Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-24
THE WOMEN OF JAPAN.
A Race of Gentle Creatures Who Seem
Never to Grow Old.

|
to this end and the result is not vast
amount of wisdom. but deal OF gen
| tie sweetness and child-like afection.
Yet when given the opportunity
these women of the Far East show a
conspicuous capacity for learning, as
| the records Of the japanese girl stu
ldents in cur noted women'S colleges
| will show They are keen, intelligent
and persistent. and reveal much that Is
poetic and artistic in their natures.
With the japanese women, as with
the men, patriotism is o9e Of their
chief instincts. They love their coun-
try. and would willingly die for it, and
they may be called the Spartan women
Of the Oritn
At the time Of the Chinese war TO-
900 Japanese women offered their SER
vices as nurses in the field. and the
war with Russia found twice that num-
Der ready and willing to endure any
kardships and privatiOns to give their
attention to the wounded.
This spirit OF patriotism among mod
ern japanese women is the result Of
long ages of feudalism: throughout the
history of Japan this characteristic
stands forth prominently, and there are
recorded many brave deeds of women
in past centuries.
In the feudal period, which only came
to an end in the late COS, all gentle
women were thoroughly trained to the
use of times of war. In 1869, 1000 Of
these women fought bravely against
the Mikado's forces in defending the
castle OF Wakamatser where Shotgun,
the Samurai leader, made his final
stand.
The Empress of Japan sets an ardent
example during war time. and person.
ally visits the military hospitals, ac-
companicd by the ladies' Of her court,
and al the high-class women lend
their attention to the wounded in some
way, while the women of the lower
classes are even more eager 10 give
and do.
These somewhat warlike qualities do
not in any way detract from the gen.
tie womanliness of these women, for
they are always soft and feminine in
their manner and speech, however
Amazonian they may be when occasion
demands.
The japanese woman develops ut a
as young rs 9 years, but the usual age
for marriage is from II to Is.
In ler own land she is beautiful, be-
cause her mode of dress is peculiarly
suited to her type, whereas in So
called European dress, which she inva-
rably assumes in any land but her
own, she looks unattractive, and loses
that dainty grace which seems to be-
long to kimonos and puffed coiffures.
She is not adapted to corsets, high
heels and fitted gowns.
japanese women are not as exclusive
as those of China. They have adopted
many of the European customs and go
about making calls driving in their
jinrikihas. giving afternoon teas and
entering into 4 life modelled on West
ern ideas.
They have not, however, adopted any
Of our sports for women. They have
simple little games like toss ball. and
battle-dore and shuttle-cock, which
they play in their childish fashion, but
strenuous exercise seems as yet quite
beyond them, although the Japanese
men have long been famed for their
athletic achievements.
All japanese women are of the same
type, with olive skins. straight black
hair and dark. narrow eyes. They
have very little natural color in their
cheeks. but all of them make up
frankly with brilliant rouge on lips and
cheeks. 1t is Il part Of their toilette,
and no concealment is regarded as nee
eSsary.
They have not yet leaned the art OF
comfort. for they sit ana sleep in the
most trying positions. They never use
chairs, but sit on the floor with their
feet folded under them and nothing
against which to rest their backs. This
may account for the fGti that one
never sees a round-ShOu]dered or bent
japanese woman: they are always as
straight and erect as leeds.
They are unacquainted with soft
beds but sleep on the floor with only 4
comforter under them. while their
heads are rested upon small wooden
blocks the size of large bricks. the neck
being the point of contact with the
hard pillow. This mode of sleeping re-
tains the perfection OF the couture, and
the japanese woman thus finds it I'M
necessary to dress her hair but once .
week.
The visitor to Japan is impressed by
the unlined and happy faces Of the
women. Their devoted. gentle. simple
lives are such that they do not fret and
worry like other women, and they do
not have to carry on their faces the
marks of years of distress and unhap-
piness. They take life cheerfully and
are always submissive ana affectiOnate.
The bitter and selfish do not seem to
enter into their lives. and they surely
may stand as examples 10 the world i'm
this way.
They dress in exquisite stuffs, but
they spend no time IN discussing new
modes. for the fashion of their gar
ments never changes from one century
to another. and the only variety to be
obtained is in the fabric which forms
them. They never wear headdress.
excepting in winter. when they wrap
sort of shawl about the head and shoul-
ders and thus resemble Arabian and
Persian women. They decorate their
cOiffures with ornaments, roses, fans,
etc. They wear silk or kid Shoes rich
ly embroidered. and when going abroad
sI