New-York tribune., 1904-05-30
HOME LIFE OF JAPANESE.
Women Here and Abroad Fem
mine Enterprise IN Vest.

Sir Thomas Wade told me once At Pcking.' said
Mrs Mary Wood Swift Of San Francisco, while on
recent visit 10 this city that during an official
life OF thirty years in China he had never cnce
penetrated beyond the outer court Of a Chinese
mandarin's house. He had called upon the people
in sorrow and rejoicing; always he was
with the same stately ceremony. in the guesJroon.
He was never admitted into the family circle. never
advanced an inch over the barrier Of ceremonial
courtesy"
Mrs. Swift IS the widow Of John Swift who
United States Minister 10 japan and one Of the
Board OF Commissioners which in 1880 framed the
Chinese Exclusion act. She has lived much in
Japan and China, and IS naturally keenly interested
in the present struggle in the Far East.
Il think Tor the side that the most
benefit for the United States she said. and that
certainly means the Japanese side. Japanese VIC
tory means open ports intercourse with the world.
and looking 10 America for all sorts Of friendly
relations Russian victory means close corpora
ton policy.
When foreigner has lived in China Japan
long enough to know anything about either coun-
try" she continued, ne realizes that he knows,
and can know. nothing about the inner life of the
people. No foreigner knows anything about jap
anese domestic life. Even in the case OF the mixed
marriage. where white men marry Japanese
women white women marry japanese men. no
one ever knows anything about IT, Neither
party tells what marriage ceremony was
used There IS tmpenetraJI- reserve about
those things IN Japan.
II had dear little japanese interpreter. who
interesting study 10 me. and gave some
glimpses of insight into the japanese character.
She had been educated at American mission
school at Yokohama where she lived from the age
% six to that Of eighteen. she spoke and wrote
English with absolute ctuess. and was IN
dispensahle 20 ne The frst SUNDAY she was with
asked her il she wished to so TO church She
replied IN the negative ! thought nothing OF this
but when she made the same reply two or three
successive Sundays I was surprised
90 I thought you were Christian 1 said - her
why should you think 1 a Christian said
she
Well said :. 7 know you could not have lived
at that school for twelve years without at least
saving that Won were a Christian
d" Oh. OF course said she I was Christian
while I was there. But 90 you think could be
Christian in Shinto home?'
She apparently had no religion.
She p as one OF the most endearilg little
creatures ever saw. and when she died So felt as
bad as II Il had been n member Of the fam II. We
had several Japanese women servants aho u the
house and We always came 20 be fond " them
They were always Eoodratured and helpful always
charming and pretty ir their ways. In fact,
Tapsnese women are the sweetest gentlest. love
Hest little women n the world No cun help
liking them But you cannot depend upon their
word The men are somewhat less charming but
no more truthful than the women. We always got
fond of our Japanese men servants but they arg
not deperd1u.e. They viii tell YOU in the suavest,
pIeasa7test manner possible that they have done 4
thing when YOU know ot your own personal knowll
edge that they have not.
The japanese are an agreeable people 10 I've
among in every relation in lie They always
polite always cheerful always pleasant. Il is SO
IN social life. and, 20 f2r as any foreigner car see