Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-03
the ancient order of repression and eeclu-
sion. That has proven to be the case
Revolt of the Women.

the ancient order of repression and eeclv-
sion. That has proven to be the case
Revolt of the Women.
Girls who had enjoyed education, who
had attended the foreign schools. declined
to submit to the ancient customs. They
were not willing to acknowledge their hus-
bands as masters, and their intelligence.
which had been awakened and broadoned
to consciousness of their own individual
lty, could not be again repreSSed into the
ancient SecluSiOn. There were, unf0rtu-
nately, several cases of unwomanly -elf-
assertion on the part of the half-edueated
young women; several were too bold and
Independent to suit the Japanese idea of
refinement, and a number of scandals were
caused, but they were soon forgotten. and
II is wonder that so few of them occurred,
With only here and there an exception,
the graduates of the schools for women
conducted themselves with such grace and
propriety that they became the most hon
ored and admired women in the commu-
nifty, and to them, quite much to
any other influence, is due the revival of
confidence and the revival of interest in
the education of women throughout Japan.
Today it is more popular than 1t ever was.
There are more schools for girls than ever
before, and every one of them e crowded.
L wrote you the other day about the
enormous increase in the number of women
now attending schools for higher educa-
tion-from 319S to 17.215 since 1896. The
number of higher schools and colleges
for women has increased from eighteen
to sixty-nine, and the number of teachers
employed in them from 2lS to $40. Since
1896 the number of women attending Spe-
cial schools in Japan has increased from
1896 to 40,G03 Women are found
in nearly all educational institutions. For
merly they were limited to normal schools
and schools of art and music. but today
they claim their share of attention on
equal terms in schools of medicine and
pharmacy, political economy, literature,
cniny a,I tI,o It'd, -t,iA Won
find them in commercial colleges preparing
themselves for business, learning typewrit-
ing, stenography, bookkeeping and other
trades. They are found even in schools
of agriculture and horticulture.
University for Women.
The most remarkable event in the adj
vancement of women in Japan, however.
has been the establishment of a University
for Women. 1t is the outgrowth of a dis
cussion which occurred at a teachers inst-
tute, held in 1892 at a seminary conducted
by Rev. DR.. Booth in Yokohama. The
question was asked at that gathering where
a young Japanese woman could obtain
higher education. She could not be adj
mitted to the university, and there was no
other institution of a higher standard than
the state normal school Her only recourse
was to seek the learning she craved in
foreign country, and as matter OF ma
tional pride, in order that no one could say
that Japan did not furnish facilities for
the education of women, 1t was resolved 10
remedy the defect
In the meantime a Mr.. Naruse, who had
travelled extensively inspecting colleges for
women in the United States, proposed to
inaugurate the movement. He secured the
patronage and support OF Marquis ITO,
Count Okuma, Count 1tagah and other
leaders in Japanese affairs, and obtained
generous subscriptions from wealthy faml-
lies at Osaka, kyoto, Tokyo ana elsewhere.
1t was decided to locate the university at
Tokyo because that city is not only the
capital, but the educational center OF the
empire and the institution Is now fairly
under way, with faculty OF forty-sN pro
fcssors and nearly thousand young Wo-
men as students. Most of the faculty are
also professors in the Imperial University.
Most of the students are graduates OF the
high schools and semlnarles that nave DEL, Del,
conducted on foreign plans for several
wears Mr. Naruse, the founder, is the
president.
While the university for japanese wo-
men has not yet reached the standard de-
signed for it, and which is maintained by
the higher colleges for women In the unlteo
States, it is precisely suited to the require
ments of the time, and existing social con-
ditions in Japan. The standard Will be
gradually elevated as required, and post
graduate course of three years Is planned
for the benefit of whom 1t may concern.
At present there are departments of do
meSt1c science, IltIdlule anu aiiN
art These include a wide range OF studies,
and next year 1t is intended to extend them
still further. The boarding school is organ
lied on the Mount Holyoke plan. About
800 girls live in seven houses" under the
care and instruction of matrons. house
keepers and cooks. They live as they would
at home. except that each is required to
spend so many hours in cooking and prac-
teal housekeeping every week, and to take
care of her own room.
The institution is very popular, and Is
referred to with pride by every japanese
who is interested in education and progress.
The emperor and empress have given 1t
their Endorsement, which means great
deal in Japan, and opens its gates to the
daughters of the nobility and the members
Of the court.
Miss Ume Tsuda, one of the young wo-
men who was sent to the United States to
be educated some years ago, and has since
been teaching English in the empress
school, has recently established an institu-
ton of her own. which has been remark
ably successful. and Is being enlarged to
accommodate the demands made upon it.
She has nearly 200 young women. including
100 boarders. Most of them are being pre-
pared for admission to the university and
for teachers of English French and other