St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-08-26
JAPANESE WOMEN.
TAey Are DaintyA Little Creatures
with the Most ChaRning

The fair sex in Japan are the most
simple and at the same time the most
Icomplicated creatures imaginable. In
their general ideas and knowledge Of
the world they are like children-de-
lightful children, too-and, in their
love of enjoymsnt and simple pleasures
they retain their youthful simplicity
all their lives. But, on the other hand,
it is almost impossible for e 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 it is impossible
to penetrate. have vainly attempted
to fathom the cause of this barrier
but without success; and find II II
tho general experience of those who,
like myself, have lived among the Jap
anese. and known them well.
Perhaps the natural antipathy which
has SO long existed between the eastern
and western races may sOrnswhat ac-
count for this want Of intimacy, and
also, I fear, we Europeans have often
wounded the delicate susceptibilitieso Of
our eastern cousins by our want at taet
and our tendency TO treat their man
ners and customs with ridicule, II not
contempt.
I 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 a 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 4 more ideal lady" than
among the wives and daughtersof.'f fair
|Japonica." "A japanese lady reminds
me of a 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 morbidly 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 1 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 ignor-
ant of the cause of his dismissal In
appearance . japanese woman Is
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 vestige
of good looks departs. Their complex
ions are very sallow, hut 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, sloping
slightly upward. high narrow fore
head, and abundance of smooth. black
hair. Their movements are graceful.
although the style of their dress pre-
vents them walking with ease; their
feet and hands are delicately formed.
and their manners unquestionably
charming.
They take little or no exercise. and
one wonders sometimes how the little
ladies employ their time-there seems
SO little to be done in a Japanese house.
|-Cornhill Magazine.