Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-15
JAPANESE WoMAN's VIEW.
Contrast of Boys, Youths and Men in
Their Home Life.

From the New York Tribune
A japanese woman, at the end of year g
visit here, gave a short talk to a group Of
friends the other day regarding the differ
ences between Americans and japanese, as
boys, youths and men-explaining modestly,
however, that she did not regard her OBJ
servations as anything more than generally
inclusive. But her hearers felt that the
contrast of conditions in the two countries
(although somewhat to the disfavor of her
own people, was fair and clear sighted.
I'm a japanese home" the unwonted
lecturer began, in her dainty, deprecating
fashion. the parents welcome a girl as
well as boy: but when a boy is born the
household jubilee and salutation are apt to
be deeper and greater. One usually con-
graduates Is it a boy? Well done" So
then from babyhood the japanese boy. I'M
like the American, has a certain predomi-
nance over the girl
LAS little children the western and eastern
boys are both as restless. inquisitive, active
and mischievous as can be. However. their
behavior toward sisters and girl friends
may be a little different. Even at this
early period the idea of helping girls and
protecting the weak may be germinat ting
in the American boys little mind, notwith-
standing the frequent temptation to tyran-
nize over the less strong girls. The Japa-
nese boy is tender toward his own sisters;
his love toward them is beautiful to see
But the common tendency toward the other
little girls is to look down them, tease
them rather than help. keep from them
rather than approach, because when he
dares to be kind to them then he must
bear scorn and laughter from the other
boys.
Such a boy grows to be a youth What
then? The difference between the American
and Japenese, no wonder, grows more and
more By this time the manners Of the
American boy becomes refined and gentle
manlike; he learns how to act before the
elders and women. On the contrary, the
Japanese boy is not half so much restrained
about etiquet as the girl is. Moreover.
there was at one time queer idea in fash
ion among the Japanese youths. namely,
to despise any boy dressed in good order as
a mean fellow, who thought only about his
outward appearance, and to consider the
dirty face torn coat. short sleeves and
rough manners as signs Of the true, noble
mind, SO that the word Student used to
represent everything riotous and untidy. In
spirit they were harmless and studious; 1t
was a mere peculiar conception of the time
Happily this erroneous idea has already
are more rational and polite. But at this
period the outward relation between the
brothers and sisters is no longer close for
they do not attend the same schools; their
interests change; they do not go out much
together; the brother spends most of his
time away from home; to his sisters friends
he seldom appears. SO that no matter how
entertaining he is among his own friends,
girls. What a contrast to the American
boy!
college work being finished. next comes
the time for him to be a man-an indie
pendent man. He must marry now. The
American has already many acquaintance
among the gtrls 1t is not so hard for him
to choose one for his wife. But poor jap
anese boy! He has put OF his rough ways
and becomes gentleman by this time, but
where can he find the bride he likes? The
few girls whom he knows are either his
cousins or his friends sisters, or his sisters
friends: even them he does not know very
well. If he can find the lifelong friend
among them. it is fortunate for him; If not,
his parents or his older friends are the ones
who take pains to choose the appropriate
girl for him: SO 1t Is not unusual for Jap
anese man to be married to girl whom he
has never seen before. The marriage be-
tween the well-acquainted man and woman
is an event Of comparative rareness. How
pitiful must the Japanese custom appear to
the American eye!
THE man now becomes the husband and
the master Of a house. The American home
must almost. without exception. be a happy
one. for 1t consists of loving and loved peo-
pie. The Japanese home. though the way 1t
Is formed is so different. cannot be consid-
cred otherwise than happy. since the union