Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-30
WAR AND WOMEN IN JAPAN
One Effect Of the Conflict with Russia
Noted by Baron KanekO.
OLD CUSTOMS HAVE FINALLY VANISHED
independence for the wife and
Mother that VIII Not Affect
the Home or It's
Care.


the woman Of japan. The attitude and
participation OF tho japanese woman In
this great event has given her real place
In the worlds history. For the first time.
in her proper sphere. ,she has been intro
duced to the world, writes Baron Kaneko
What the war has done to open the eyes
Of the world to the sterling qualities OF
the japanese man is also true Of Japa-
nese women.
While It Is 20 be conceded that our
women, as well as those OF any other ma
ton engaged in such q conflict, would
figure In II largely In way. yet the real
part cur women played, because OF their
natural reserve, ard modesty and the gen
eral ignorance regarding the true charac-
ter Of our Japanese women, leave her as
yet not 50 well known as our men.
The result Of this war Will be OF in
calculable benefit TO our women Of Japan.
1t has placed them in a new and alto
eether highly favorable light before the
whole civilized world.
From the Eusso-Japan war will date
renaissance for the Japanese woman, as
IA as tistory Is concerned. Heretofore
she has figured only in fiction, and often.
times bad 0ct!3n at that. owing TO the
unfortunate misconccption Of tho writer's
subject in question
While the war has brought sorrow and
suffering into the hearts Of its thousands
Of soldier widows 81 has also brought its
blessings to the japanese woman as
whole.
The japanese woman has been the least
understood Of all women OF civilized ma
tiono Carefully reared, contented in her
secluded home life, she has shown no de-
sire TO change her position, and her posi-
A.. Taw Nt,rf
of her ancestors. The outside world has
known little or nothing OF her Her homo
life she considers sacred, and carefully
guarded I'm this, as she is, there has been
little opportunity or even desire for her
to extend ner acquaintance outside her
immediate family and other relatives, sim
ply for social entertainment or for her
personal pleasure. She has devoted her
life to her family in the performance OF
the thousand and one little duties done
in the interests of love. So long as she
was happy and contented as the center
Of the best type OF bone life she had no
desire to penetrate into the outside world
to seek the hattery and admiration of So
called society. Thus the world knew little
II anything of the true Japanese woman
1t is true that the visitors of Japan met a
certain type Of women called the "Geisha,"
Ut CnoIuh BlIlt anu lnty unfortunately
carried away with them an opinion of
Japanese women based on their limited
knowledge Of her.
Before the war l am sorry to say this
opinion was quite general. Nor did we
take the trouble TO correct It.
The serious side of the Japanese woman
and her innate talents have found best ex-
preston during these trying times through
icl hos ta
preciate that she has shared generously
in these, it is only necessary to consider
her work. which has contributed to the
japanese Successes in almost every phase
with the exception OF active service in
the ranks. Almost all the appliances of
war, including clothing, special food for
the soldiers cotton balls and bandages,
even to the manufacture OF cartridges,
have been the work of woman. While she
mentally formed letters of encouragement
TO brother, father, husband, or sweetheart
on the battlefield. her hands were busily
employed in making the appurtenances OF
war which would spell their country's sue
cess Every home throughout the empire,
humble or grand, representing princess to
maid. was beehive of womans Industry.
Those not engaged in this work were ad-
ministering to the wounded and dying
friend and foe alike-in the hospitals.
Now that the Japanese woman has
played so conspicuous a part in the war.
which has brought her into international
limelight she has avenged the critics Of
her ancestors and her sisters OF today.
The stranger in Japan becomes momen-
tarily impressed with the smiling faces of
the japanese women he meets on the
streets or in the country places. He has
ChiidliEa
smile an infant intellect or an undevel-
oped character She is intensely gentle
and modest. There are no striking man
nerisms to proclaim to the stranger what
she really is. Not knowing her, they fail
20 read behind the pretty smile the
strength OF character and beauty OF soul
The stern realities OF war have brought
out In strong relief the real qualities OF
our Japanese women.
While her education has expressly fitted
her for true and helpful wife and an
affeetionate mother. the war has proved
that this education, limited as 1t would
seem TO the minds OF many, has not UNIT
ted her for the broader and nobler duties
imposed upon her by war.
The war Will necessarily work a social
and industrial revolution for our women.
Different from many countries, the women
lett dependent as consequence OF war
will be amply provided for. Besides. they
will be paid the profoundest respect by
their people and by their community and
the government will always consider itself
their debtor.
The keynote OF a japanese woman's am
bition is ITO become the wife OF a great
man and the mother OF an illustrious SON."
For this end she will sacrifice everything,
even her own life The effect of the war
will not be to lose particle OF this. but II
viii tend 70 strengthen II. The widow
interest will be centered in her sons-to ed
ucate them 10 take their fathers place
both In the home apd in service to their
country. thus to keep up the family name
and honor.
But it Is only natural that large num-
Der OF young women left without parent
brother or sister will seek new interest
in life through the many avenues OF indus
trial occupation.
IL is not because OF her inability to sue
coed that the japanese woman has not thus
far followed her western sisters example
A Skin OF Beauty Ls a soy Forever.
nR. 7. Felix 0ouraud's Oriental
Cream or MSgIoai BOeutlnOr.