The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-20

~HE Adam and Eve of Japan first met by
chance on the Floating Bridge of Heaven
He had been stirring UP the troubled sea
of Chaos with the Jewel-Spear of Heaven.
The foam of Chaos dropping from the Spear created
the islands of Japan, and they took advantage of
the dry land. Setting the Spear UP like pillar, He,
whose name was Iznagi turned to the left evidently
counting on meeting her on the other side of the
Spear True enough, she had set out from the right
When they met She, whose name Iznami
claimed:
"How perfectly lovely! I have met beautiful
young mani"
But Iznagi was not pleased at being first addressed
even in so complimentary
This is not as it should be- he said 81 am man,
and should have spoken first. We will go around
again
This they did, and when they met, she held her
tongue and he exclaimed:
What luck! Here is pretty girl!
Thus the proper relation of the sexes was secured,
and they married and lived happily ever after.
So runs one of the old Japanese legends translated
in not exactly these words by Basil Chamberlain.
From that day women in Japan have accepted their
places ministers to the happiness and comfort of
their lords and masters 1t for all that is
lovely and attractive in the character of the Japanese
women, in whom graceful submission is carried so
far beyond the province of art that it is instinct
The Japanese man has not hitherto asked for com
panionshp intellectually. He even expects to ad-
dress his wife in other words and phrases than he
uses to his equals But the spirit of the new cvliza
ton has not left untouched; and his embar-
rassment at the proper course to be observed with
this new creature is sometimes amusing.
For example, when his wife wears her kimona she
trudges humby behind him. But when she puts
on her bonnet and foreign gown he offers her his
arm and they proceed awkwardly down the street
At home in her kimona, she serves him; but when
she has her foreign gown he stands until she is
seated. For in her kimona to express be-
fore her views and opinions would shock him
inexpressbly But in Paris costume it. or anything
else, might be reasonably expected, Unhappily, Car
lyle died too soon to witness such confirmation of
Herr Teufelsdrocks philosophy.
Her Exaggerated
Idea of Duty.
But low voices, smiling lips, dropping eyes and
bowed head, the childish gigge and toddling steps,
which convey to the Occidental mind the idea of
grown-up children, is only one-sded view The
Japanese women have never been enclosed women,
shut-up women, like the other women of the Orient
This has given another side to their characters No
have a more exaggerated idea of duty, of
certain subimity of public service and sef-immola-
ton, and preparedness for it.
There was an interesting instance of this few
years ago when half crazed policeman attempted
the life of the present Gar, then guest of Japan
His sister, Oskukasan, hearing of the grief of the
Mkado that the nations honor should have been i'm
periled by the attempt the life of guest, con-
ceved that she might wipe out the stain by the
voluntary sacrifice of her own life. Going Toxic
she presented herself at the door of the Government
buildings and there cut her throat. Tucked away in
her obi SASH the letters explaining her act
and memorandum of her preparations, even to the
paid for sharpening her Then, having tied
girdle about her knees that she might fall with
dignity she ended her life This it is to be true
Japanese woman.
In the old feudal days every Japanese of
position taught fencing, and the of the
shield, so that when the samurai, who the
Daimo's retainers and soldiers, off to the
wars, she might defend the women's apartments and
her honor Those days past, but the will,
the courage the spirit remain. Patriotism in Japan
is d passion 1t is the strongest emotion Japanese
feel To die for the Emperor is the most blessed
of deaths. The stoicism with which the Of
Japan met their bereavements in the China Japan
War is matter of history.
There is one oft told story of the old woman who
lost her husband and oldest son in battle, am
learned of their deaths with a smile on her lips.
When her second died of disease in the hospital
and it was told her. she burst into tears because
Sne SdlQ, lO OlLcl SUI 10 Qle IOr his country
All Japan moved when the young bugler,
Shentiro, fell near Asan with his bugle at his lips
blowing its last charge to advance. But his mother
said:
I'VE are poor and he only support but
would rather live in hut and have my rice but
once day than to have robbed my of so glori-
Gus death"
Exaltation OF this sort goes to height that few
women in any country attain No in Japan
approaches intellectually the Empress Dowager of
China or the late Queen Min of Korea. The latter