The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-13
IN TER[STI ING
PAPER
The Factory Girls
OF China and
Japan.
MISS REYNOLDS
AT Y. W. c. A.
Visiting Representative Of Worlds
Y. W. c. A. Tell. of Condi.
tons in Orient.

A. the regular weekly meeting of the
Young Women's Christian Association
the following paper by Miss Reynolds,
visiting representative of the Worlds
young Women's Christian Association.
was read to the members of the local as
ISOLATION:
1.-THE Young Womens Christian Asso-
citation from its beginning in England in
1855 until the present day has had three
distinct periods of advance. The first
was when as single associations in the
different cities and towns OF many lands
it strove to benefit the young women of
each country in a way best suited to
their needs; the second consisted in the
formation of the national associations of
the European countries. as well as the
United States, step which led to uni
formity which was most helpful every
where.
1t offered the weaker associations of
the different countries the advantage of
visits from national secretaries, and Sc
cured an attendance of their officers at
national gatherings where helpful meth
DDS were presented and the discussion of
difficulties suggested the best means to
overcome them.
The last and natural advance, espe-
cially in these days of close International
Intercourse, was the union of the nation
associations into the Worn Association
with headquarters in London. The aims
of this last step were three-fold: 1. To
draw the national associations more
closely together for mutual information
and interchange of methods and plans
Q. To develop a national spirit in those
countries where no national organization
fefaI To he, afixr
spirit of responsibility toward the young
women of non-C Christian countries, such
as India. China and Japan. among the
young women of Europe and America.
The executive committee took up their
task wisely and energetically. Although
1t is only seven years since the Worlds
Young Women's Christian Association
was formed. yet they have encouraged
the organization of a national committee
in India, under whom they have sent out
four association secretaries supported by
the young women of the United States
and eight supported by British associa-
ton members.
Within two years the committee has
received appeals from different parts OIL
China and Japan from the Christian
workers of those countries to undertake
work in those countries among the
young women similar to that already
carried on by the Young Mems Christian
Association.
1t was with view to examining the
conditions and necessities of a few of
these places that the committee sent
their secretary Miss reynoIus, last win
ter to japan. The factory girl Of Japan
is as yet a comparatively new thing, but
unfortunately not a rare one. The prin-
cipal manufacturing center of Japan,
Osaka, numbers $4,000 girls and women
in factories and workshops. The chief
occupation is in the cotton mills which
usually run day and night the hours
being from to 6.
The girls whose average may fairly be
considered between 16 and Is years, live
within the factory grounds, which they
are not expected to leave except by spe-
cial permission.
OCCASIONAL efforts have been made at
times by some of the missionaries eng
lish or American) to locate at Osaka, to
open evening classes, industrial, social,
or for simple studies, among these girls,
but workers and time have caused the
work to languish. At last representa-
tives of the Christian Missionary Soci-
ETY. of England, the American Board, the
American Presbytery, the American
Methodist Episcopal Missionary Society,
and others, called upon the committee
of the Young Women's Christian Asso-
citation to send out a worker for this
promising their friendly cooperation and
help.
This year another field for the interest
ed young women presented itself In To-
kio. Women's education Is receiving a
new impulse in Japan, in the opening of
Women's Association in the city of To.
kio.
Thirty-two trustees numbering many Of
the leading men of Japan, with Count
Okuma, the well-known statesman, as
chairman, are looking after the manage
ment of the plan. The prominent bank
ers have given eight acres of land IA
vorably situated at one side of Toxic for
the erection of the building and for an
attractive campus. Already over 400
young women have applied for admit
lance and it has been found necessary
to raise the terms of admission.
Most Of these young women have been
students in the girls mission schools of
Japan and many are protesting Chris
tians. The University carefully refrains
from any religious recognition Of any
kind. and 1t will readily be seen what
unique position is offered for work
among these young women students by
a secretary Of the Young Women's Chris
tian Association.
It is most earnestly hoped that among
the women graduates Of England or the
United States some young woman may
come forward to take up this work and
also that many friends Of young women
who can not go themselves may welcome
the opportunity Of providing the funds
for such q substitute.
Space does not permit more than a
passing mention Of the can for work
or in Shanghai where the conditions
among factory girls are much the same
as in Osaka and these are but q few Of
the many places in both those countries
where young women are asked to work
among their sisters industrially. socially,
Intellectually and spiritually, as the as
ISOLATION constitution asks its members
to do In every part of this whole round