In
flexible standard always kept before
their eyes. the whole law OF Duty, In
clination may never govern their con
duct after they have arrived ut years
of reason, early reached in Japan: and
if they are the brightest children, the
most faithful wives. the most devoted
mothers. always serene. Industrious.
smiling, it is because Duty Is justified
of her children.
Il think that the simple. unfettered
life led by the little children here gives
the girls a happy foundation to- star;
On, as it were. There is no scolding
shutting away of the little ones day
after day in dull nurseries with self
| ish. half-educated women. whose mere
daily society means torture to sensi-
tive, well-born child. Here. children
are always welcome: they come and go
as they like. are spoiled. If love means
spelling, by father and mother. rela-
| tions and servants; but they grow inn
perceptibly in the right shape: they
mould their thoughts and expressions
| on those OF the soyereigns of the
home; and one day. without wrench or
| effort, the little girl is grown into n
thoughtful, helpful woman, bent on fol-
lowing the examples OF good women
gone before her. Very gently. but
persistently. one lesson has been
preached to her ever since language
| meant anything in her ears: Give up.
love, help others, efface thyself': and
in the still atmosphere OF the home.
with it's ever-repeated round of neces-
sary duties. in that quiet sunshine OF
humility, high motives grow and are
not pulled up by the roots to- be shown
to admiring friends. the young heart
wakes strong and pure. and. should
the call to heroic sacrifice sound. a no
BILE woman springs forward to answer
it; should it never ring in her ears. the
world is none the poorer. for a true.
sweet woman is passing through IT,.
smiling At every duty that meets her
on her unnoticed way. leaving n train
of gentle. wholesome memories behind
her when the journey ends. In real
womanliness. which I take to mean a
high combination OF sense and sweet
ness. valor and humility. the Japan
csc lady ranks with any woman in the
world. and passes before most o.
them"