New-York tribune., 1905-07-14
OFF FOR JAPAN.
HRS. Hugh Fraser WM Help to Bet
ter Conditions for Women There.

AS . personal friend Of the Empress OF
Japan. Mrs. Hugh Fraser, Marion Crawford's
sister, ard julia Ward Howe's niece. who
poets 10 leave shortly for the F1owery Kingdom,
VIII probably be closely associated with the
various new movements for the improvement
OF the position Of women which have arisen
out Of the war The subject is attracting much
attention IN Japan just now. Even the govern
ment las recognized its gravity and is includ-
ing the women in its plans for the Industrial
organization Of the country.
The effect OF the war upon the position Of
women Is sure to be far reaching" said Mrs.
Fraser yesterday. The present situation IS
quite unprecedented and a great opportunity,
and the Empress and imperial princesses. whose
highest ambition is TO further the progress Of
their sex, viii not fail to take advantage OF Il
THE UNMARRIED WOMAN.
'of COURSE the progress OF civilization always
brings women TO the fore, AS soon as they are
educated-and japanese women highly edu-
osteo-they want to their education. But
the war must hasten this natural trend Of
events. The unmarried woman earning her own
living and standing alone has heretofore been
unknown IN Japan Now, there must be many
sSoh women. Their husbands, or the men who
~ould have become their husbands. have been
ldued. don't suppose viii ever know how
many men have been killed In this war; and in
Japan this is a thing. In the Chinese war
the loss OF life was slight and previous to that
the country had been at peace for a couple Of
hundred years Thus the unmarried woman was
unknown. and her appearances now must affect
the position Of the profoundly.
1.-THE great need Of the Japanese women at this
tine is Industrial and practical education. Edu-
cation Of the highest kind they have had before.
- It has lacked on the practical side Now
every one seems to recognize that this must be
changed
OCCUPATIONS OPEN TO HER
In seeking means Of livelihood the Japanese
woman VIII find good many occupations open
20 her. In many cases the only difference from
her ordinary situation viii be that she VIII work
Independently instead Of in association with her
husband. Women are already engaged in most
OF the trades. and they are the shopkeepers Of
the country. They usually take entire charge Of
their husbands business. and therefore they
have become expert accountants and book
keepers.
THE Empress introduced the profession Of
trained nursing into Japan. and now there is an
army Of nurses. This. think must lead to the
adoption Of the medical profession by women.
as there is a strong feeling In Japan in favor Of
women physicians for women and children
'Tbe highest profession In Japan for either sex
Is that OF teacher. The teacher IS absolutely
reVered. and members of the highest families
enter the profession.
Knowing what DO Of the ambition and
energy Of the japanese woman. have no doubt
that the results Of these new conditions will be
fa- reaching but whatever progress they make.
hope that they will never give UP their beau
uful home education. and hope that life will
never become so hard for them for American
women. I admire American women and honor
thern for what they have accomplished, but I
90 not think they TO be envied. have trav-
eAed all over the world. and studied the women
OF many lands. but have seen none whose lot
seems 10 be hard as that Of the American
woman She worSs hard and does not enjoy the
fruits OF her labors. either IN money or honor"
Mrs Fraser. who as the wife OF British
pienipotentiary TO Japan spent many years In
mat country. is well known as writer and
lecturer on japanese subjects. She is revisit
ing the Flowery Kingdom. with a detour to
China and Manchuria. for the materials for q
series OF articles the new Japan for Ameri-
can and English publications. and for q series
OF lectures her return.
II Is great pleasure to me-" she said, -to
zen the truth about Japan, there is so much
msapprehension the subject. For instance
Ne|-York woman apparently well informed
'h other subjects. asked last winter If IL
we're true that when the japanese went TO war
ssIey Killed every member of the family except
Ne ne oloest son. / have also been asked If II
was not customary for japanese fathers 10 sell
sl1ief daughters TO pay trifing debts. I think
st'eIe lE smaller percentage Of transactions Of
snst kind In Japan than IN any other country
eao there is country in which the daughter
VI tne house is more idolized"
r nLs Fraser win sail from Seattle by the
.sso-Maru on August 2 In the course of her
sgels she expects 20 do a little REQ Cross work
q sne is a member Of the Japanese Red Cross.
A., nope there won't be any more serious nurs-
.s % De done" she said. But there are con-
g&iescents who need care and amusement and
.h. sss most grateful for everything done for