The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1904-01-29
JAPANESE WORKING WOMEN.
Female Employment in Mikado's EN-.
pire-Small Wages.

pire-Small Wages
London Telegraph: The social condi-
ton of woman is a fairly trustworthy
measure of the civilization of a state, and
judged by this standard, Japan has not
yet reached the summit of western Gull
ture. This fact, however, is not a re-
proach, seeing that it Is not long since
even European nations have bridged the
abyss which sunuers former barharic cusI
toms from the humane legislation of to-
day. And the Japanese are even now
working hard to initiate US. Hitherto,
and, indeed, at the present momen the
ranks of female hands in Japan are
recruited from among the rural popula-
ton by agents. who induce the country
lasses to sign contracts for quite a num-
Der of years-the best portion Of their
lives. And the wages average Sd a day!
For that miserable mess of pottage the
girls not only labor hard during work
ing hours, but permit themselves to be
wholly isolated from the outer world, just
as If they were in a prison, a hospital or
a nunnery. Thus they are entirely in the
power of their employers, the least scru-
pulous of whom take an unfair advantage
of their helplessness. Thanks to the in
itiative Of the press and to the high spirit
of a few wealthy firms, a strong and lurid
light has been thrown upon those dark
places of Japan, and redress is already in
Aoh ~ 4diiiSllCslC1 vi IN llllhduO .
realm Is Osaka, and 1t was the terrible
state of things in vogue In the mills n
works Of that city which first attracted
attention. The slaves of the southern
states of North America had a better
time than some Of the wretched girls in
Osaka, the products of whose labor were
thrown upon European markets at nomi-
nal prices. Happily the Guild of Weavers
has now set to work to better the lot of
these helots. and its efforts are being re-
inforced by government employees.
Curiously enough, In the higher callings
and professions which require skill or
scientific training instead of mere manual
labor there was hardly any field for wo-
mans activity. Thus in none Of the min
istries OF government offices was a wo-
man to be found as civil servant. The re-
spectacle firms of merchants likewise rig
idly excluded members Of the fair sex. re-
fusing to employ them as salesWomen
only in a few cheap bazars, where the
work was very fatiguing and the pay ut
terly inadequate. were women to be seen
behind the counter. But here, too. a bene-
feent change is now being made. The
frm OF Mitsui, the weavers for example
one of the wealthiest in Japan--have lust
decided to take on girls.
For a considerable time past women
have been engaged at railway stations
especially In dealing with passenger traf.
nc, and now the Sanul line, which had
hitherto eliminated the female element.
has completely broken with it's traditions
and in future the passengers by that com
pany's line will be looked after by lady
conductors, and perhaps lady controllers
as well. The crown prince of Japan takes
a keen interest In this movement, which
aims at making life less miserable to his
future female subjects. and he has begun
by setting an excellent example. He has
married but one wife, and has allowed II
to be generally understood that lie is, and
intends to remain. a monoganist to the
end Of his days.